Lecturer: Master Cheng-Yan
Subject: Understand Karmic Cause and Effect (知因識果)
In learning Buddhism, we must believe in and understand karmic cause and effect. There is no effect without cause, no retribution without conditions. We must believe that everything in our daily lives is inseparable from karmic cause and effect. Since it involves everything in our daily lives, when everyone comes here to practice, the rules of this practice center are to wake up early to join the morning practice. After we pay our respects, after the morning recitation is over, we sit here and listen to teachings. I share the Buddha-Dharma with everyone, so we all sit here. After paying our respects, the result is that we sit here. The cause for sitting here is to hear Dharma. So, there is cause and effect, effect and cause. With the causes and conditions of sitting here, we have the effect of hearing Dharma. This is our daily routine. After leaving the Buddha-hall, we go to breakfast. Why do we need breakfast? For our daily living. Yesterday is finished, and today we woke up early; it is a new day. We need energy and nutrients to carry on the day. So, we need to eat each morning. The cause of hunger leads us to eat our meal. After the meal, what is the effect? The effect is that we are full. When we are full, we have the energy for another day’s work. Then it is lunchtime. Why? Because we have used up over energy. Our three meals a day are due to cause and effect. Everything that we need in life is related to causes, conditions and effects. Is it really this simple? Are we only talking about daily living? Certainly not. In our daily lives, we easily create causes and affinities with others that lead us to experience future effects. So in life, each day consists of cycles of cause and effect. If we talk about our many lifetimes, there are also cycles of cause and effect. Effects do not take place without causes. If you do not create bad affinities, the corresponding conditions will not appear, and no effects or retributions will take place. So, we should mindfully experience this concept.
Daily living is inseparable from cause and effect. There is not effect without cause, no retribution without conditions. Buddhist practitioners must mindfully take this to heart in order to remain alert.
There was an international news report of a 12-year-old girl who was abducted by three criminals on her way home from school.They kidnapped her, took her to a house and forced her to marry one of the men.This girl refuses and struggled against them, so they tortured her.Her disappearance was reported to the police, and an investigation was opened.When these men learned the police were after them, they felt it was not safe to be around people, so they took her farther into the mountains.This was in Ethiopia, which is a large country.There was a forest close to the city.When they got there, they were tired.They threw the girl on the ground so they could get some rest, but they suddenly heard a sound behind them.It was as if someone was pursuing them.When they turned, they saw three lions that darted toward them with mouths wide open.The three men ran off.These three lions watched the men run off.This girl was very frightened and began to scream loudly in fear.The lions stopped.When the girl saw the lions pausing, she quieted down.The lions spread apart and surrounded the girl.The girl was very scared in their presence, so she dared not move.
After a day, the police and the girl’s family arrived at the scene.They did not know what to do because the lions still surrounded her.They did no want to take any risks, so they did not dare make a sound, fearing the lions might turn and see them.So, everyone stayed very still.
These lions also saw that people had arrived, yet they remained very docile, not fierce.
They stood up and walked away peacefully.
Was this story fabricated?No, it was a true news article from Ethiopia.
According to the article, many people, including veterinarians, speculate that they might have been female lions with maternal instincts.It was also very possible that the cries of this young girl, who was loudly calling out in fear, so they treated her as their own child.This is very possible.According to the analysis in the paper, such lions usually attack humans on sight.
Why would they be protecting her?It is possible that when the rescuers arrived, they left peacefully because of the lion’s motherly instincts.Perhaps they knew that the girl’s family had arrived to rescue her from danger.So, they left.This is all truly incredible.There are many different theories
Is this related to cause and effect? It should be related. We often see incredible stories in the Sutras about animals saving humans or men saving animals. Within the Six Realms, causes and conditions are constantly created.So, there are mutual and retributions. This is not impossible. Perhaps the girl had saved these lions in a previous life. There could be other reasons. But it comes down to karmic cause and effect. Although the girl was abducted and tortured by the three men, she was not sexually assaulted.The men did not kill her, they only tortured and punished her. They arrived at that place at the exact moment the lions appeared. It is truly amazing. The workings of karma are inconceivable.Buddhists must believe in karmic retribution.
