What should practitioners pursue?
If we are not accustomed to a pure environment and have not yet valued liberation, it indicates that we are still unable to let go of the worldly things we seek in our hearts.
You can go back to continue your pursuits, but when the day of death arrives, no matter how you handle the things you love or how you chase after what you want, you cannot extend your life. When impermanence comes, you must leave this world. On that day, as a practitioner, you will surely regret: “Ah! I really did encounter such a good pure place and met a truly enlightened master, but I did not value or cherish these teachings; I did not practice them well. Now that I have reached the moment of death, all my wealth, fame, status, and friends will leave me in just a few hours or minutes.” The atmosphere at that time is unimaginable; it will not only make us feel the pain of dying but also affect our next life, intensifying future suffering.
Because our mind cannot die, it feels the same as yesterday. Although various delusions and coarse afflictions in our hearts are impermanent and changeable, this subtle clear mind has continued from birth until now. From today’s death to rebirth in another world, it is still this mind that remains in this clear state. If the delusions and afflictions within are not adjusted, this mind will carry along all kinds of habitual tendencies and their karmic results.
Our current physical body is born from the karmic results created by past afflictions and habits. If we continue to develop negative motivations in this life, there is a possibility of transforming from human into animals or into beings in hell or hungry ghosts in future lives. The worlds of hungry ghosts and hell beings are created by our greed, anger, and ignorance; therefore, what do we pursue in our current life? Practitioners pursue the path of liberation to be free from the suffering of samsara.