Good Morning fellow students! We read the two general principles of request and response. As Mr. Ma-Guang Si said, it is likely our descendants will neither be able to retain our wealth nor will they read the books we leave to them. The best thing to do is to accumulate merits and virtues for this will help them to attain good reward. Only one who is knowledgeable and understands the principles of request and response is able to relate to what Mr. Si had said.

The Buddha explained the relationships between a father and a son, between siblings and between others and us can be categorized into four kinds of affinities: to repay or collect debt, repay or collect a kindness. If not for these affinities, we will be strangers when our paths cross. In our life, those who are related to us share one of the four karmic affinities with us. There are good and bad affinities within these karmic affinities. Once we understand them, we would do well to refrain from all wrongdoings and to practice all good deeds.

We need to repay all debts that we owe others. If others deceive, abuse or cheat us, we remind ourselves that we are simply repaying the karmic debts that we owe them from our previous lives. In this way, we will be at ease. Why do they not deceive, steal or cheat others? Because others do not share bad affinities with them. In other words, we had deceived, stolen from and cheated them in our previous lives. Today, when the cause encounters a catalytic condition, others will use the same ways we had used in the past when we took from them. This is the time for us to repay our debts.

Thus, we will want to create good and not bad affinities with all sentient beings. Even when we encounter bad affinities, do not take them to heart. The ancient people had said, "A benevolent person has no enemy". A kind, loving and compassionate person does not have a single enemy. Why? Although there may be enemies, within the pure and compassionate mind, they are not regarded as such. Instead, they are regarded with sincere loving-kindness. When such a person sees others facing difficulties, he or she will wholeheartedly help them. If we follow this virtuous behavior, we will have great good fortune in the future even if we had not accumulated good fortune in our previous lives. If we believe the principle of request and response, are able to earnestly uphold and practice with great efforts, we can even attain this good fortune in this life.

When observing my life, it can be clearly seen that I had only practiced wisdom and not good fortune in my previous lives. Thus, I have wisdom but no good fortune. I went through a long and difficult life and had gone through what others could not endure. But, as my age advances so has my good fortune increased. These good fortunes are practiced and accumulated in this life, not in the previous. All of you can witness this yourselves. In my advanced years, I am able to do with ease whatever I undertake. I am an example of the evidential turn of the Dharma wheel. In Buddhism, there are three turns of the Dharma wheel. I am a living proof of that.

If we earnestly refrain from all wrongdoings and practice all good deeds, regard all sentient beings with sincere, pure and non-discriminatory loving-kindness, do not differentiate between friends and enemies but treat all equally, then good fortune and longevity will naturally come to us. I neither seek good fortune nor longevity, yet I have both. Are these what I hope for? No. I never wanted to live long in this world. I simply abide by the Buddha’s teachings and accord with all daily conditions and affinities. A Buddhist proverb says, "Go on tolling the bell as long as one is a monk". As long as we are alive for one day, we do good deeds for Buddhism and sentient beings for one day. I neither long for good fortune, prestige and status, longevity nor anything else. How can I not feel free and at ease! Numerous kind-hearted people care a great deal about my living. Some people are concerned and often sent their regards and inquire about me. I simply accord with the conditions. Thus, we would do well to deeply understand the principles of response and retribution and the true reality.

Next, is the third segment of the text, which belongs to the second paragraph of the whole text. This tells about spiritual beings examining and observing the world. From the text:

One’s life span will be reduced by beings and spirits of heaven and earth according to the magnitude of one’s transgressions.

There are heavenly and earthly spirits. Within the different spiritual beings, there are those who specialize in observing and examining (the deeds of everyone). These spiritual beings often observe and examine the world. The Buddha said in sutras that spiritual beings have five extraordinary abilities. They are rewarded with these abilities the minute they are born in the spiritual realm. In addition to the ability to sever all afflictions, they possess the abilities of clairvoyance, clairaudience, understanding the minds of others, remembering theirs and others' past lives, and physical feats.

The abilities of earthly spirits cannot compare to those of heavenly spirits. The abilities of heavenly spirits cannot compare to those of beings who have attained Buddhahood. But, from our perception, their abilities are much more than adequate because they are able to detect our every rising thought. Every thought and deed is recorded. Once we die, we will be placed on trial for all that we have done. The manner in which the trial is conducted will be discussed in detail later in the book. Our deeds not only encompass behavior, but also our thoughts. If our deeds are improper, then they are a serious offense. Once we understand this, we will be afraid of committing wrongdoings for fear of retribution. We cannot escape retribution for our improper thoughts and deeds. Thus , it is said that "Heaven’s net has all-encompassing mesh. Nothing can pass through it".

