Compassion and Vows
Must prayers always be free of deadlines? What about an actual contractual deadline?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
Not necessarily. First consider where the deadline comes from. When I advise against setting a deadline for a wish, it is because saying, “I must find a job within a month,” can immediately bring fear: what if I do not? That discussion concerned belief, fear and anxiety over gaining or losing something. It did not mean we cannot plan our time in everyday life.
For example, if a real estate contract lasts only a month, hoping to complete the sale within that period reflects an existing condition of the matter. It is different from adding a deadline out of fear. I explicitly said then that time itself was not the problem. These distinctions need to be understood together.
So do not remember only “set no deadline” and abandon contracts or everyday arrangements. Belief should fit your actual life and be accompanied by action. If you want a job, you still need to submit applications and prepare. You cannot simply send out a wish and do nothing yourself.