Whether living at home or at a temple, there are two types of presence:
1. Living as a lodger 2. Living as an owner
Whoever lives as a lodger — upon seeing something dirty or cluttered — will think nothing of it, paying it no mind and no attention, simply passing the days waiting for the time to leave. While still unable to depart, they merely seek a place to lay their head in the meantime, and will hasten to leave the moment an opportunity arises. Any hope of their improving anything is entirely out of the question.
If any temple, household, or workplace has a large number of such lodger-minded individuals, that temple, that household, that workplace will only decline — awaiting the day of its eventual collapse.
But if any temple, household, or workplace is inhabited by owner-minded individuals who come together to look after, maintain, and keep it clean — working collectively toward its betterment — that place will naturally flourish and advance.
October 16th, 2019
