Explanations by Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: The Painful Results of Slandering the Dharma (謗法之苦報)
Date:November.01. 2015
“Domestic animals are raised by their owners. These are oxen, horses, pigs, sheep and the like. All animals receive their retribution because of speaking flattery, having inferior capabilities, ignorance, taking no joy in seeing and hearing the Dharma and committing slander.”
When we look at this passage, we should indeed make an effort to cherish our human existence. We must not say, “Making changes in this life is very hard for me. I’ll wait to make changes in the next one.” In our next life, will we have this opportunity? We did not seize the causes and conditions that would allow us to makes changes, so in our next life, negative causes and conditions will continue on in this way, in a cycle of hatred and animosity. Will we be born human again in our next life? As a being in the hell, hungry ghost or animal realm, we will have even less control over things.
Hell is filled with unbearable suffering! There is no freedom at all in the animal realm, and the hungry ghost realm is full of suffering, so these opportunities will not arise. Only by being born human will we actually have a measure of freedom. When a thought of goodness arises and causes and conditions come together, we should earnestly seize the moment and use that opportunity to accomplish something. We must promptly accept the Buddha’s teachings, as well as the chance to put the Bodhisattva-path into practice. This is our true opportunity as humans. You see, “Domestic animals are raised by their owners.” These kinds of animals are kept and raised by humans; they have an owner. Why is your owner raising you? If you are born an ox, it is to plow the fields. As an ox, you will haul all the heavy things.
The same applies to horses. In ancient times, they were means of transportation and were also ridden into the battlefield. This is to say nothing of pigs and sheep, who are raised to be sold and butchered for food. Thus, beings in the animal realm have no freedom at all.
The animal realm is really terrifying. No matter how much we suffer as humans, human life is a mix of good and evil. Some people bring the good karma they created in their past lives to this life to enjoy blessings. Some are very wealthy, well-educated and have a dignified appearance. Everyone they meet envies them. With a life of abundance like this, they live as if they were born in heaven.
Some people’s lives are middle-of-the-road; their children are filial, their wife pure in heart. A family living harmoniously and happily like this is living a normal life.
There are people who are very wealthy, but there is no peace in their family. There is no affection between parents and children and no love between husband and wife; mutually they harbor doubts and resentment. There are many families like this in the world.
I heard this from a Malaysian businessman. He shared his story with me. In the past, all he was focused on was money. He had no friends but had a thriving business. Every day, he was very busy. He said that in his brain, whenever he saw people, he thought only about his own personal gain and how he could make money from them. When he shared a meal with someone, he insisted on paying because by making this deal, he would make a big profit.
But due to the guidance of Tzu Chi volunteers, he came to a Jing Si Lifestyle Camp and heard many people share [their stories].He quietly and camly contemplated, "Indeed, how long will this life be? How much time do I have?" On hearing about the principle of impermanence it was instilled in his mind.
"Indeed! This simple word, " impermanence", is terrifying. I must change my ways right away. I keep growing my business, but what use is that?" When he returned home, he shared his feelings with his wife. Unop hearing this, his wife felt, "That is right, I'm always telling you this. You are so focused on your business that you never think about your family. Have you ever really spoken with your son? He has been complaining about this." With that, he suddenly came to a major realization. He began to delegate more of his business. This gave him more free time to spend with Tzu Chi volunteers, who brought him to volunteer and listen to teachings. As he listened to and understood the Dharma, he began participating in all the activities.
Describing his participation the activities, he said, "I feel so happy. As the people here talk with each other, their emotions and interactions are really genuine. We accomplish all the tasks together, and then everyone says to me, "We are grateful". I too have learned to say "I am grateful". I have so many friends now, and money is no longer my focus. At home, my son and I always have something to talk about. Sometimes when I'm volunteering, my wife will come with me . Right now, "I'm very content with my life."
This is the kind of freedom we have in our lives. We are free to chose the kind of life that we want to live. If we do not seize the moment in this lifetime to create [good] relationships. If all we think about is satisfying our insatiable greed, in the future, without any say in the matter, we will be born in the animal realm, where we will be fed and raise by our owner and have to work on their behalf. Or we may eat and live in a state of oblivion, and when the time comes we may be led to the slaughterhouse.
