Starting Spiritual Practice
Why might someone seeking spiritual advice need conversation rather than only an answer?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
People have different problems and different things that need understanding. Some can move forward once the main points are clarified. Others need more conversation before we understand where they are truly stuck and how to help. I respond to the situation rather than simply rushing to finish an answer.
During low points in my own life, I also sought teachers and hoped they would genuinely take my difficulties to heart. Later, when people gathered the courage to seek help, I remembered that they might already feel helpless and lost. This makes me more willing to consider their circumstances rather than deal with them casually.
When someone trusts us and pays a fee, we should be all the more serious about using the expertise with which we can help. Giving my best describes an attitude toward work: clearly explain what I know and can do, then do it properly. The conversation aims to make matters understandable and help the person see how they might face what comes next.