Chapter 12-2 Mission in Life
According to the "Theory of Reincarnation", if life indeed has a destiny, nothing is random, and there is a predetermined conclusion. According to one's own script, everyone's life must have a purpose. In other words, each person surely has a mission in this life.
Each person's life mission is different, and it's impossible to excel in every area. You see others making money through E-commerce, so you try it, but end up losing money. You see others making a profit in real estate, so you try it, but it doesn't work out. You see people succeeding as bloggers, so you give it a shot, but it turns out to be fruitless. There are many reasons why one might not succeed, and one reason could be that the endeavor wasn't your mission—it wasn't the thing you were meant to dedicate your life to. There may be a more meaningful pursuit waiting for you ahead, and that is where your true life mission lies.
In some cases, it may take a person half a lifetime or even longer to resonate with their life mission. This is why Confucius lamented that it was until 50 that he understood the "Mandate of Heaven", by which time life was already nearing its end. Those who must undertake a mission may find themselves achieving nothing and facing obstacles for a long time until they can embrace their true life mission. The purpose of this is reflected in the saying: "When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it first tests their will, exhausts their muscles and bones... and strengthens their weaknesses." Facing pain with dignity, this choice itself shows the nobility of humanity.
The term "sage" in history is a title given by later generations; during their time on earth, they were all ordinary individuals. The "Huangdi Neijing" describes a sage as someone who can peacefully reside within the natural harmony of heaven and earth, following the natural rhythms of life, and aligning their personal pursuits with societal expectations. Such a person harbors no anger or resentment, adheres to the general norms of society, wears simple and modest clothing, and does not seek to display themselves before others. They do not exhaust themselves physically with worldly matters and are internally free from unnecessary mental burdens. Their goal is peace and joy, finding satisfaction in their own contentment, which allows their physical health and mental vigor to endure, potentially leading to a long life. This shows that by enduring the trials of life and enhancing one's inner cultivation, even an ordinary person can become a sage.
If something is not your mission, you will find it impossible to accomplish. Even sages are not exempt from this principle.
Confucius never had a harmonious family life, he lost his father at 3 years old, and his mother at 17, later in middle age, he divorced his wife, and lost his son in at 70. His career was also fraught with difficulties. In his youth, he held minor official positions in the state of Lu, such as managing warehouses, but not for long. Later, he traveled to the states of Qi, Wei, Chen, Song, Cai...simply seeking a place where he could settle and fulfill his destiny. Despite experiencing the vastness of the world and the bitterness of life, he found no place to call home. When he returned to Lu in his old age after enduring hardships and setbacks, reflecting on more than 30-years of talent being unrecognized and a life of wandering, Confucius couldn't help and realized that everything in life is inevitable and beyond personal control. He understood the concept of "Heaven's mandate" and stopped clinging to officialdom. He recognized that his greatest mission in life was to write and teach, nurturing future generations. "If Heaven had not produced Confucius, the world would have remained in darkness". Thus, he became the revered sage remembered through the ages.
Jiang Ziya's achievements in politics and military are considered unparalleled throughout history. Before the age of 72, he had accomplished nothing significant. After leaving seclusion, he first married Ma, a 68-year-old woman, subsequently attempted and failed at various occupations such as selling baskets, livestock, and even practicing fortune-telling, all with little success. "A good horse can brave any danger, but tilling the fields is not as good as an ox", he realized these were not his talents. Seeing Jiang's incompetence, Ma also proposed divorce... 8 years later, the King of Zhou sought out talents, and Jiang, at the age of 80, accepted the appointment as prime minister. At the age of 108, Jiang assisted King in overthrowing the Shang dynasty, leading to the establishment of the Zhou dynasty. King Wu conferred the state of Qi upon him, and Jiang was the ruler for 31-years. He remarried and fathered 3 sons and 1 daughter. He later passed on his position to his eldest son and lived to the age of 139, revered in later generations as "Jiang Tai-gong".
Wang Yangming was born into a prominent family and showed promise from a young age. He passed the provincial examination at 20, but failed the imperial examination at 22. At 25, he passed the examination again and at 28, finally obtained a government position. However, his official career was fraught with difficulties. At 35, his advice angered the eunuchs in power, resulting in a severe beating and exile to Longchang in Guizhou. During his time in the still uncivilized Longchang, Wang Yangming overcame harsh conditions, guiding the locals according to their customs and earning their affection. It was there that he realized that the wisdom the sages had discovered actually resides within each person. Our true mind possesses all wisdom and strength, and it is a mistake to neglect the development of this inner power while seeking external sources of knowledge and expecting outside forces to bring about change. This profound realization is known as the "Longchang Enlightenment".
At the age of 54, Wang Yangming resigned from his official position to teach, summarizing his philosophy of self-cultivation and governance, the "Unity of Knowledge and Action", and his four maxims: "In the mind there is neither good nor evil; in the will there is good and evil. Knowing good and evil is conscience; to act upon them is the Way."
In the scientific community, no one can deny Einstein's genius and contributions. However, if we look back to the beginning of his career, he sent job applications to many universities but was not recognized. Figure 12.1 shows a rejection letter Einstein received in 1907 for an associate professorship at the University of Bonn. The letter, written in a polite yet slightly sarcastic tone, stated: "We feel that your conclusions about the nature of light and the fundamental connection between space and time are somewhat radical. Overall, we find your assumptions to be more artistic than actual Physics."
Figure 12.1: June 1907, Einstein received the rejection letter from the University of Bonn.
