WHAT IS RIGHT LIVELIHOOD?
Question: May I know what is Right Livelihood?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Right Livelihood is about being an upright person in this world. You are someone who accords with conditions, you go where your fate and destiny lead you and never go against them. If you insist on going against what your fate and destiny dictate, then that is not right.
For example, a person is leading a hard life now, he may try to change his destiny, but he should not contend against it head-on.
Have you all read the novel entitled, “The Red and the Black” (Le Rouge et le Noire)? The main character in the story was born into poverty, but he aspired to make it to the upper class in society, and he was eventually killed. This story was made into a novel and the man was ridiculed by even the future generations.
This shows that everyone has his own fate that he should first accord to, and then make attempts to transform it, little by little. This is called the Right Livelihood.
If you are destined to have a bad life and you are adamant about transforming it, you will not succeed. Instead, you should learn to endure and understand that it is because of the negative karma you have created in your past life.
There are many who resigned to their bad fate; they have faith that Guan Yin Bodhisattva is here to save and liberate them from suffering. However, they must acknowledge their mistakes and repent, as only then Bodhisattva is able to turn things around for them. This is right livelihood. It is not about you not bowing to fate.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s 5th Discourse to Disciples Worldwide, Part 4, 5 July 2012
< Words of Wisdom