Why do living beings end up in the animal realm? Because of the causes they created in past lives. In their past lives, they greedily tried to satisfy their desires, lying and cheating to get what they wanted. People like this are found everywhere. They" have inferior capabilities and are ignorant". Their capabilities are quite inferior. Even if the Buddha-Dharma and the principles are presented to them, they refuse to faithfully accept them. Even if they do faithfully accept them, thety constantly act in ways that are harmful to and slanderous of the Dharma and the principles. Perhaps they use the Dharma to flatter, curry favor or show off "I understand a lot, I'm so smart. The principles are very clear to me." Actuall, they want people to make offerings to them and want to fing a way to gain some kind of advantage. All of this happens because of their inferior capabilities.
They "take no joy in seeing or hearing the Dharma". They may hear these teachings or read them. Chearly, the Buddha-Dharma is right in front of them. After listening to it, not only are they unhappy and unable to put it into practice, insteed they slander it and will then have to face the resulting karmic retribution.
What is the karmic retribution for slandering [the Dharma]? They are "kept as domestic livestock by men". In future lives, aside from being born in the Three Evil Destinies, they may suffer painful retributions as humans.
Therefore, if today we are living in peace, if today we are very blessed, when we witness suffering, we should recognize our blessings. Reconizing this, we should seize every opportunity to be diligent and engage in spiritual practice.
Next, let us look again at the previous sutra passage. "When their lives end, they will enter Avici Hell. They will pass an entire kalpa there, and at the end of the kalpa, they will be reborn. They will then continue on in this way for a period of countless kalpas."
"They" refers to people who hear the Dharma but do not mindfully listen to it nor faithfully accept it. Insteed, they slander it and cut off the seeds of Buddhahood. People who do so will descend into Avici Hell, which, as we said before, means unremitting. This is no pause; the suffering is unremitting. This lasts for a long time, and continus unremittingly.
This lasts for a long time, and continues unremittingly. For this long period of time, there will be no space and no time to stop and rest. This is Avici Hell. When that kalpa ends, they will be reborn and continue on in this way for countless kalpas. If what we do in this lifetime leads us into hell, we may not be saved for thousands or even tens of thousands of lifetimes.
The following sutra passage then states,
“Upon emerging from hell, they are reborn as animals like dogs and jackals, haggard and emaciated in appearance, mottled black and covered in scabs. They are beaten and abused by humans.”
They spend a long time in hell, enduring suffering. When they finally exhaust their karma for being in hell and emerge from it, where will they go? They will then be born in the animal realm again. This is because of the evil they committed in the human realm. Whether it be the Ten Evils or five offenses, the karma they create cause them to fall into hell. After they exhaust these karmic retributions, [they still have karma from] their past lives of taking advantage of people in their business dealings or seizing people’s wealth or valuables. When we [take] people’s things, we will eventually have to repay them. Once we owe something to others, we must repay them.
How will we repay this debt? In a future life, we will be reborn as an ox, horse, pig, dog or some other kind of domestic animal, and they will be our owner. They will treat us like merchandise; they may sell us for profit or slaughter. This is how we repay this debt. Another way is to suffer torment at their hands. So, being “reborn as animals” is also the fate of those who slander the Lotus Sutra, the Great Vehicle Dharma.
Those who slander the Lotus Sutra, upon emerging from hell, suffer the retribution of being reborn as animals. They become dogs, jackals, camels, donkeys or pythons.
All of the Great Vehicle Dharma is contained in the Lotus Sutra. The Lotus Sutra is the True Dharma of the One Vehicle. If people listen to the Lotus teachings but do not earnestly accept them, they may instead slander the Right Dharma. By slandering the Right Dharma, they sever people’s roots of goodness and cut off the seeds of Buddhahood. This creates very severe karma, leading them to fall into hell. Then, upon emerging from hell, they are born in the animal realm.
They face the retribution of being born in the animal realm because not only did they cut off the seeds of Buddhahood, they deceived, cheated and swindled people, thereby owing them a karmic debt that they eventually have to repay. Thus they are born in the animal realm to face negative retribution. The animal realm includes doges, and besides oxen, horse, sheep, pigs, etc., there are also canines, jackals, camels, donkeys and pythons. All of these are beasts of the land in the animal realm. They may be “dogs [or] jackals, haggard and emaciated in appearance”.
Dogs [or] jackals, haggard and emaciated in appearance: This baldness explains the karmic effects jackals and dogs face in their retribution of being reborn as animals.
