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Title: 01We only have to cultivate kind deeds to escape the control of destiny View count: 5 Rating: 5.0 (1 ratings) Description: A person of great virtue has a set destiny, but he or she has changed it. The same applies to those who have committed numerous offenses, for they too will have changed their destiny. We can see that Mr. Liaofan did not cultivate either extremely good or bad deeds since his life accorded so completely with what had been predicted. Can fate be changed? Can we escape it? To escape is to transcend. There are variables in the set numbers, and the set numbers were what Mr. Kong had predicted. The variables are within our control, but this is either what Mr. Kong did not know or did not calculate. We can recreate our own destiny，we can seek our own good fortune. There are variables within the set numbers, and this is what Mr. Liaofan did not know about. Did Zen Master Yungu agree that there were set numbers? Yes. Before a person achieves the state of no thought, he or she is bound by destiny. The Master completely accepted the concept of predestination. However, we can change our destiny and thus we can recreate it. But, we can only depend on ourselves to do this, to become awakened; nobody else can change our destiny for us. Destiny is created by ourselves and we create our own good fortune. Since Mr. Liaofan was an intellectual, he knew and understood the teachings of Confucius. So the master cited principles from Book of Songs and the Book of History to enlighten him. The Master understood these teachings, and confirmed them to be important and true. In the Buddhist teachings, it is written that if we wish and seek for wealth, we will attain wealth. A son, a daughter, long life, we can wish and attain for all of these. We only have to cultivate kind deeds to escape the control of destiny. Since lying is one of the greatest offenses in Buddhism, we can be assured that these are not lies, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have no reason to deceive us. In Buddhism, it is said that in seeking wealth, one will attain wealth, in seeking children, one will attain children. Even if we were not meant to have any children in this life, upon practicing kind deeds we can have a child. In seeking long life, we can attain long life. Mr. Liaofan was only meant to have a short life, was supposed to die at age fifty-three. By cultivating according to the teachings, whatever we seek, we will attain. This is true, not false. Buddhism encourages us to create our own destinies, not be constrained by them. Living Buddha Master Zhang Jia said that in Buddhism, all our sincere pleas shall receive a response. He elaborated further: Some people are unable to get what they want. Why? They did not accord with the teachings. If we understand the principles and the methods, and have sought something in accordance with the teachings, then we are assured of receiving a response to our pleas. If we do not receive the desired response after having accorded with the teachings, it is due to our karmic obstacles. Once we have successfully eradicated these karmic obstacles, we will be able to attain the desired results. As Master Zhang Jia said, there is nothing we cannot receive once we properly seek it. Once we understand the fundamental principles, we will understand that everything in this world arises from our minds, changes due to our perceptions. If we seek to become Buddhas, we will become Buddhas. If we seek to become heavenly beings, we will become heavenly beings. The Flower Adornment Sutra tells us, "We should observe the nature of the Dharma Realm as everything is created by the mind." Therefore, the way of seeking is to accord with the principle that everything arises from the mind is changed by our perception, our consciousness. A most suitable and perfect method is the teachings of the Buddha. If we were to seek youth, health, eternal life in accordance with these teachings, can we attain them? Certainly! The Master only gave Mr. Liaofan some of the knowledge, because Mr. Liaofan was not very ambitious and only sought worldly fame, wealth, and prestige. Thus, the Master only taught him this limited part. The Master told him that lying is one of the worst offenses in Buddhism. There are four fundamental precepts (or rules): no killing, stealing, lying, or sexual misconduct. Since, no lying is one of the fundamental precepts, how could the Buddha lie? How could HE deceive us? Thus, it is the truth as the master told us that when seeking children, wealth, or long life, all can be attained. Tags: 01we, only, have, to, cultivate, kind, deeds, escape, the, control, of, destiny, Author: ymonti |
