Our Mission in Life
by Master Lee Feng San Shifu
Translated by Sophia Lui
Edited by Ric Meyers
What is “the purpose of life”? To all appearances, there are different types of professions in human society, which are seemingly very diversified. In truth, the aspirations and goals of each person are more or less the same.
If a person does not understand what it means to be “alive,” in regards to the workings of fate, the root cause of all things, or encounters with people, then we have no idea what we are here for and why we have to leave someday. Nevertheless, there is no particular need to know where we come from and where we will go after we pass on.
Upon entering this life, the most important thing is to wake up to the NOW moment – what should be done now? How should we go about doing it? If we reside in the NOW moment, things will become clear to us.
The ancients said: “He who is keen in telling tales is the person who stirs up strife.” Likewise, those who listen eagerly to gossip are guilty as well, because they too will spread the gossip. Because they love to listen, others gladly share gossip with them. The result is a society rife with rumors and gossip.
Although other people may share gossip with us, we will know how to deal with such a situation if we have presence of mind. Being alive to the moment means that we will know what we are supposed to do in this life. And when the time comes for us to leave, we will also know where we are headed off to.
Everyone is born with a different mission in life, and there is no forcing it. We must do what comes naturally to us. Perhaps my life mission is to sweep the streets and yours is to work on computers. On the face of it, it seems there is a big gap between the two in terms of job prestige. However, as far as the universe is concerned, the two are equal, and there is no difference.
In the past, the Chinese had a wisdom concerning each person’s life mission. Scholars, peasants, workers, and businessmen each represent a life mission. Scholars should be scholars, farmers should be farmers, workers should be workers, and businessmen should be businessmen. They are all equal and should be treated as such. They only differ in their fields of trade and profession, which is what leads to the formation of a society.
However, if the scholar goes into business, the businessman takes up farming, and the farmer wants to serve as an official, then that society becomes chaotic. Therefore, we have to follow the good sense of the ancients – cooperate with each other while doing our part in the best way we can, giving no thought to distinctions in honor and rank. Only then will this society will function properly.
“Each person has his own life mission; one should do what comes natural to him without regard to honor or rank.” — Lee Feng San Shifu
