A World Free of Conflicts

by Venerable Wu Ling


In recent years, our world has become beset with adversities and our lives filled with increasing unhappiness. As time goes on, these adversities will become more and more severe, more and more frequent. Someone asked how the compassionate Buddha and Bodhisattvas help all sentient beings to be free from pain. They do this by teaching us to overcome greed, anger, and ignorance so that our minds will no longer be deluded, but awakened, by teaching us the Law of Cause and Effect.

To end our suffering, we first have to know what causes it. As human beings, we undergo the sufferings of birth, old age, sickness, and death. We suffer hardships, the inability to attain what we seek, separation from those we love, and association with those whom we resent or even hate. We are surrounded by all of these with no apparent way of being truly free. 

We need to understand that catalytic conditions or circumstances have to exist for a cause to generate an effect. By controlling these catalytic conditions, we can have some influence on our consequences. We need to practice good deeds during our lifetime to generate good karma. Then we will truly appreciate that living a happy and fulfilling life is the karmic result generated from a good cause and a good condition, and this is the way to attain liberation from suffering and to attain happiness.

Today, many of us feel the weight of our negative karma as we witness the unhappiness and suffering around us. They are caused by our selfish and erroneous behavior, by our choosing to benefit ourselves at the expense of others. How do we remove this negative karma? How do we prevent further occurrences? By dedicating ourselves to helping and benefiting society, by not protecting ourselves while harming others.

Most of us have the sub-conscious desire to control other people, animals, even inanimate objects. But by letting go of this attachment, we can be liberated. Awakened beings live their lives with great ease. They fulfill their responsibility of advising and educating sentient beings by explaining to them the true reality of life and the universe, the Law of Cause and Effect by explaining that every cause, every thought, word and action has a result.

Whatever people decide to do, it is their choice, their consequence. We simply accord with the condition as we educate them and then leave the rest up to them. By doing this, our minds will remain serene, as it generates the concentration and thus the wisdom to effectively interact with people, matters, and objects. The benefits that can be derived from such practice are infinite and boundless. Not only can our present suffering be resolved, but our negative karma accumulated over infinite life times can be eliminated as well.

Why then are we unable to realize the true benefit? Because we are obstructed by our own negative karma, unable to see what is right before our very eyes. We are constantly reminded by the images of awakened beings. Constantly prompted by our reciting the sutra, impelled by our daily chanting and listening to Dharma talks. Yet, we still are unable to truly comprehend the teachings, still unable to apply the principles in our daily lives. 

We cannot blame the Buddha and Bodhisattvas for not helping. The fact is they are trying to; we are not paying attention. We have a wondrous and rare chance that is about to slip by us. To be born as human beings who are able to hear the teachings is an unbelievably rare opportunity, not encountered for millions of years. It is as rare as a bubble rising to the surface of a vast sea and breaking the surface of that sea within inside the one wreath of flowers that is floating upon it. 

Allowing this to happen will be a tragic mistake that is entirely of our own making. To prevent this from happening, we need to reflect and feel remorse for our mistakes. This is a learning process that will enable us to overcome our afflictions and bad habits and thus to remove our negative karma. How do we do this? By feeling deep regret for our mistakes and vowing to not commit them again. Daily practice will help to decrease our negative karma. It is to practice in the midst of society, not to be separated from it. Our goal is the mind of sincerity, purity, equality, compassion, and awakening. Only with this mind will we be able to solve all problems. They cannot be solved by physical force, by war. They are solved with gentleness and loving-kindness toward all other beings, animate and inanimate. 

It is in our best interest to be rid of the desire to control, for it will only result in our committing further transgressions, thus increasing our negative karma. No one can truly control another. History provides us with many examples of countries that tried to use force to control another country; Hitler’s invasion of Europe, the Japanese invasion of China, the Russians in Afghanistan and the United States in Vietnam. All failed.

Instead of those countries spending huge sums of money on warfare, they could have spent the money on caring for and supporting people who were suffering hardships. In this way, they would have peacefully won them over. Or they could have used the money to educate their own citizens, to help them become self-sufficient, to pay more attention to internal needs instead of constantly interfering with external affairs.

