Good morning fellow students. Yesterday we lectured on the sentence, “One’s life span will be reduced by beings and spirits of heaven and earth according to the magnitude of one’s transgressions”.

These are all facts and not just ways used by the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas and sages to convince us to eliminate bad deeds and to cultivate good deeds. Thinking this is wrong. The teachings of the Enlightened Beings and sages are genuine. There are innumerable ways to advise and guide people. We should not use deceit because when our dishonesty is discovered, our credibility will be gone. In many countries, like the United States and Australia, once we are caught deceiving a government department, everything is recorded and after that, we are considered untrustworthy. Honesty is valued in worldly teachings and even more so in the teachings of the enlightened beings and great sages. It is best to earnestly practice what they have taught us.

Enlightened Beings have told us that although there are spiritual beings observing our behavior, things would be different if we are able to change our viewpoints. Worldly sages taught us to “Curb our wandering thoughts and become a sage”. Moreover, heavenly and earthly spirits respect and protect the sages and even more so Enlightened Beings. The commentary quoted from the “Flower Adornment Sutra” explaining that the ancient patriarchs taught us that the way to improve is to begin with our most difficult to correct fault. When we can restrain our thoughts we will be able to start anew. We need to reflect daily on our behavior. When we are able to correct our most serious faults, then it will be easy to correct minor faults.

Both ancient and modern prophecies predict that major disasters will occur in the three years of 1999, 2000 and 2001. How are these disasters formed? By the negative karma of sentient beings. This is the principle of request and response. These prophecies could be wrong. However, when we closely observe people and society, we see that they are out of character, rejecting virtuous teachings and accepting those that are immoral. They shake their heads in disagreement with the Ten Good Conducts and nod in agreement with the Ten Bad Conducts. People have constant thoughts of greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance and deceit and of wanting to control and possess others, matters and objects. They constantly indulge in self benefit at the expense of others. What can be done!

I have said many times that harming others does not benefit us. However, people continue to think that gains can be made at others’ expense. Actually, harming others is harming ourselves. The little benefit obtained (from harming others) in this life results in endless suffering in the Three Lower Realms after we die. Understanding this, we will find that our present sufferings are trivial. Endurance in this life will yield the good fortune to be born into the human and heaven realms. Better yet, chanting “Amituofo” and seeking birth into the Western Pure Land will lead to Buddhahood. This is the greatest of all possible benefits.

If we want to really gain true benefits, we need to correct our faults. There is no alternative. The difference between ordinary beings and Enlightened Beings lies in the mind. The mind of an Enlightened Being is sincere, pure, equal and compassionate while that of most people is just the opposite; false, deceitful, polluted, inequitable and selfish. Reform must start from inside our minds. The mind of true sincerity, purity and equality can eliminate all karmic obstacles accumulated over infinite eons. The Mahayana sutras teach us that “The mind encompasses the universe and all Buddha Lands”. It is often said in Buddhism that “Compassion is the essence, accommodating means are the way to guide people with different capacities”. Compassion is sincere loving-kindness. Pure and equal loving-kindness is compassion that encompasses the whole universe. In religious teachings, it is often spoken of how “ God loves everyone”.

Thus, we come to realize that the only one genuine thing in the whole universe is loving-kindness. Loving and caring for all sentient beings in the universe is truly loving ourselves. The sutras clearly explain the true reality and the Law of Cause and Effect. If we practice in accordance with these teachings, then would the heavenly and earthly spirits who monitor our deeds be able to record our faults and shorten our life? It is unlikely because we would have transcended their jurisdiction. But if we use our false minds, still have wandering and discriminatory thoughts, attachments and improper thoughts and behavior, then we would remain within their jurisdiction. We would do well to understand this.

In the commentary, there is a detailed and very meaningful account of a man named Mr. Yong-Yu Wang from the Ming Dynasty. From this actual case, we realize that “One sip, one bite, everything is destined.” Who destined these? We did. We can recreate our own destiny if we are able to refrain from all that is bad and do all that is good. For three generations starting from Mr. Wang’s grandfather, his family had been accumulating merits. Throughout their lives, they never cheated anyone, sincerely interacted with people, handled matters and objects, were willing to sacrifice themselves to benefit others and took great pleasure in helping others. They fulfilled their filial piety towards parents and met their responsibilities. So, their rewards were obvious. We have heard that in ancient times the accumulation of hidden merits and virtues was the primary key to obtain scholarly honor or official rank through the imperial examination system. Because Mr. Wang’s ancestors had accumulated virtues and the condition had matured, he passed the examination. Thus, good luck or bad luck, good fortune or misfortune are all the results of our cultivation. We would do well to know this. We need to pay special attention and understand that until we attain clarity of mind and can see into our self-nature, we are merely accumulating good fortune.