Some living beings, once born in the animal realm, already face unbearable suffering. Moreover, you have seen dogs whose entire bodies are ragged, or with legs that are broken and so on. Not only have they been born animals, they are abused and disparaged by humans, beaten by sticks and so on. With this kind of appearance, no one feeds them. [Malnouished,] they develop skin diseases all over. We have all seen [animals] like this, “haggard and emaciated”; because of their skin disease, they have no hair. Not only may they be born as dogs or foxes, in addition to that, no one feeds them, and then on top of that, they are diseased. If we think about it, they are animals that lives as if they are in hell; they face tremendous suffering. These kinds of jackals and foxes resemble a dog in physical appearance, and they are classified as canines. These are called jackals.
Jackals are very clever, devious and cunning. There is a story about a jackal who was hungry and had nothing to eat. Being crafty, he joined a pride of lions where he constantly exhibited his skills in flattery. If a lion did not finish his food, he would go eat it. He thought that it would be a safe thing to do.
One day, after a lion had finished eating, he saw this jackal approaching. Suddenly, the lion reverted to his fierce nature and caught the jackal to eat him. Before the lion could fully swallow him, the jackal was still able make use of his cunning and his craftiness. He was able to call for help from the lion’s throat. He sounded very sorrowful, and upon hearing this, the lion was moved.
He opened his mouth to explain that, “I have fed you for so long and have been waiting for this day to come.” But when he opened up his mouth to talk, the jackal escaped.
So, we can see jackals are so devious clever. They are even able to escape from the jaws of a ferocious beast. This is what jackals can do. Though they find ways to survive they cannot prevent their bodies from becoming diseased and ragged, developing skin diseases, etc.. Thus it says they are “haggard and emaciated.”
Furthermore, they are mottled black and covered in scabs. “They are beaten and abused by humans.” Their body may also be covered with black and yellow spots, and [their coat] is absolutely without luster.
Their hair is entirely filthy; there is no a luster at all. The hair all over their body may be tangled.
This kind of appearance comes from scabies, a disease; it is contagious skin disease. They may also develop sores, pustules etc. Thus, people dislike having them around, so they “beat and abuse” them with their [fists], or with sticks, etc. No matter where they go, they are unwelcome. Humans drive them away by kicking them, swinging sticks at then, etc.
“Struck and interfered with” like this, there is nowhere they feel safe and peaceful. They are also “flogged and abused,” etc.
this is all because in their past lives, they slandered the Great Vehicle Dharma; they sought to destroy the Buddha-Dharma and the principles.Not only did they [slander] the Buddha-Dharma, they sought to destroy people’s sense of morality. This happened because of their minds, because “One thought gives rise to myriad actions.”
One thought may lead us to commit the five offenses, deny the law of karma. Seize things out of greed. A single thought can lead us to do anything. Thus “One actions produces many fruits.”
The Great Vehicle Buddha-Dharma explains that one thought fives rise to myriad actions, and one action produces many fruits. So, upon emerging from hell, they are born in the animal realm. The latter retributions can be deduced by the same principle.
A single action can result in karma that land us in hell, in the hungry ghost realm and in the animal realm. All this results from the negative karma we create because of a single thought. So, one action can result in many retributions. Indeed, there may be so many karmic fruits that it may be hard to face them all.
“So, upon emerging from hell, they suffer the retribution. When they finally emerge from hell, they end up in the animal realm. After the animal realm, they end up in the hungry ghost realm. And after they exhaust their retributions in the hungry ghost? The cycle continues again because they do not have the causes and conditions that allow them to be saved or to save themselves. They lack these karmic conditions.
As we learn the Buddha’s Way, we must be mindful. As people interact, there are no cause that do not form conditions and no conditions that do not being effects. If we had not created negative affinities with people in the past, there would not be evil people setting traps for us. Therefore, our karmic retributions are all created by our minds. So, I hope that everyone will remember this. Oxen, horses, pigs and sheep are all sentient beings. And how did they come to be born in these forms? In their pat lives, they were flatterers, or had inferior capabilities and ignorance. People like this will fall into the animal realm in a future life. This is because, having listened to the teachings, not only could they not faithfully accept and practice them, they gave rise to afflictions, committed slander, thus cutting off the seeds of Buddhahood. We must be vigilant not to do these things, and we must always be mindful.
(Source: Da Ai TV – Wisdom at Dawn program – Explanation by Master Chen-Yen)
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