ONE WILL NOT ACHIEVE ANY SPIRITUAL ATTAINMENT BY MERELY PERFORMING VIRTUOUS DEEDS WITHOUT ELEVATING ONE’S STATE-OF-MIND
Caller: Master, you mentioned that merit is a person’s ultimate token for admission to heaven, and this speaks volumes about its importance. In the case where one purely focuses on self-cultivation, without performing any virtuous deeds such as introducing the dharma to others, he is bound to end up in either the Sound-hearer or Pratyeka-Buddha realm because of his high level of spiritual cultivation and lack of meritorious blessings. How about a person who exerts great effort to helping others, but pays little attention to his state-of-mind or spiritual cultivation, what kind of spiritual attainment, if any at all, will he end up with?
Master Jun Hong Lu: He will end up with worldly blessings! How is it possible for someone without a high level of spirituality to ascend to heaven? Think about those philanthropists, they will only become an even wealthier philanthropist in their next life.
Caller: They will be wealthy people.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, but what’s the point? It’s meaningless!
Caller: Am I right to say that there is still a chance for them to make it to heaven but they will not be able to transcend the six realms of existence as they can only make it to the Realm of Desire and the Realm of Forms?
Master Jun Hong Lu: It is certain that these people can make it to heaven. In this society, there are now many people who are performing good deeds and they can certainly make it to heaven but the problem is they are not able to transcend the cycle of rebirth. So, what’s the point? Their cultivation will come to naught.
Caller: True! At a certain point, they will still descend to the lower realms.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes.
Caller: What about a different scenario where one channels his energy into performing virtuous deeds but has no regard whatsoever about his own spiritual cultivation? This person may find himself giving rise to vexations and things that he sees hardly pleases his eyes. When this happens would it cause an outflow to his meritorious blessings?
Master Jun Hong Lu: The outflow will be even more severe. I can tell you those who do not cultivate their minds will tend to dislike every person around them. Although they are performing virtuous deeds, they still have the tendency to detest others.
Caller: I see.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Seriously, if you do not have a high level of spirituality, you can’t survive a single day in this world as nobody ever pleases your eyes!
Caller: True! Nothing will please the eyes.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes. Practically, such people will find fault with everything and everyone. They will eventually drown in their own small world, and even when they look at themselves in the mirror, they will ask, “Who is it inside here? So annoying, why are you looking at me?”
Caller: I see. Thank you, Master.
Source: Wenda20191124 55:15, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
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