For know, dear ones, that every one of us is undoubtedly responsible for all men- and everything on earth, not merely through the general sinfulness of creation, but each one personally for all mankind and every individual man. This knowledge is the crown of life for the monk and for every man. For monks are not a special sort of men, but only what all men ought to be. Only through that knowledge, our heart grows soft with infinite, universal, inexhaustible love. Then every one of you will have the power to win over the whole world by love and to wash away the sins of the world with your tears. Fyodor Dostoyevsky
About This Quote

In the Buddhist story of Amida Buddha , a man named Dharmakara is seen as a grave robber who is sentenced to death by his king. A priest happens upon him and asks him to leave this world and go become a monk. Dharmakara refuses saying that he would never be able to do so. The priest sees that Dharmakara has no idea what it means to practice the dharma, to live the life of a monk, because he has no idea what it means to suffer.

However, after years of practicing the dharma, the priest sees that Dharmakara has deep wisdom because he knows how suffering affects his mind and heart. He also knows what it means to relinquish everything in order to find peace. He understands the suffering in this world because he has experienced it himself.

And he understands the suffering in his own mind because he still suffers from it every day. Because of this, Dharmakara is able to help all beings escape suffering by teaching them how they can be free from suffering by following the dharma. Because of this, dharma is the greatest glory in living.

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