Today, I will discuss the Buddha-dharma and the power of the Dharma. Many people are aware of the boundless power of the Buddha-dharma. However, some may wonder why, with such limitless power, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas don’t show their compassion and save people from the numerous natural and man-made disasters. Why don’t they prevent these catastrophes from happening? The reason for this is that Buddhas and Bodhisattvas do not interfere with the law of cause and effect. When you create collective and individual karma, you must face the consequences yourself. No matter how great the power of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, they cannot save those who have no affinity with them.
There are three situations in which Buddhas and Bodhisattvas cannot save sentient beings:
Firstly, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas cannot save those who lack an affinity with them. If you have a connection with Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, they can help and save you using their boundless power. However, without such an affinity, they cannot assist or save you. When you pray to Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, you are cultivating this connection, which enables them to aid you. If you don’t pray to them, it means you have no connection with them, and they will be unable to help you, including through miraculous interventions.
Secondly, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas cannot eliminate fixed karma. Fixed karma, also known as destiny, refers to the predetermined consequences of actions from one’s past lives. These outcomes result from the causes you’ve created in your previous lives, and Buddhas and Bodhisattvas cannot remove them for you, as they do not interfere with the law of cause and effect.
Thirdly, Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in the Human Realm cannot save all sentient beings, as they can only help those who have an affinity with them. For instance, if Master Lu invites you to attend a lecture today, but you say you don’t have time, how can I save you? How can I help you? The principle here is that a connection or affinity is essential for their assistance.
In this world, those who have no connection with the Buddha-dharma are referred to as “soil on the earth.” This expression refers to people who have no affinity with the Buddha-dharma and Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, much like the vast amount of soil on the earth. On the other hand, those who have a connection with the Bodhisattvas and work with them to deliver sentient beings are called “soil in the hand.” This term signifies that the Bodhisattvas have already taken you into their palms, and only with this connection can they help you on your path to liberation.
A person’s fixed karma cannot be altered. Fixed karma arises from actions taken in past lives, shaping one’s destiny. Once this predetermined karma is established, it remains unchangeable. While one’s fortune can be modified, it can only be done on a year-by-year basis. Despite the boundless nature of the Buddha-dharma, it must still adhere to the law of cause and effect. If you have committed severe wrongdoings, the Bodhisattvas cannot eliminate your negative karma on your behalf.
Do not assume that doing good deeds today can offset the bad deeds you committed in the past; this is not possible. The law of cause and effect is rooted in actions you have taken, and the consequences are yours to bear. No one can take your place in this regard. Denying the law of cause and effect is to deny the truth of life and the universe. This law is the law of Heaven and cannot be altered; it is an eternal truth that remains unchangeable in the cosmic order and applies to the realm of sentient beings as well. For example, when you commit evil deeds, you will inevitably receive negative consequences and suffer the torments of Hell. Hell is merely a place where the law of Heaven is enforced. Despite the Bodhisattvas’ great compassion, why can they not rescue all those suffering in Hell? It is because of the law of cause and effect, which no one can alter.
Bear in mind not to tamper with the law of cause and effect. Refrain from doing evil deeds and sowing negative causes. Once committed, you will undoubtedly undergo retribution. Whatever cause you create, you will reap the corresponding effect. The Buddha-dharma is said to be boundless, but this has specific connotations. It implies that the Buddha-dharma’s boundless power is revealed when saving virtuous individuals and delivering sentient beings with affinity. For those with positive karma, the Buddha-dharma is indeed boundless in its power. For those with heavy negative karma, the Buddha-dharma is also boundless. There is a saying, “The net of Heaven is vast and wide, sparse yet letting nothing slip through.” As long as you have done evil deeds, you cannot escape the sanctions of the law.
When a person is sincere, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas respond. As long as an individual genuinely repents, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will undoubtedly be moved. All disasters in the world result from collective karma. Bodhisattvas save sentient beings who have been harmed amidst collective karma; these beings have affinity with the Bodhisattvas and are all virtuous people. Only good people can be saved by the Bodhisattvas. For example, among those who suffer from the same illness, why do some people survive while others die young? It is because those young people have no affinity with the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The Buddha-dharma must adhere to the laws of Heaven, cause and effect, and karmic retribution, which cannot be altered.
Cause and effect are interwoven with fate. Those who cultivate their minds must also cultivate their destinies. If one does not change their destiny, they will be plagued by wrong views, craving, and ignorance. Wrong views involve believing oneself to be always right, while ignorance refers to not understanding the truth and being unaware. Craving is the desire for everything and wanting to possess all. One must learn to let go in order to curb their greed. If a person fails to eliminate their wrong views, craving, and ignorance through cultivation of conduct and mind, their cultivation will be tainted.
Let me remind you that your mindset determines your future. A wholesome mindset leads to a good future, while an unwholesome mindset will not result in a favourable future. Let us take these words as motivation along the path of practising Buddhism.