Hui-Hai

The speech to the assembly really caught my attention because it seemed a little different from what most religious writings say. Usually I hear that we should strive to reach enlightenment, know the truth, or understand God. Sometimes religions make it seem like it is possible to understand God if we only study, sacrifice, and pray enough. It was different to read that someone refers to all of that as “blabbering about our understanding and that it was all a waste of energy.” The writer made it seem like trying to understand spiritual things and God was also a waste (even if it was just “trying” and not claiming to actually understand). The writer said, “Do not search for the truth with your intellect. Do not search at all. The nature of the mind is intrinsically pure.” I think his point is that we should not dedicate our time and energy to reading about truth and life but rather we should just go out and live our lives. In simply experiencing life we will gain understanding. Also I think he is questioning how important knowledge is. How we live our lives seems much more important and better to give our energy to than just simply knowing. I think that religious people have different ways of expressing and growing in their beliefs. Some people find themselves being closest to God when they are alone in a room studying for endless hours and gaining knowledge. I guess a good way to put it is that they feel like the best way to worship God or follow their beliefs is with their intellect. Other methods people may use is prayer, helping others, or giving up all their possessions. I think that this reading makes a good point about how intellect is not everything. I also think that people are very different in their personalities and how they like to do things (which it then would only make sense that for some people they feel most enlightened by seeking truth through their intellect while others may think that they are on the best path when doing good deeds).