What Do You See? – Look Deeply Into Life to See the Buddha's Teachings (Dharma)

Everything around us is the Buddha's teachings (Dharma) if we know how to look with wisdom and meditative concentration. Thầy Thích Chân Quang invites us to see the truth in every falling leaf, every flowing river, and every drop of night rain.

Have you ever stood before a night rain and asked yourself: "What do you see?" Some people see longing for an old friend, while others see the impermanence (anicca) of human life. The same scene, yet each heart sees a different world. Thầy Thích Chân Quang gently opened the door to this deep way of seeing in his New Year dharma talk, "What Do You See?" – an invitation for us to awaken from the dream of ignorance and see the truth in every falling dewdrop and every golden leaf.

The Same Scene, a Different World in Each Heart

Thầy recounted that he once wrote the song "The Sound of Night Rain" while feeling compassion for homeless people on a cold night. Meanwhile, the musician Đức Huy also wrote a song with the same title, but his was about longing for a lover. Two songs, two states of heart, and Thầy posed the question: why do we see the same night rain so differently?

Whatever is within our mind/heart is what appears outside. The external world is only a suggestion. But what it suggests depends on what already exists within our mind/heart.

From this we understand that life does not determine what we see; it is our own mind/heart that decides. A person who carries the Buddha's teachings (Dharma) within sees impermanence (anicca) in a falling leaf, and sees the suffering (dukkha) of birth and death in a mother carrying her child. But a person without wisdom sees only scheming and rivalry wherever they look.

What Does the Eye of Truth See?

The Buddha once used his supernatural power to bring a young novice to the top of a high mountain, overlooking the vast ocean. He asked: "What do you see, my child?" The novice replied: "I see the boundless sea, and I understand that the tears of all sentient beings are even more abundant than the waters of the ocean."

The tears of sentient beings are more abundant than the waters of the ocean. Every handful of soil holds the bones and flesh of beings buried deep beneath it.

Ordinary people see only the blue sea, the green grass, and fragrant flowers. But those who have cultivated deeply see in everything the traces of samsara (cycle of rebirth) and of suffering (dukkha). Therefore, let us learn to see with the eye of truth – the eye that clearly perceives all sentient beings drifting in the sea of birth and death, knowing that only enlightenment is the true shore.

All Things Are the Buddha's Teachings (Dharma)

One day, Thầy read this verse: "All things are none other than the Buddha's teachings (Dharma), yet I do not understand them, and so I drift along the stream of ignorance." Even before understanding it, one can sense its profound depth.

All things are the Buddha's teachings (Dharma), but because we do not understand them, we drift along the stream of ignorance.

Thầy explained that every single thing carries within it a lesson of truth. For example:

A falling leaf teaches us about impermanence (anicca) – everything that begins beautifully must one day fade away.

A mother carrying her child teaches us about hope and suffering (dukkha) – a baby is born carrying countless dreams, yet must still face old age, sickness, and death.

The cry of a bird in the night teaches us about the varied fruits of karma – some people rest in comfort while others must toil and struggle.

When our mind/heart is pure, everything becomes a teaching. But note: this is not about idle speculation. We must live in meditative concentration, as Thầy emphasized:

We must diligently cultivate meditative concentration before we can look at everything and see the truth within it.

Blessings from Merit: The Only True Refuge in Life

In the dharma talk, Thầy also warned against false refuges. Parents may be lost, money may run out, a house may be sold, and human hearts are easily fickle. Thầy told the story of a mother with five children who still had to beg for food, because her children cheated her of money, seized her land, and refused to care for her.

In this world, there is no refuge that is truly secure. Only our blessings from merit are a real refuge.

Therefore, each of us must strive to create merit, do good deeds, and serve others. These very actions form the solid foundation for this life and for many lives to come. Do not foolishly live only for pleasure, for when blessings from merit are exhausted, everything will crumble away.

Living in Meditative Concentration – To See Truth Everywhere

Thầy emphasized that only those who cultivate meditative concentration and contemplate non-self (anatta) can see the truth in all things. Even a fly passing by can become a lesson in smallness and impermanence (anicca). As Thầy said: "Even a fly flying past reveals the truth."

When the mind/heart is peaceful and free of wandering thoughts, we can see clearly that "all things are none other than the Buddha's teachings (Dharma)." Nothing in this world comes without a teaching from the Tathagata.

Conclusion: Look Deeply Every Day

The New Year is a time to practice looking deeply. Each time we wish someone a happy New Year with a sincere heart, we are offering them a blessing of good fortune. But more precious still, let us learn to see life with the eye of wisdom. Let us see impermanence (anicca) in the falling leaf, see compassion in the tears of all beings, and see ourselves walking step by step toward the shore of enlightenment. Do not let anything in this life pass by without leaving us a lesson. Ask yourself each day: "What do you see?" – so that every answer brings us closer to enlightenment and liberation.