THE RIGHT MINDSET WHEN PERFORMING MERITORIOUS DEEDS TO RESOLVE CALAMITIES
Caller: Master, there’s a question that some Buddhist friends are struggling with. Please enlighten us.
You once shared a story about a revered monk forewarning two brothers of an impending calamity that would occur in four years. The only remedy suggested was to do more good deeds and accumulate merits to ward off the calamity.
The elder brother, in the village, built bridges, roads, cared for the elderly, and assisted the young without expecting anything in return. The younger sibling, following suit, planted crops and fruit trees, from which the harvest would be used to support the destitute.
Despite the elder brother’s benevolent endeavours aimed at averting the calamity, misfortune still befell him. The younger brother, on the other hand, having single-mindedly performed kind deeds, had completely forgotten about the impending calamity.
To perform kind deeds solely for the purpose of averting a calamity is not an outright benevolence. True benevolence is when one does good without any consideration to resolve an impending disaster. In the dharma realm, it is said that a purposeful act of kindness is not pure benevolence. In fact, genuine kindness is selfless, untainted by expectations or rewards.
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s right.
Caller: Some Buddhist friends wonder, in the face of the ‘3, 6, 9 predestined calamities’ or premonition dreams, it is common for us to respond by performing recitation, making vows, or performing life liberation to counteract the calamity. Master, how should we approach this with the right mindset?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Serve the people wholeheartedly with pure kindness. If you can perform a kind deed without any ulterior motive whatsoever, this is called “pure kindness”, and it will surely yield significant merits.
Caller: Master, when countering calamity, is it alright to think this way: after overcoming the calamity, I will be more dedicated to serve the people and I will go the extra mile to benefit sentient beings?
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, that’s correct. Your thoughts have the power to elevate your spiritual energy. In fact, this is what many people do. Humans, being the highest form of animals, are very unique because they are capable of gaining power through their thoughts.
Caller: Does the “thought” here refer to mind power?
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s correct. It refers to mind power. When you think, “I will surely be well, definitely be well,” and you will indeed be well.
Caller: Got it.
Source: Wenda20200119 40:27, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
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