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TEACHINGS | EASTERN HORIZON 11

Making Use of Life’s

Hard Times

By Master Sheng Yen

Master Sheng Yen (1931-2009) dedicated his life to sharing, writing
about, and lecturing on Buddhist teachings. A prolific Buddhist author,
he also left behind many correspondents and manuscripts that give
advice to people on Buddhist learning and practice. Through his
explanations on Buddhist doctrines, guidance on Chan practice, and
contributions to Buddhist education, the Master had presented an
important model for inheriting and inspiring the Dharma lineage,
manifested the essence and ideal of Buddhism, as well as shedding light
on the direction of and approach to promoting the Dharma.

This article is excerpted from The World of Human Realm《人間世》
(Ren Jian Shi, Dharma Drum Publishing, 2018). In the author’s preface,
Master Sheng Yen (Shifu) explains how this book came to be: In 2001
Mr. Shengkai Zhang started a periodical named Open Weekly, and
asked our Shifu to contribute a weekly article. A journalist would
interview Shifu on current issues facing society. The transcripts of
these interviews were edited by Ven. Guo Chan and Ms. Ligui Hu.
The column ran for a year and a half until in 2003 Mr. Zhang had to
discontinue Open Weekly.

To honor Mr. Zhang’s dedication, it was decided to publish the essays
in book form. About that work, Shifu wrote: “When I was initially
interviewed, I responded colloquially and did not pay enough attention
to the importance of phrasing, as well as the universality of the topics,
and the logical structure of the ideas. [...] It wasn’t until I returned to
New York, when I was already affected by aging and ailment, though
still busy from morning until night, that I had time to go back and
work on this book, making the final touches [...] I went through nearly
every paragraph and word, revising and enlarging to make the book
more readable. I take this opportunity now to offer readers a taste
of how to apply the Dharma to daily life.” Translating by Chiacheng
Chang, editing by Ven. Chang Wu and Ernest Heau.