Greetings to everyone. In the Chinese classic, “I Ching, the Book of Changes”, we read that “A family that accumulates goodness is certain to have abundant happiness and a family that accumulates evil is certain to have abundant misery". “Certain” means that there is no doubt about it. In other words, there is no doubt in the certainty in the Law of Cause and Effect. It is the truth. If we are willing to perform good deeds and accumulate merits and virtues, then our good fortunes will naturally follow. If however, we only do bad deeds, then even though our families or ancestors may have accumulated good fortune, or we were born into a wealthy and reputable family, our reputation will eventually be ruined and the family will decline.

Not only are examples of this found throughout history, but if we were to observe carefully, we can also find them in our present society, whether in the east or the west. This proves that what ancient people said is true and accurate. The principle of response and retribution helps us to recognize and understand the Law of Cause and Effect as well as providing us with the standards to use for our daily conduct. Thus, we will naturally watch over and restrain our every rising thought, word and deed. The sages teach us to welcome good fortunes, avoid misfortunes, refrain from wrongdoings and practice good deeds. This is education. Unfortunately, this education no longer exists today. Then, what exactly is being taught at government educational institutions?

In my early years as a monk at Ling-Ji Temple in Yuan Mountain, one of my daily chores was to sweep the leaves from the large front yard where there were many trees. One day, several students passed by on their way to go sightseeing on Yuan Mountain. Upon seeing their bearing and conduct were not like those of educated people, I sighed and said, “It is a pity that these people are uneducated.” I said this to the monks who were sweeping the yard with me, but the students overheard our conversation. They turned around and asked me, “ Did you say that we are uneducated?” I replied, “Yes, you do not behave like educated people”. The student argued, “We are fourth year students in the Law School at Taiwan University. How can you say that we are uneducated?”

I said, ”Okay, if you say that you are, then explain what education is?” He could not answer. Thus, his bluster dissolved and he calmed down. That was forty years ago. Students then were different from those of today. After he had calmed down, he turned around and asked for my advice. I then told him that education teaches us how to conduct ourselves as decent people. “Have you been taught this before? He replied "No!”

The objectives of ancient Chinese education have remained unchanged from the Xia, Shang and Zhou Dynasties till the last years of the Ching Dynasty (a period of approximately four thousand years). There are three goals in education. First, it teaches us the relationship between humans. To be filial and respectful to parents, teachers and elders and to love and live harmoniously with siblings and friends. Second, it teaches us the relationship between humans and nature. Third, it teaches us the relationship between humans and spirits of heaven and earth.

“Have you learned these before?" "No". This education teaches us how to apply these principles in our daily lives. So, just by looking at your appearance, I can tell that you are uneducated. He then asked, “What do you think college education is?” “Good question. You are now studying at a 'Knowledge Learning Institute'”. “Does this name seem reasonable to you?" I asked. I further explained that an “Advanced Knowledge Learning Institute” is a more accurate name for today’s colleges. It is not education. People these days have discarded and forgotten true education. What else is there to say?

Thus, there are reasons for people’s sufferings and chaos in society. Societies only know about the teaching of scientific technology and have discarded fundamental education. We read in the Preface of Master Qing-Lian’s Commentary on the “Earth Treasure Sutra” that there are three objectives of the Buddha’s teachings. First, refrain from wrongdoing and practice good deeds. Second, break through delusion and become awakened. Third, change from an ordinary person to a sage.

I have said in lectures that we are taught to stop committing bad deeds and to accomplish good deeds. This is to prevent us from falling into the three bad realms. From this, we can still obtain the good fortunes of humans and heavenly beings in this and future lifetimes. This is education. Second, changing our delusions to awakening helps us to transcend reincarnation in the six realms to the Four Sage Realms of Sound-hearer, Pratyekabuddha, Bodhisattva and Buddha of the Ten Dharma Realms. We change our delusions to awakening, to unceasingly elevate our state of mind. This is education. Last, the final goal is changing from an ordinary person to a sage, transcending the Ten Dharma Realms.

In pursuing clarity of mind to uncover our self-nature, we become Buddhas. This is education. On the other hand, what are we taught today? We are taught scientific technology and we use this knowledge and our skills to create karma. A few days ago, a practitioner from Australia told me that outstanding people like scientists are extremely bright to have invented atomic bombs and nuclear weapons. But once invented, these bombs and weapons are used to kill hundred of thousands of people. The retribution of these outstanding and talented people will be in the Avici Hell.

Confucianism and Buddhism do not teach people to do such deeds. Buddhist sutras and precepts tell us that creating these weapons to kill sentient beings is equal to committing the most serious offense, that of killing. In the past, making weapons like bows and arrows was already considered a most serious offense. The Buddha clearly explained that when we kill an animal, “the human will be born a sheep and the sheep will be born a human”. There will be no end to the revenge. We cannot even repay the karmic debt incurred for killing one animal, not to mention the killing of a huge number of people! We will fall into the Hell Realms.

People often say, “It will take infinite eons to turn ourselves around.” This is the truth. I have said this many times and still need to repeat it many more times. Why? Because we cannot understand and remember what this means. Originally, this world was multicultural. It is impossible to change it into a monoculture. Why? How do we know this is impossible? Our body is a small universe. The external environment is the great universe. The great and small universes are all one. However, since the great universe is complex, our small universe will be as well.

