Why Can't We Escape the Ant Existence

The vastness of the world, the immensity of Buddha lands, the enormity of the universe—these are beyond the capacity of the mind to conceive. At best, we are like ants. What exists within an ant's world? What is there for an ant to pursue, to fuss over, to take pride in? What is there worth contending for within an ant colony? What is there about an ant's body composed of the five aggregates that is worth clinging to or craving?

Yet, the Buddha observes that the community of ants is truly excessively attached to their five-aggregate bodies. Even after seven Buddhas have appeared in the world, ants remain in their ant form. This precisely manifests the ants' foolish nature, their clinging nature. What difference is there between us and the ants? Countless Buddhas have appeared, yet we remain sentient beings in the Six Realms, still so foolish and attached, still burdened by such profound ignorance. Are we not ashamed? Do we not reproach ourselves? Do we not possess the two wholesome mental factors of shame and remorse?

Wisdom surpasses all; liberation is more important than anything else. No matter how much hardship one endures to attain them, it is worthwhile. Otherwise, one remains forever foolish and pitiable like an ant, while still imagining oneself to be grand and lofty!

Many have studied Buddhism for so long, yet they remain fascinated by mountains and rivers, traveling everywhere, greedily enamored with the scenery before their eyes, unaware of the need to cherish their precious time for practice. They do not realize how far an ant-like being like themselves can truly travel. No matter how diligently a group of ants walks, ceaselessly day and night, they can scarcely traverse a desert, let alone cross an entire country. Even if we travel by airplane, we can hardly leave the Earth's airspace. It is better to open our minds, broaden our vision, embrace the entire universe, explore the infinite mysteries of the cosmos, make ourselves omniscient and omnipotent, become true sages and capable beings like the Buddha, possessing boundless mental capacity, wisdom, and virtuous abilities.