Our every thought needs to be of benefiting all sentient-beings. Not only in our behavior should we never hurt any sentient beings, but also we should never give rise to a single hostile thought or say anything that can cause distress to others. If we can truly follow this teaching then in our daily lives no matter what we do, there will be great goodness, great gentleness. This is the way to truly influence people, with loving-kindness and compassion. Using physical force to try to solve problems will not only create enemies, but will also generate the cause to be born into the hell realms. By practicing in accordance with the teachings, we will achieve results; for in this way we will transform our minds. Since everything is a reflection of our minds, everything can be transformed by our minds. When we accord with the teachings, our thoughts will change; our actions will be proper and correct.

We would do well to let go of selfishness, to only have thoughts that benefit others. Instead, we are wrapped up in our own concerns, thinking only of protecting the interests of ourselves, our group or our country. This way of thinking has led to quarrels between people, feuds between families, and wars between countries. It has led to massive damage on both sides: the tragic loss of lives, the excessive monetary cost, the disastrous destruction of land, the final destruction of friendships and peace and the grave consequences incurred due to the Law of Cause and Effect.

Our complete lack of concern for plants, living and non-living creatures of our natural environment has resulted in the destruction of our environment. Ultimately, we are the ones who suffer from this negligence and lack of compassion. We are all one entity, one being, all interrelated closely with one another. Everything, including us arises from the coming together of causes, so to harm others is to harm ourselves. 

Once we truly comprehend this, we will have no more problems. Being overly concerned with our own interests and those of our group and country, is the root cause of all misfortunes and adversities. Taking care of this problem solves everything else. When we practice accordingly, with proper and caring behavior, we will see an increase in our good karma and a decrease in our bad. In turn, our suffering will be reduced or eliminated and we will experience a favorable change in our circumstances.

When we give rise to one single bad thought of inequality, we turn a favorable situation into an unfavorable one. However, with one single good thought of equality, the Buddha realm will appear in that moment. When we give rise to one single thought of holy beings, the Heaven realms will appear in that moment. Likewise, with one thought of greed, anger, or ignorance, our daily lives will become unsettled and unmanageable. However, with one thought of purity, our lives will become harmonious and peaceful.

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; by 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 teachings 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 - 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, and 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.

Only with purity of mind can we let go and only then can we attain genuine and permanent happiness. If we cannot do this, then we are truly lost for our vows; our beliefs are not sincere enough. No matter how much we practice, we will be unable to be free, serene and at peace. For we are still clinging to one of the five desires of wealth: lust, fame, food, drink, and sleep. Still discriminating between what we perceive as right or wrong. Greed for these will lead us into the downward spiral of the three bad realms.

And although, with enough good karma, we can go to the highest heavenly realm of Neither Thought nor Non-thought, where the beings have a life span of 80 thousand eons; with enough bad karma we go to the hell realms, where the beings have a life span of infinite eons. When compared to 80 thousand eons, the time spent in the hell realms is unbelievably long. When we consider the time spent in this world compared to the other realms, our time here is a flash of lightning, a drop of dew, a fleeting cloud; it is inconsequential.

Today, we still have obstacles due to our lack of understanding. Why can we not let go? We are still clinging to something. Because of this clinging, we are still mired, still lost in the cycle of birth and death, and still lost in the ten realms of existence. We need to know that if we cannot transcend the cycle of birth and death, most of our time will be spent in the three bad realms. Greed is the cause of the karma that results in our being born into the hungry ghost realm. Anger is the cause of our being born into the hell realm. Then why are we born into the animal realm? Because we were ignorant. Allow me to give you an example.

Once upon a time, there was a very famous priest in a very old religion. He decided it was the right day to perform the ritual sacrificing of a goat. In his ignorance, he thought this was an offering demanded by his god. He obtained an appropriate goat for the sacrifice. He ordered his servants to take the goat to the holy river, wash him, and decorate him with flower garlands. Then they were to wash themselves, as part of the purification practice.

Down at the riverbank, the goat suddenly understood that today he would definitely be killed. He also became aware of his past births and deaths, and rebirths. He realized that the results of his past unwholesome deeds were about to finally be completed. So, he laughed an uproarious goat-laugh, like the clanging of cymbals. In the midst of his laughter, he realized another truth - that the priest, by sacrificing him, would suffer the same terrible results, due to his ignorance. So, he began to cry as loudly as he had just been laughing!

