There Is No Free Lunch Under Heaven

📖Master’s Reading

Many see only others' success and overlook the effort behind it. All in the world follows a law of exchange: to gain wealth takes effort, to gain wisdom takes learning. There is no free lunch under heaven; to gain anything you must first pay a corresponding price. We often think we can profit out of nothing, not knowing that the law of the cosmos's distribution of energy is the undying truth that "to take is to give back."

The cause and effect the Dharma speaks of is not heaven's punishment but a mechanism that keeps balance. The energy of the cosmos will not give to you for nothing; it forever seeks balance — take the benefit here, and you must pay the price there. Among all things, giving and receiving must be established together. If one will not pay the price yet demands by force, one not only breaks the balance, but these debts finally become karmic obstacles to be repaid in the future.

One radish, one hole; there is no principle under heaven of only taking and never giving. True practice is seeing through this cosmic law and paying willingly for life's goal. When we no longer calculate and actively accumulate merit, good causes naturally respond at the fitting time. Let go of the delusion of gain without effort, steadily sow in each present moment, and life can walk calmly and with a clear conscience.

🌱Reflection for Daily Life

• Understand that there is no free lunch under heaven.
• Understand that the cosmos's energy seeks balance.
• Do not take gain without effort for granted.
• Pay willingly and steadily sow.
• Let go of the delusion of gain without effort; steady giving brings a clear conscience.