So, “The Sutras indicate, when karmic retributions arrive, whether one is in the air, in the sea, in the mountains or in the city, there is no place to escape retribution” “Only repentance has the power to eliminate karma”
This means that if you have karma, when karmic retribution arrives, no matter where you run, where you flee, you cannot escape. Until you encounter that karmic retribution, you also cannot die.
In the Sutras, there is story about three individuals with spiritual powers.A celestial being told them that although they were born on different days, they would die on the same day. How would they die? One would be burned to death, while the others would be killed in different ways. They said, “That strange” “We have such strong spiritual powers. Why would we die like that?”
But in their hearts they also knew that this celestial being was almost always correct in his visions. So the three men decided to split up on the day that they would all die. The one who was destined to burn to death would take a boat out to sea so fire could not reach him.
Another said he would hide in the mountains so death would not find him. The third man said he would go into the city where death could not find him among so people “There are so many people how could death find me?”
So, the three men split up. Consequently, the first man’s boat caught on fire. We often hear about boats catching fire when they are out at sea. This man fled to a boat, but the boat unfortunately caught fire. So he burned to death.The person hiding in the mountains was attacked and killed by beasts. The last man, who in the city, surrounded by others, stumbled into a brawl as he was passing by, and was mistakenly killed.
So ,
“whether one is in the air , in the sea ,in the mountains or in the city ,there is no place to escape retribution.”
Whether one is in the air ,at sea ,in the mountains ,in the city or anywhere else ,there is absolutely no place where one can escape.So ,there is no such thing as “escaping retribution”.That does not exist.
“Only repentance has the power to eliminate karma. ”
Repentance purifies ,and if one does not create further causes,one will not receive more retributions.If we made mistakes in the past ,we should repent at once. Repentance brings purity. By repenting one does not suffer retribution.But , we still need closure for our past actions and in the future , we still must constantly repent.
So ,when we talk about karma and retributions ,the karma is like the seed. Karma is the cause ,retribution is the effect. If you have a seed of an orchid ,it is a cause. If you take it and cultivate it ,you will get an orchid.
With a seed ,when many conditions come together ,the fruit will ripen.So with karma , there is retribution.The retribution is the formation of the orchid.If we have only seen an orchid and not its seed ,we would not recognize the seed ,even if it were in front of us. Although we may see the cause ,the result ,the retribution,allows us to understand what it is.
Retribution is our experience Whatever we do,we will have certain experiences.When cause and effect take shape,we have the sensation of certain emotions towards others. Of curse,
many conditions are necessary for this to happen.
So , retribution is the effect. Causes can lead to effects ;the cause will continuously move toward the effect. If you have a seed ,it will develop into the fruit ,just like being born to certain parents is determined by karma and affinities. The affinities with our parents lead us to be born into their family. After birth, we continue to proceed toward our future effects.
So, causes can lead to effects. We are constantly pulled by karmic forces as we mature , give rise to thoughts and create good or bad karma. So, causes can lead to effects.Causes keep following the karmic of effects.Effects can create new causes.We have already reached this point due to our affinities and conduct,but what we create now gives rise to more causes. So ,the causes of previous lives are effects in this one,and the causes in this life leads to effects in future lives.
The cycle of cause and effect , effect and cause is continuous and never-ending.
“Karma is the cause and retribution is the effect.Causes can lead to effects,effects can create new causes.This cycle of cause and effect , effect and cause continues unceasingly.”
If we do not encounter the Tathagatha ,we would have no way to hear the Buddha –Dharma.”
Without hearin Right Dharma ,contemplating ,and practicing it ,without repenting transgressions ,we have no way to extinguish bad causes and there would be no chance to be free of suffering.
When karmic causes ripen,one will certainly receive retribution.So when retribution occurs ,
there is nowhere it will not take effect once the retribution arrives no matter where one hides ,it will still occur.Whether on land or sea or air ,there is no place ,one can hide to escape such effects.
So,we should understand karmic retribution.One can never escpae karmic forces. Since we now know ,we should always repent. Then perhaps we may suffer lighter retribution for our serious karma and be given a second chance.
So ,everyone,
karmic cause and effects is inconceivable
Everyone should believe in it and please always be mindful.
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