Master Hai Tao - As a Spiritual Practitioner, You Must Endure Loneliness 修行必須耐得住寂寞

(English subtitles) Buddhist Master Hai Tao 海濤法師 talks dharma.
Subtitles:
One thing is important in studying Buddhism. You must endure loneliness. You're stronger when you're alone. That is, you know how to arrange your body and mind. Just like my grand master, Elder Tsanghua, who had stomach cancer at the age of 92. He had blood in his stool and was unable to eat. But he's not in any pain. He told me: Haitao, you don't need to see me. I have no pain. I have to finish reading the The Large Sutra of Prajna and redirect the merit to my rebirth in the Pure Land. I hope to be reborn with bodhicitta. He also said he is ashamed that he should get his wish and hurry to return, but first he had to go to the Pure Land.
Then I asked the attendant beside: Does he feel pain? He never feel pain, he said. Master is busy in chanting Buddha and reciting sutra. Everyone, this is because he has the power of dharma. If you don't have the power of dharma, you will cry when in pain. You would go to a doctor rather than the Buddha, because you don't have the ability or cultivation to face your hardship alone. This is critical.
So the worldly people can't endure loneliness. Why? I have to get married. I have to find someone to lean on. I have to give birth to a child.
It seems that only with him can I be happy. Without him I would lose something to lean on. So, you have to let go of everything and be alone, and go to somewhere you have no acquaintances. Also, you can't be too busy touring or taking pictures, that don't count. Simply put, conduct a retreat in your room for 7 days, and you are able to face yourself only, and you can arrange your schedule. One day, you are dumped in a nursing home alone.
2:00
You can no longer move your legs but still can manage your mind. Amitabha. Adapt your body to the circumstance that everyone has to face. Studying Buddhism is to be free from suffering and acquire happiness.
What's the affliction in your life? What did the Buddha tell us that we need to cure in order to obtain prajna wisdom? Avidya (ignorance) and the ego. Yeah, that's the feeling I do exist. So I want, I don't want, I like, I hate. All come from this self, which is called unwise.
In fact, everybody has understood, does this self exist? Yes or no? Embarrassed to say. Apparently you know that doesn't exist but feel comfortable with it. Because you have known Buddhism for so long, you are familiar with the wisdom of emptiness and non-self. However, when you encounter troubles, you can't bear it. You can't bear it, when you get cancers, lose money, partner has affair, children don't listen. You will be afflicted.
Some people work out every morning and are still suffering at last. Let you live 5 more years and sit on wheelchair 3 more years. What keeps you from being afflicted with anything?
3:30
Basically, there is no me. This body is the root source of all suffering. However, if you think this body is mine, you'll feel afflicted. So if you really want to practice, you have to cease before decease. You must cut off affliction and karma before decease. Then you won't come in vain, or you waste this lifetime.
In this lifetime, you make so much money, buy so many houses, and give birth to piles of descendants. As a result, you can't face cancer or the separation from loved ones because you have to go anyway. At that time, it will be hard to release you from suffering. You will be attached to that spot. Even if a monk is attached to a robe, he cannot be freed from suffering.