The Value of Life through Benefiting Beings with the Dharma

September 4, 2026, marked the Convocation of Ling Jiou Mountain Triyana Buddhist Academy, at which eight monastics successfully completed their studies. Although convocation allows everyone to set aside much of the academic pressure they have experienced, there is still considerable room for further effort. Therefore, we must remain cautious and continue to apply ourselves diligently.

There is a sense of ease that comes with completing one’s studies, but we must always consider what we can do for our country and society. As monastics, we carry certain responsibilities and mission. We must therefore cultivate the aspiration and resolve to undertake this work and discover the full potential of our lives.

Our lives are continually brought to fulfillment through one another. We can realize the joy of benefiting sentient beings by supporting and encouraging one another. Amid the impermanent and ever-changing circumstances of life, we must bring forth right mindfulness, maintain our connections and interactions with one another, and move toward a positive direction in life so that we may benefit sentient beings.

To benefit sentient beings means that all our interactions should be oriented toward benefiting others. Altruism is one way in which the value of our lives is manifested. Without such an expression, we may come to feel that our lives lack meaning and value. Therefore, we must bring the meaning and value of life to sentient beings, enabling them to receive support and encouragement from others on the path to buddhahood, and thus become companions journeying together toward buddhahood.

While studying at the Academy, everyone should seek to discover the purpose of their lives, so that the various methods of benefiting sentient beings can truly bear fruit. Life is subtle and wondrous, and within this subtle and wondrous life, we should strive to act appropriately in every circumstance, ensuring that the decisions we make are oriented toward benefiting others. Convocation is merely a temporary conclusion; the greater beginning is to recognize that our lives are inseparably connected with the lives of sentient beings. When they are well, we can be well; if they are not well, how can we ourselves be well? Therefore, everyone should diligently share what you have learned with sentient beings.

We should always approach life with joy. We should not regard life as something that merely brings trouble upon ourselves or causes us unnecessary suffering; that is not our purpose. Life should enable us to help sentient beings and bring about mutual fulfillment. We should therefore take the learning and practice of Dharma as the starting point of our lives and, from there, offer sentient beings a genuine means of liberation.

A Buddha is one who has attained buddhahood, and buddhahood is a state in which nothing is ultimately deprived—all is perfect and excellent. We should take the Dharma as our spiritual sustenance, helping us overcome the obstacles within life and transforming it into the nourishment through which we can genuinely benefit sentient beings. Thus, through learning and practicing of Dharma, we become fully nourished spiritually while gradually becoming proficient in the various skillful means for benefiting sentient beings. In this way, the Dharma becomes the radiance of our lives, while our altruistic intention is continually inspired by the Buddha, through every aspect of his teachings. Therefore, we must always study the Dharma well, for only then can we establish a firm foundation.