Lectures on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (Pitāputrasamāgamanasūtra) (221)

It Is Difficult to Practice the Path in Wealth and Honor

Our earth world belongs to Jambudvīpa, the southern continent south of Mount Sumeru. To the north of Mount Sumeru there is also Uttarakuru, to the east Pūrvavideha, and to the west Aparagodānīya—these are the four great continents. The people of Uttarakuru have a lifespan of one thousand years; their appearance is dignified and beautiful, their lives are prosperous, and they need not labor. All the necessities of life they require manifest spontaneously: gold, silver, and treasures are complete, the seven jewels are complete, and life is extremely enjoyable. The sentient beings there all pursue the pleasures of the five desires, do not study the Buddhadharma, and do not seek liberation. Therefore, in Uttarakuru there is no Buddhadharma, nor any practitioners. Only we people of Jambudvīpa experience a mixture of suffering and happiness—there is both suffering and joy. When we can no longer bear suffering, we seek the way to leave suffering behind. When we encounter the Buddhadharma, we will practice in order to leave suffering and end suffering. In a world of pure bliss, the Buddhadharma cannot exist. If we were to be reborn in Uttarakuru, or in the heavenly realms, it would be very difficult to learn Buddhism—truly it is said: it is difficult to practice the path in wealth and honor.

For example, the Trāyastriṃśa Heaven is very blissful; its devas play and amuse themselves every day, and apart from pleasure there is nothing else to do. Śakra, the Lord of Heaven, must earnestly and patiently exhort those devas to come quickly and study Buddhism. Sometimes he sounds the heavenly drum to compel the devas to come to the Hall of Good Dharma to listen to the sūtras and hear the Dharma, not allowing them to continue indulging in the pleasures of the five desires. Because when the merit of the heavenly realm is exhausted, they must descend again to the three evil paths to suffer. Likewise, when we reach the heavens, we can no longer study and practice Buddhism. Therefore, it is difficult to practice the path in wealth and honor, and difficult to learn Buddhism in favorable circumstances.