The Importance of Ordination Amidst Life's Uncertainties : หน้า 150/207

I have seen parents make funeral arrangements for their children, grandparents for their grandchildren. It should not be this way, and I certainly did not want this to happen to me. But since life is so unpredictable, the priority was ordination. Besides, my mother’s health was deteriorating; my grandmother was getting very senile, and if I delayed the ordination any longer, they might be too weak to know. I should do it as soon as possible. And then my decision was swayed. Upon graduation, I was offered a very good job, the workload consumed me, and thoughts of ordination were pushed aside. It must have been my past merit coming to help me, for one day, the senior monk who knew about my earlier intention came to guide me. His first words were, “How about ordaining this coming rain retreat?” I hesitated for a while, but finally said, “I still have a lot of assignments on hand, I don’t think I should leave now.” As if he had expected my answer, he retorted, “If you die today, your bosses are not going to care enough to forward you any merit.” His reply was like lightning in the dark. It jolted me to think that if I died today, my mother and grandmother would be the only ones who would care enough to share their merits with me. Once this thought flashed in my head, I instantly resolved to ordain during the rain retreat.