Are Worldly Dharmas and the Suffering of Birth and Death Worth It?

A Buddhist practitioner should be good at reproaching his own mind, should frequently introspect upon his own mind; upon discovering anything contrary to the Dharma, he should reproach his own mind, guide the mind back to correctness, guide it onto the right path, stay far away from the afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion, and stay far away from ignorance.

One should frequently contemplate: what is most important — one's own progress on the Path, or one's own irrational initial application and sustained examination (vitarka-vicāra), or the karmic actions of greed, hatred, and delusion within worldly dharmas? One should frequently contemplate: the so-called benefits one gains in worldly dharmas — are they long-lasting? Are they truly real? Are they imperishable? Can they really bring any benefit? A practitioner should frequently question himself in this way; only after such self-questioning can he awaken, can he attain meditative concentration (samādhi), can wisdom arise, and can he become liberated from worldly dharmas.

Having engaged in worldly dharmas for countless kalpas, what has each person actually gained from worldly dharmas over these countless kalpas? What, in the end, have countless kalpas of craving and attachment brought in exchange — apart from the suffering of birth and death, what else is there? Those with wisdom should truly frequently reflect and examine themselves in this way; only afterward can they see through the essential nature of birth and death, no longer crave and cling to the delusions and karmic actions of birth and death, and only then will they have the strength to walk out of the wheel of the suffering of birth and death.