A few days ago, I heard that Master Xiang-Yun who had suddenly become ill, was still unconscious in the hospital. Why is it that monks and nuns cannot compare to laypeople in the way they die? Here, in Singapore, we have seen numerous laypeople showing wonderful signs of being born into the Western Pure Land. Last year, we visit Dr. Lin, president of The Great Compassion Bodhisattva’s Relief of Sufferings Society. Many of us had assisted him with Buddha name chanting. He was conscious and clear-minded when he passed away. He had said to everyone, “I cannot see you, all I see is golden light”. Then, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas escorted him to the Western Pure Land. We have heard of numerous cases like this and of inconceivable responses obtained during sutra recitation and Buddha name chanting. Although these experiences are encountered, we do not talk about them. As long as we sincerely learn and practice the teachings, refrain from all wrongdoings and practice good deeds, mindfully chant “Amituofo” and seek birth into the Pure Land, we will be assured of being born there.

We also read of another account from the Song Dynasty. A Zen master, Master An of Guang-Xiao Temple, saw two monks having a conversation during one of his meditation sessions. First, he saw heavenly guardians standing next to them but not before long, the heavenly spirits left and bad spirits surrounded them. The latter spit at and reviled them. Why? Initially, the two monks were discussing Buddhism, which brought the heavenly spirits to guard them. As, their conversation shifted to fame and fortune, bad spirits were attracted.

We need to realize that for every virtuous thought we have, we will be supported by the Buddhas and heavenly guardians while every improper thought we have will incur demons and bad spirits. These bad spirits denounce those who discuss worldly affairs. If our thoughts are of prestige and wealth, then we are already committing offenses. We can see that the three karmas of thoughts, words and deeds of people today far exceed those of the two monks who had at least discussed Buddhism a little. Today unfortunately, meetings often revolve around prestige and wealth. Who wants to discuss Buddhism? Consequently, proper teachings have weakened and bad spirits have become stronger.

When propagating Buddhism, we are bound to encounter obstacles. As long as our thoughts and behavior are proper, we should live one day and do good deeds for one day. In all good deeds, propagating Buddhism is a foremost virtuous deed. Several people asked me how a learning center should be established. It is not difficult to establish one. The difficulty lies in whether it was founded on the principles of cultivation (the path to enlightenment). What are the “principles”? Lectures on the Buddha’s teachings must be held. Today, many people from around the world come to Singapore to learn. Many have praised the Buddhist Lodge and it’s prosperity. Why is it prosperous? Dharma lectures are held three hundred sixty-five days a year without interruption while Buddha’s name chanting continues twenty-four hours every day in the Cultivation Hall. This is why the Buddhist Lodge is prosperous. Everyone, from management to employees and practitioners, has similar goals and gets along harmoniously. Thus, daily lectures and Buddha name chanting are crucial to a learning center. If these are interrupted for three days, then people will start to have differences in opinions and give rise to discriminatory thoughts and attachments. When this happens, it is no longer a learning center. We would do well to understand this principle.

Dharma lecturers are to be ardently nurtured. How? Through practice lectures on stage. If we cannot lecture daily on stage, then how can we become good lecturers? If we want to lecture well on a sutra, we have to lecture every day on stage, sincerely and respectfully accept others’ critiques and earnestly correct our mistakes. In this way, we can improve. To become a good lecturer, we not only need to learn lecturing skills, but also aspire to practice the Way. Every word we speak needs to come from our true nature. Results cannot be obtained with good skills alone. We need to truly cultivate. Only when we achieve results in cultivation will we truly be able to help others and receive wonderful responses with them.

This passage in the “Accounts of Request and Response” reminds us to be aware that spiritual beings dwell three feet over our heads. This is the truth. We would do well to be vigilant (over our deeds) and earnestly practice according to the teachings. We hope to elevate our level of cultivation and to surpass the jurisdiction of spiritual beings. By doing this, we will attain true cultivation. This is all for today. Thank You.