The servants, who were bathing in the holy river, heard first the laughing and then the crying. They were amazed. They asked the goat, "Why did you loudly laugh and then just as loudly cry? What is the reason for this?" He replied, “I will tell you the reason. But it must be in the presence of your master, the priest." Since they were very curious, they immediately took the sacrificial goat to the priest. They explained all that had happened. The priest too, became very curious. He respectfully asked the goat, "Sir, why did you laugh so loudly, and then just as loudly cry?"

The goat, remembering his past lives, said, "A long time ago, I too was a priest who, like you, was well educated in the sacred religious rites. I thought that to sacrifice a goat was a necessary offering to my god, which would benefit others, as well as myself in future rebirths. However, the true result of my action was that in my next 499 lives, I myself have been beheaded!

"While being prepared for the sacrifice, I realized that today it is inevitable that I will lose my head for the 500th time. Then I will finally be free of all the results of my unwholesome deed of so long ago. The joy of this made me laugh uncontrollably. Then I suddenly realized that you, the priest, were about to repeat the same unwholesome action, and would be doomed to the same result of having your head chopped off in your next 500 lives! So, out of compassion and sympathy, my laughter turned to tears."

The priest was afraid this goat might be right, so he said, "Well, sir goat, I will not kill you." The goat replied, "Reverend priest, even if you do not kill me, I know that today I will lose my head and finally be released from the results of my past unwholesome action." The priest said, "Don't be afraid, my fine goat. I will provide the very best protection and personally guarantee that no harm will come to you." But the goat said, "Oh priest, your protection is very weak, compared to the power of my unwholesome deed to cause its necessary results."

So the priest canceled the sacrifice, and began to have doubts about killing innocent animals. He released the goat and, along with his servants, followed him in order to protect him from any danger. The goat wandered into a rocky place. He saw some tender leaves on a branch and stretched out his neck to reach them. All of a sudden, a thunderstorm appeared out of nowhere. A lightning bolt struck an over-hanging rock, and cut off a sharp slab, which fell and chopped off the goat's head! He died instantly, and the thunderstorm disappeared.

There was a fairy that lived in a nearby tree and he had seen everything that had happened. He appeared, gently fluttering in the air overhead. He began to teach the curious people, saying, "Look at what happened to this poor goat. This was the result of killing animals! All beings are born, and suffer through sickness, old age, and death. But all wish to live, and not to die. Not seeing that all have this in common, some kill other living beings. This causes suffering also to those who kill, both now and in countless future rebirths.

"Being ignorant that all deeds must cause results to the doer, some continue to kill and heap up more suffering on themselves in the future. Each time they kill, a part of themselves must also die in this present life and the suffering continues even by rebirth in hell worlds!" Those who heard the fairy speak felt that they were very lucky indeed. They gave up their ignorant killing, and were far better off, both in this life, and in pleasant rebirths.

Fellow practitioners and guests, please listen carefully. The Law of Cause and Effect is unchangeable, immutable. Our greed, anger, ignorance, and arrogance have resulted in disasters that are increasing in both frequency and severity and are approaching a scale that is impossible for us to imagine. 

Everything arises from our minds. But just as we have given rise to the cause of this approaching disaster, we can also give rise to another, greater cause that can maybe reduce or possibly even prevent it from happening. We must replace thoughts of self with thoughts of all others. We must give up feelings of pride, the desires for fame and wealth. We must let go of thoughts of trying to control others. Let go of narrow-mindedness and biased viewpoints. Let go of criticizing, of blaming, of gossiping. Let go of the thought of those who owe us, of those we owe. We must let go!

Only by letting go, can we return to purity and tranquility. Only in this way, will our hearts become gentle; our minds become serene, as we give rise to the wisdom to accord with all beings, animate and inanimate. For only with gentle hearts and serene minds will we be able to solve our problems. The goodness that we can bring to others by using our loving-kindness and compassion is infinite - is boundless. And this is our best, our only way to bring true peace to our world. Not for ourselves but for the sake of all sentient beings.

related post:  Destiny Can Be Changed

Source Of Information:
《Wisdom of the Buddhas》, by Venerable Wu Ling, based on the Talks of Venerable Master Chin Kung, translated by Silent Voices, published in August, 2012, distributed by Amitabha Buddhist Society Malaysia (92, Jalan Pahang, 53300 Gombak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
*** The information provided above does not contain personal opinion of this blog.