Our lives are short. However, we are unbelievably fortunate to have been born as humans, able to learn and understand that the Law of Cause and Effect is unchangeable, is permanent. We reap what we sow. By sowing good causes, we reap good consequences: sowing bad causes, we reap bad consequences. Even beings with perfect understanding, wisdom, and compassion cannot alter this reality.
However, with the causes that we have already planted, we can learn how to alter our catalytic conditions before they come into effect. Furthermore, we need to refrain from committing any more bad deeds and to do more good deeds, to distance ourselves from adverse conditions. In some cases, this can reduce or eliminate the bad effect. In this way, we can control our own consequences, transform our environment, and change the direction in which we are currently headed.
We are learning of more and more prophecies that speak of upcoming disasters, even of the end of the world. These prophecies also tell us that these could either be reduced or delayed or even prevented if we replaced our incorrect ways with those that are good, with those that benefit others and not ourselves. But if we do not turn back now, then it will be very hard to avoid them.
It is crucial that people understand that using physical force cannot solve problems, for even if we destroy a country, even if we detonate enough bombs to wipe out the face of the earth, it still will not solve our problems. We cannot waste this opportunity but need to cultivate in a sincere and diligent manner, to apply the principles with unselfish thought and behavior. To be good, to be warm, to be sincere, to put all our efforts into helping others. In this way, all that is good will come our way.
Buddha Shakyamuni told us that there are three cataclysmic disasters in this world: fire, water, and wind. Fire is caused when we feel jealousy, feel hatred. Where do floods come from? From our greed. Disasters caused by wind are the result of ignorance.
If we want to avoid or to be rid of these, we must sever our greed, anger, ignorance, and arrogance. We should neither feel greed for worldly teaching nor for any other teachings. For to feel the slightest trace will block us from severing the mind of greed - will block us from eradicating the disasters, which are increasing in both frequency and severity. This is very important. These have been predicted by many ancient prophecies from respected religious leaders in many different countries. Three thousand years ago Buddha Shakyamuni told us of the partial destruction of the world, which would be from war, epidemic, and famine. He told of a war that would last for seven days and seven nights, then an epidemic that would last for seven months and seven days, and finally, a famine that would last for seven years, seven months and seven days. In the past, it was difficult to imagine how a war could last just seven days but have such devastating results. It was beyond imagination.
But anyone who has been to Hiroshima or Nagasaki would realize that the Buddha was describing nuclear warfare. In Nagasaki, after the atomic explosion, many people survived the explosion itself, but were infected with atomic fallout and consequently many of them died during the first six months. This can be described as an epidemic. The radiation sickness that results from atomic fallout is insidious. It starts by destroying one white cell and gradually progresses until there is massive cell destruction then uncontrolled bleeding, and finally, death. Anyone, who was still alive at least seven months after the detonation would be considered as having survived the immediate effects of the bomb.
For years after the explosion, there were no trees - no plants - no grass: all was barren. The trees and grass started to grow approximately eight years after the detonation of the bombs. It was as we had been told: the ground would grow nothing for seven years, seven months, seven days. In this period, all will suffer from famine.
From this, we realize that the partial destruction of the world that was told to us by the Buddha is indeed that of nuclear warfare. Could it really happen? Many believe it is very likely. Access to nuclear weapons is becoming more widespread, more difficult to control. No one knows how long this tentative control can be maintained. Very honestly, the only way to attain real control is to encourage and help all to understand the need to prevent human made tragedies. If we observe the world situation objectively, then we will see that it is very difficult to avoid this probable disaster.
If the war were to happen now, half of the world's population could be killed. How can we escape such a war? We need to stop all bad thoughts, speech, and behavior and to accumulate good deeds. How? By ceasing all selfish ideas, by constantly thinking of how to benefit all others, by letting go of our own interest for the sake of others. This will help us to avoid all that is bad and embrace all that is good. But, if our every thought is only of ourselves, it will be very difficult for us to avoid even more problems.
Why do we persist in our anger, our hatred, our fighting? Why do we have conflicts, the inability to tolerate others? Why do we seem so determined to keep heading towards the brink? Selfishness. Wrong viewpoints. The inability to truly care for others. The inability to truly understand that everything arises from our minds. The inability to understand that every thought we have is instantly felt throughout the entire universe.
We need to let go of our selfishness and comprehend that the whole universe is our home and that we are one with the universe. We have the same self-nature as enlightened beings. The difference between them and us is that they comprehend this. All sentient beings have been our past parents. All sentient beings are future enlightened beings. Understanding this, how can we not be respectful to all beings? How can we possibly harm them?
We originally had this comprehension, this great broad mindedness. Then why are we so narrow minded now? We are deluded, unable to see through our false beliefs and wrong viewpoints. Our innate wisdom and abilities are thus temporarily lost to us. However, if we can break through this delusion, then we will be able to uncover this wisdom for it is not permanently lost. In the Flower Adornment Sutra, we can see the broad-mindedness of enlightened beings. All of the infinite and countless numbers of beings at the assembly who gathered to hear this unsurpassed teaching are one. If we could just understand this true reality and expand our minds, then we too would recognize that no matter what race, what religion, what culture, we are all one. With this wisdom, discrimination, misunderstanding, and conflict among beings would naturally diminish. First, human made tragedies would be avoided. Then what we think of, as natural tragedies would likewise dissolve.
The environment changes with our minds. When our minds are serene and compassionate, our living environment will become tranquil and peaceful. Today our living environment is being polluted and destroyed. Some say that the earth is rapidly becoming unsuitable for living. How did this happen? It is the result of the bad intentions and deeds of we human beings and this is the real reason for what is happening today. To save our world, we need to use great wisdom to help those who are deluded to become awakened. How? Through education. All the great sages have used education to overcome ignorance.
Recently, a practitioner asked how he could be assured of being freed from the cycle of birth and death, from reincarnation. He was told to let go of all desires, good, or bad. We cannot be truly free if we have not yet let go and we cannot let go because we are still clinging to something. Find it. We must find it! If we cannot, then even if we are born into the highest level of heaven, where we will live through eighty thousand cycles of creation, existence, and complete annihilation of the world, we will still be mired, still be lost in the cycle of birth and death. What can we do? Find out what we are clinging to and LET GO! Let go of all attachments. Let go of all feelings of gain and loss. Let go of discriminating and wandering thoughts. Let go of the thought of how others treat us. Let go of the thought of those who owe us, of those we owe.