Even sages who aspire to achieve great things must endure numerous setbacks and sacrifices to achieve something great, let alone ordinary people. Many may ask: "I seem to be just an ordinary person; how do I know if I have been given a mission?" The answer to this question is as follows: If you come into this world and, at this moment, possess more talent in certain areas or have more wealth and resources than others, it is because Heaven has given you a mission.
Stefan Zweig once said: "The greatest fortune in a person's life is to discover their life's mission in the middle of their journey, just when they are at their prime." Remember, time waits for no one, giving you more than enough time to complete the task well! Therefore, whether in business, new media, artificial intelligence or technological innovation, we see more and more young people excelling. Prof. Zeng Shiqiang once said: "When you do something that excites you and makes you feel valuable, that is the mission of your life."
All talents, status and wealth that exceed the ordinary are gifts from heaven. If heaven does not grant them to you, no matter how hard you try, you will not attain them. For instance, whether in studying or running a business, the rewards and wages earned through labor are equal for everyone. However, if you find it easier, have better luck, or earn more money than others, it's because Heaven has assigned you a mission. Never think that the abilities you currently possess are solely the result of your efforts. There are plenty of people more diligent and hardworking than you, yet they have not received more than you have.
In other words, whoever receives blessings must also bear responsibility that comes with them. Use these blessings well to serve others. Heaven's favor comes with missions, and if you fail to fulfill them and do not do well in this life, you must bear the consequences of karma. For example, if Heaven has bestowed upon you medical skills, merely treating your own family or exploiting others for money goes against the natural order. Similarly, if you've been granted resources, it's intended for you to care for others, not for selfish indulgence. Otherwise, Heaven will likely take back those resources swiftly and give you a harsh lesson.
How can we protect our energy from being wasted? By focusing on the mission that Heaven has granted us. Everyone who achieves great success in their career has one thing in common—they are very careful with how they use their energy. If you are good at singing, you see some celebrities can indeed excel in acting, singing and television, but they are rare exceptions, and it's unlikely that you will be one of them. There are countless opportunities and distractions in this world. If Heaven has already given you the chance to succeed in one thing, how can you be sure that Heaven will provide you with a second opportunity as well?
So how can ordinary people excel at what they do? The key is: complete focus leads to success.
In "The Heart of Bodhi", there is an example: Mr. Cao Dewang wondered: why doesn't the sun's immense power harm us? It's because its radiation is too vast and scattered. However, if a child were to use a mirror to collect sunlight on the beach, concentrating it into a beam, wherever that beam falls, materials would heat up, burn or melt. The author reflects: human time, energy, experience and resources are limited, How to maximize efficiency with these limited resources, like the child with the mirror concentrating sunlight into an immensely powerful beam, requires concentrating energy. After careful consideration, he decided to focus on automobile glass! When a person's mental will is completely concentrated on one point, that action becomes divine. Mr. Cao proved through his own experience: spreading effort yields results, but total focus achieves greatness.
Heaven creates all things, yet only humans are considered the most precious. There are three types of people: the first are ordinary people, whose lives are guided by their own karma, making up the vast majority; the second are incarnations of beings from other dimensions, including immortals and demons, as there is always balance between yin and yang, evil and good; the third are incarnations of Buddhas and gods in the human world. At crucial moments in history, these beings manifest as ordinary people to descend into the world, whether to invent, create, educate, write, or lead societal progress. However, most of them do not realize their true identity during their livings.
Many people might say at this point: "We are most likely ordinary people, so how can we dare to think of possessing the abilities of gods?"
First of all, gods in the human world also take on the form of ordinary mortals. There's no need to envy those "chosen ones"—they are not here to enjoy wealth and luxury, nor do they possess the power to turn stone into gold or raise the dead. Those who, in their mortal bodies, are tasked with significant missions in this life usually must endure great storms, undergo countless trials, and pass through unimaginable tribulations and challenges. In the midst of "achieving nothing" and "having nothing", they must extinguish the "Five Poisons and Four Minds" before they can finally attain complete enlightenment, see through human nature, understand the essence of things, and grasp the laws of "Tao". Only then can they shoulder their responsibilities and find a way out of desperate situations. "Heroes have always emerged from hardship", and this kind of extraordinary, difficult life is something that ordinary people can scarcely imagine enduring.
Furthermore, from the perspective of divine providence, when a person has fulfilled their mission completely, it is often also the time for them to depart. Jehovah passed away at the age of 33, Princess Miaoshan (Guanyin Bodhisattva) left this world while still a minor after saving her father, Lin Mo (Mazu) perished at the age of 27 while rescuing people from a maritime disaster, and the "Piano Poet" Chopin died in a foreign land at 39... People regret their departures, unwilling to forget and honoring them with worship as gods. Little do they know, they were originally divine, merely bearing missions in the human realm. By the time of their departure, they had already achieved their wishes, completing their life's tasks, much like handing in an exam paper early.
Moreover, what constitutes fulfillment in life? A moderately prosperous household, good health, harmony among descendants—these are the greatest blessings in a person's lifetime. As we discussed earlier, the law of karma dictates that the fortune you bring into this life is accumulated through countless past lives. If one fails to accumulate good fortune in this life or misuses it, the outcome will likely manifest as "karmic retribution" causing regret.
True strength lies not in resistance, but in allowing everything to happen and accepting it—embracing setbacks, impermanence, emotions and differences. When you allow everything to unfold, nothing remains so sharp; gradually, everything becomes gentler, as the saying goes: "circumstances change according to the mind." When our own mindset strengthens, difficulties weaken. Therefore, when you deeply desire to accomplish something, the most important thing is to remain calm and centered, take things step by step, stay focused, and approach situations without haste or intense longing. Let everything follow its natural course, and success will come when the time is right.