Buddhism teaches that our minds and environments are equal. Our bodies have various parts. Our eyes cannot do what our ears do. Our ears cannot smell and our nose cannot taste. It is multicultural. How can we integrate them? Is it possible to say that I only want the eyes and nothing else? No. They are diverse cultures and yet every one is first. No one is second. Our eyes are foremost in seeing, our ears are foremost in hearing and our nose is foremost in smelling. All are first; none are second. As soon as one is second, conflicts will arise. So, there is no second. From this, we realize that all existing phenomena in the entire universe are first. Nothing is second.

Thus, when I visit the leaders of various religions, we often talk about being first. Everything is first. Buddhism, Christianity and Islam are all first. In this way, all of our problems will be solved. Buddhist sutras are first; the Holy Bible and the Koran are also first. When all of our problems are resolved, we can all live together harmoniously. If what I believe is true and what you believe is false, how would we not fight? And to fight until we kill each other is the most serious karmic offense. This only brings continuous revenge.

The Buddha taught us that the difference between ordinary beings and sages is that the former are deluded and the latter are awakened. In a moment of awakening, one is a Buddha, Bodhisattva or a sage. Awakened to what? Awakened to the fact that all teachings and phenomena are equal and that everyone is foremost. When we read the “Flower Adornment Sutra”, we will see that from beginning to end, everything is first. Nothing is second. In the “Surangama Sutra”, we have read the “Twenty-five Methods to Perfect Complete Realization”, which is represented by twenty-five Bodhisattvas. Everyone is first. No one is second. Once we understand that all teachings are equal, that all are first we will mutually respect one another. Love and respect for others will naturally arise from within us. Only in this way, can all of our problems be solved, and can stability and peace exist in the world.

All sentient beings can equally live happy and fulfilling life. Today, many leaders often repeat these words. However, their conduct actually disturbs and destroys peace. Their conduct completely violates their thoughts and speech. Why? Frankly speaking, it is because they have not been truly educated. Today, this problem has developed until it has now reached its most critical stage, the annihilation of our world. Christianity and Catholicism call it Doomsday or Armageddon. When is Armageddon? It is this year, 1999.

We are very fortunate to live in this time. Can these great disasters be resolved? Yes. The Buddha tells us that “the environment changes with our minds”. He explained that natural and human-made disasters are the dependent reward, our environment and minds are the proper reward. As long as we refrain from wrongdoing and practice good deeds, break through delusion and become awakened, then these disasters will be resolved.

If the conditions to establish our Amitabha Village have not yet matured, we can first establish a cultivation hall and a lecture hall. This will be my twelfth year of lecturing in Singapore. I am deeply grateful to Mr. Bock-Guan Lee for his dedicated support, for adorning this way place. Now everyone comes to see the cultivation and lecture halls at the Singapore Buddhist Lodge. Why did we do it this way? To help all sentient beings eliminate and avert from these disasters. Whom do we lecture for? We lecture for all sentient beings in the universe and for all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Why do we chant “Amituofo”? Certainly not simply for ourselves but for all sentient beings and to eliminate disasters. The merits will be small if we do this for ourselves but will be great if we do this for all sentient beings.

In Buddhism, accumulating merits and virtues are not based on the physical aspect but on the intention. It is to be broad-minded. What is broadmindedness? Our mind is broad when we constantly think of others and all sentient beings. But, on the other hand, if our every thought is for ourselves, our own family, community and our way place, then our merits will be small. As the Buddha told us, “the environment changes with our minds”.

What is Proper Reward? It is our mind. All existing things arise from our minds and change with our perceptions. Therefore, our minds can transform the environment and all existing things. From where do we begin practicing Buddhism? Begin by practicing the intentions, understanding and conduct of Bodhisattvas. Most important are the aspirations and vows of Bodhisattvas. These are basic to learning Buddhism. When the basics are correct, everything else will also be correct.

The “Treatise of Response and Retribution” begins with the aspirations and vows of sages and teaches us how to put them into practice when interacting with people, matters and objects in our daily lives. Ancient virtuous people said that this treatise provides us with the steps to ascend from ordinary beings to sages and is the key to changing misfortunes into good fortunes. Throughout Chinese history, many people had practiced in accordance with the teachings in this treatise. The responses that they received were unusually wonderful. Numerous cases and accounts used in this compilation explain the results from practicing good or bad deeds. Compared to what we see in life, these accounts are still very limited.

Cases and accounts on response and retribution are too numerous to count. If we observe carefully, these can be seen all around us. How can we not believe and practice accordingly? It is logical that Master Yin-Guang used the treatise as the base of Pure Land practice. A Pure Land practitioner who truly practices the teachings of response and retribution and who chants “Amituofo” is assured of being born into the Western Pure Land. If our conduct violates the teachings of response and retribution, then even our chanting “Amituofo” will not ensure our birth into the Pure Land. Thus, throughout his life, Master Yin-Guang put all his efforts advocating this teaching. We should realize that this was due to his high level of wisdom, great compassion and kindness. Thus, we ought to be respectful, grateful and abide by these teachings to repay our gratitude. This is all for today. Thank You.