Hello, this is Sugakjeongsa. Today, we will take some time to think together about what happens when greed takes precedence over our intentions. The World Cup, a festival for people around the world, is in full swing. While watching the World Cup matches, I suddenly remembered our sect's futsal tournament, which was temporarily halted due to COVID-19. The children participating in the futsal tournament represented their districts and the citizens, so they inevitably felt the pressure to win. I can still vividly recall the scene of them straining to score a goal and trying hard not to concede one. Whenever the futsal tournament is held, there is always a tendency for things to get heated. It's not just the children who get excited; the master and the new members who come along as cheerleaders also get caught up in the excitement and shout at the top of their lungs. Do you know who is the most nervous in that situation? It's precisely...

As a referee, even a small mistake in judgment can lead to complaints, but since we are the ones in charge, we don't take offense. However, appeals come in quickly. This leads to a lot of disputes about whether the decisions are correct or not, and some children even cry out of frustration. When situations like this arise, I realize that the role of a referee is not easy at all. Making judgments and decisions is indeed a challenging task. It's not just about determining right from wrong; referees also need to observe whether the rules are being followed or not. In soccer, there are many rules, and one of the most common points of contention is offside. This becomes a problem because the goal of soccer is to score. What is the easiest way to score a goal? It's to place one attacker right in front of the opponent's goal. Then, if you just pass the ball to that attacker...

Scoring a goal is like eating cold porridge, isn't it? However, this kind of football is not enjoyable. The original purpose of football becomes tarnished. As a result, rules like offside are created. There is also a conceptual offside, which is a foul as well. Do you know what we have in our hearts? I commit a foul, but the purpose of that foul is to score a goal. So, what is the best way to score? I think about it. I stand right in front of the goal and say, Buddha, please give me a proper pass. Then I will receive it and either head it in or dribble to score beautifully. Honestly, isn't that feeling present in all of us? Such a mindset cannot be the right attitude in our lives or in our faith. What is life, after all? It is about carrying the ball all the way to the goal.

In the process of driving the game, whether it’s through a rough play or an infraction, tackles come in, and there are blocks from the front, right? While going through all this, sometimes you lose possession of the ball and then run back, sweating profusely in defense. When you watch a soccer match, it’s said that players expend an enormous amount of energy over the full 90 minutes. Watching that, I think to myself, “This is a microcosm of life.” However, we only think about being a star player. We dream that if someone just provides us with opportunities to score, we’ll become the star player. It’s all about scoring without breaking a sweat, and I wonder if that reflects our human nature. If greed takes precedence from the beginning, it’s an offside foul. What does it mean to be a member of society? In life, there are moments when we fall into temptation, face our shortcomings, and sometimes feel frustrated despite having tried our best.

As our physical strength declines, what does it mean to endure those critical moments? It is precisely our vows. Even in difficult and challenging situations, it is our vows that prevent us from giving up. Because of our vows, we can take a step back and then find the strength to move forward again. It is through our vows that we navigate through trial and error, one step at a time, until we reach the goal. However, our current state is not one of such vows; rather, it is one of greed. As I mentioned earlier, we are merely standing in front of the opponent's goal, waiting for the ball to come our way. We are like those who sit idly in front of the goal, hoping that the Buddha will send the ball flying or waiting for fruit to fall from the sky. There is no diligent effort, no bravery. We are only waiting for something to drop into our laps, while our expectations are exceedingly high. However, with high expectations comes great disappointment, and that disappointment arises from my lack of effort.

It is not disappointment about what has happened, but rather a sense of despair reflected in the psychology of wanting something for free that makes us wonder why opportunities do not come our way. However, this is not true disappointment. It can only be seen as the inevitable consequences of greed. Yet, I think our hearts become increasingly inclined towards this. In that sense, our practice often involves a long and arduous process. After diligently offering prayers and slightly overcoming the trials and tribulations, we might take a sigh of relief, only for another problem to arise, prompting those who are dedicated to their vows to redouble their efforts. There are many who find themselves in this situation. We should be overwhelmed by our vows, but when we are instead distracted by greed, that is exactly what leads to becoming a demon or an outsider. When our hearts are filled with vows, we are like Buddhas; when they are filled with greed, we become demons and outsiders. At this crossroads of choice, what attitude should we adopt?

I think it’s important to consider which direction we should take the ball. Therefore, if greed takes precedence over our initial intentions, it truly becomes an offside, and that is a foul. What happens when an offside foul is committed? The referee blows the whistle. The game stops. So, I believe that in our lives, there are times when the Buddha blows the whistle for us. Isn’t that right? Why would he blow the whistle? It could be seen as a moment of pause, but why does he make us stop? Is it to punish us? No. I believe it is to remind us whether we are truly running properly, whether we are approaching the game of life with the right attitude. In fact, when the Buddha blows the whistle, the situations we find ourselves in can sometimes become insignificant. Isn’t that so? I may be running around frantically, thinking I’m doing my best, but...

When the judge, the Buddha, sees it, he says that it is not a matter of degree, but rather a foul, and he blows the whistle. We often focus on the results, which leads us to overlook the mistakes we made during the process. As a result, we find ourselves needing to return to the starting point. Although it may seem unfair, how we judge that situation is very important. In that sense, I believe that none of us should be ahead of the truth. We always place ourselves ahead of the truth, driven by greed. This is why we often find ourselves in a downside. Therefore, the Buddha continuously encourages us to stop and then start again. We should not be ahead of the truth or the Buddha, but instead, we should maintain a mindset of carefully examining ourselves within the truth. Only when these principles are upheld can we truly attain liberation.

I think that when the path opens, the door to liberation will also open. Throughout life, various means are necessary. Soccer also requires strategy and tactics, doesn't it? The coach must be smart, and the players need to be diligent and well-trained, right? While aspirations may be personal, liberation must be collective. It is only when we reach the communal realm that we can truly call it liberation. If an individual achieves something, we can only refer to it as an accomplishment. True liberation, which we can name as such, occurs not when just one person changes, but when a community, united in their aspirations and determination, seeks a qualitative, quantitative, and emotional transformation together. I believe that is when we can finally attach the term liberation. A star player cannot win the game alone. This is precisely what team play is about. Only when players fulfill their roles well in their respective positions can they truly...

Just as we can achieve victory, shouldn't the path to our liberation be in the same way?

[교전의정석2]부처님의 옐로우카드/서원보다 탐심이 앞서면 오프사이드 반칙입니다/2022년월드컵/자성동이풋살대회

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