Unfortunately, very few people today know this. People who lack good roots and good fortune will think it is superstition and will be unable to believe and accept the truth. When retribution befalls them, it will be too late to regret. Failure to believe the truth is doubt. Greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance and doubt are major afflictions that obstruct our wisdom and cause us to commit infinite and boundless bad deeds. The Buddha told us in the "Flower Adornment Sutra" that at the time we are born, we are guarded by two spiritual beings who accompany us throughout our lives. Others and we cannot see these two spiritual beings who sit on our shoulders. One is called Identical Birth and the other is called Identical Name. They are heavenly beings who observe us day and night, throughout our lives. They cannot be seen by human beings. In other Buddhist sutras, these two spiritual beings are also called Virtuous Boy and Unvirtuous Boy. The former watches our good deeds while the latter watches our misdeeds. Are we able to escape retributions for our deeds? No. The Buddha told us in the "Flower Adornment Sutra" that Virtuous Boy and Unvirtuous Boy are actually the two beings, Identical Birth and the Identical Name.

For most Buddhist practitioners, it is difficult to believe in the Buddha. In the past, I have said that I was ordained two years after I became a monk. After I was being ordained, I went to visit my teacher, Mr. Bing-Nan Lee in Taizhong, Taiwan. On seeing me, he pointed at me and said to believe and have confidence in the Buddha. I was stunned! I had been learning on Buddhism for seven years and had taught in a Buddhist College and given Dharma lectures after I had become a monk. It had been two years since I became a monk when Mr. Lee told me to believe the Buddha. Subsequently, he explained that there are many monks and nuns who have yet to believe the Buddha at seventy or eighty or even at their moment of death. I then came to realize the true meaning of believing in the Buddha. Comprehending and practicing the Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives means that we believe in the Buddha. Lacking the understanding of the truth and not practicing his teachings means that we do not believe in the Buddha. We then come to realize that there are many who wear the attires of monks and nuns and live in learning centers, but do not believe the Buddha and do not practice his teachings. This applies not only to monks and nuns, but to laypeople as well.

Belief includes vow and practice. Without vow and practice, there is no belief. Belief embodies understanding, practice and attainment. Understanding is to clearly comprehend the principles and methods of Buddha’s teachings, as well as the state in the different realms. Practice is to apply the Buddha’s teachings in our daily lives while attainment is to achieve the level of cultivation. The application of what we believe and understand in our daily lives will enable us to attain the true benefits of Buddhism. Therefore, the Buddha said in the "Diamond Sutra", that the Buddha is one who speaks only the truth, speaks of things as they are, and speaks in accordance with reality. He does not speak deceptively or ambiguously.

The Buddha told us that the two heavenly spirits, Virtuous Boy and Unvirtuous Boy, follow us day and night and will not leave us for even one second. If we often think about them being with us all the time, how could we not be cautious in our every thought, word and deed? This is definitely the truth, not the Buddha’s false or deceitful words.

From beginningless time, sentient beings have accumulated very severe afflictions and bad habits. In ancient times, people had excellent learning environment where they were taught and guided by their parents, teachers and friends. They committed fewer bad deeds and more good deeds. Today, our environment is different (from the past). We have abandoned and do not believe the ancient traditions and culture. Thus, our parents and teachers no longer teach us nor care about these values. As a result, we accord with our afflictions and bad habits, and commit infinite and boundless misdeeds. How can we not fall into the three bad realms? How can we not receive punishment from spirits of heaven and earth? This applies to individuals, families, the world.

These days, we see many books on prophecies. I hardly go to bookstores, but many fellow practitioners have given me such books. These prophecies say that the years of 1999 and 2000, will be Armageddon and that we have committed so many sins that have angered God, that He wants to punish us. This also conforms to the principle of request and response. Why do most people commit misdeeds? Nobody taught us. Why not? Why do the great compassionate Buddhas and Bodhisattvas not descend to our world to guide us? Because we are unwilling to accept their guidance. Thus, major disasters will occur. Yesterday, some people asked me whether the disasters could be avoided. I honestly told them that it would be difficult. There are principles and methods to avoid them, but we do not practice them. Who is really willing to correct their faults and change their behavior? Who is willing to let go of their own selfish benefits and serve those of society and sentient beings? If we do not rid ourselves of our selfishness but continue to make gains at others’ expenses, then there will be no hope of avoiding these disasters.

Therefore, we would do well to understand the truth about the examination of our deeds by spiritual beings. Although the two spiritual beings, Identical Birth and Identical Name were introduced in the "Flower Adornment Sutra", there are innumerable spirits observing and recording our every good and bad deed. This fact can be found in every religious teaching. We are unable to conceal our thoughts, words and deeds from others. We must realize and overcome our afflictions and bad habits, change our improper behavior and earnestly practice only good deeds. We do not seek reward in the present life, but rather in the next life. We hope to attain great good fortune in our next life and elevate ourselves to a higher realm. Our goal is to transcend to the Western Pure Land. We need to observe whether or not our thoughts, speech and behavior when interacting with others, handling matters and objects accord with the standard to be born in the Western Pure Land. From this, we would clearly know whether we can attain birth there by chanting "Amituofo". This is all for today. Thank You.