AVOID COMMITTING NEGATIVE KARMA OF SPEECH IN DHARMA PROPAGATION THROUGH CONTEMPLATING ON CAUSES AND CONDITIONS
Caller: Sometimes when performing totem reading for Buddhist friends, Master detected tell-tale signs that they have inadvertently committed negative karma of speech in their effort to propagate Buddhism. It’d be great if Master could give some examples of cases to avoid when trying to introduce Dharma to the others – something that can serve as a warning for all of us.
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s simple. You commit negative karma of speech the moment you say, “If you don’t practise Buddhism, you will descend to hell!”, or “If you backslide, you will descend to hell.” Do you think it is even alright to say all these?
When you utter comments like, “You will lose your life!” or “You will face a lot of challenges in the future!”, aren’t you wishing others bad luck? You are literally decimating their spiritual lives! How can you do that? Do you think it is right to make such reckless remarks?
Caller: Not at all.
Master Jun Hong Lu: Here you are saying, “You have negative karmic affinity with your wife. To quell it, you must diligently recite the Buddhist scriptures’’, when the other party is not even buying what you say. They may even rebuke, “How do you know?” The fact that you are not me (Master), naturally they will doubt you.
When you say, “Sexual relationship is strictly prohibited”, the other person may counter argue and ask, “If that’s the case, what’s the point of having a wife?” If you press on and are insistent on sharing with them the dharma from the level of a Bodhisattva, without taking into account their level of spiritual cultivation, aren’t you creating negative karma of speech?
When you cause such confusion and make others criticise you behind your back, you are as good as causing trouble for Bodhisattva.
Caller: In that case, we should contemplate the causes and conditions and tailor our dharma propagation based on the individuals’ unique circumstances. Is it right to say so?
Master Jun Hong Lu: That’s correct.
Source: Wenda20180624A 56:46, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
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