Compassion brings thirteen benefits.
First, a compassionate person becomes more beautiful over time. Their face won’t appear harsh or angry.
Second, blessings always follow compassionate people. The more compassionate you are, the more blessings you receive. Conversely, those who lack compassion often find themselves without blessings.
Third, compassionate people sleep peacefully. They don’t experience sadness, fear, or discomfort during the night. Their calm minds allow them to rest deeply.
Fourth, compassion brings inner peace. Compassionate people enjoy a lasting sense of safety and tranquillity. For example, if you treat others poorly, you’ll feel uneasy, knowing they might retaliate. Imagine insulting someone at work; you may worry they’ll complain to the manager. This unease disrupts your peace of mind, leaving you uncomfortable and restless.
Fifth, compassionate people rarely experience bad dreams. In contrast, those consumed by anger and hatred are more prone to nightmares.
Sixth, compassionate people are protected by heavenly beings. Bodhisattvas and Dharma Protectors watch over those who are compassionate. If you lack such divine protection, it may be a sign that your compassion is insufficient. In today’s world, how many people are truly compassionate? True compassion is not easy to achieve—it requires tolerance and a generous heart. I’ll elaborate more on this shortly.
Seventh, compassionate people are well-loved by others. People often say to them, “You’re so kind and compassionate; I’d love to be friends with you.” Their kindness naturally attracts others.
Eighth, compassion offers protection from poison. A compassionate person is less likely to be harmed by poison. Haven’t we seen instances where people are harmed or killed by others’ schemes?
Ninth, compassionate people are protected from harm caused by weapons, soldiers, or war. They are less likely to become victims of violence or conflict.
Tenth, compassion protects against drowning. Compassionate people are less likely to perish in water-related accidents.
Eleventh, compassionate people are less likely to die in fires or suffer harm from flames.
Twelfth, compassionate people attain benefits in all their endeavours. Their kind hearts ensure that all their efforts lead to positive outcomes. Conversely, those who harbour ill intentions and try to harm others often end up achieving nothing in the end.
Finally, thirteenth, compassionate people ascend to the Heavens after death. They are reborn in higher realms, such as Brahmaloka.
What kind of person is truly a good person? It’s someone willing to take action and help others—a person who understands the principle of “doing what should be done and refraining from what should not be done.” At its core, a person’s actions are shaped by their ideals and level of spiritual attainment, which elevate and define their purpose in life. Some people say, “I never want to be a boss in my lifetime.” Others feel content quietly helping others without seeking recognition. Some might say, “I’m fine with living a simple and uneventful life.” Then there are the wealthy who say, “Life is like this—I’ve eaten what I’ve wanted, played as much as I’ve wanted, and when it’s time to die, so be it.” But is that truly what being human is about? People have different levels of understanding. So, what kind of person do you want to be? Do you want to be ordinary, or do you aspire to be a sage?
Even animals possess a certain spirituality. You might have seen news stories about a dog standing upright, raising its front paws as if in prayer. Many dogs are intuitive and can recognise human emotions. In fact, dogs are among the animals most likely to be reborn as humans. Conversely, when a person commits minor wrongdoings, they may be reborn as a dog. It’s pitiful. If you look closely into a dog’s eyes, don’t they resemble human eyes? Now, look at the eyes of a horse, a cow, or a sheep—don’t they also resemble human eyes? And then consider some people whose faces resemble a cow, a monkey, or other animals—it’s as if they haven’t fully evolved beyond their animal forms. The truth is, if a person doesn’t engage in spiritual practice, they’re doomed. When they are reborn as an animal, all they’ll know is how to follow their master around. They become a dog. Full stop.
Compassion brings thirteen benefits. Think about it—how important it is for a person to have compassion. Without understanding the value of compassion, one cannot truly grasp the importance of cultivating the mind. Compassion is one of the fundamental foundations of spiritual practice. Without it, one cannot fully appreciate the significance of spiritual cultivation. When you see someone suffering, it is compassion that moves you to help them. Over the past two months, I have lost a lot of weight and endured great hardship. Many of the urgent cases I deal with involve malicious spirits—very fierce ones. To face these challenges, I must have enduring compassion and let go of everything else. Today, we are all here to accumulate merit and virtue. We are here to spread the Buddha-dharma on behalf of Guan Yin Bodhisattva. If you ask me to do more today, I’ll do more. If you ask me to go to the lower realms to guide and awaken sentient beings, I’ll go. If you ask me to come back, I’ll thank Guan Yin Bodhisattva for the opportunity.
The Guan Yin Hall (Guan Yin Citta Practice Centre) is a place to cultivate the mind and pay homage to the Buddha. It is not a place for gossip or creating conflict. If you think I don’t notice what’s going on, you’re being foolish. I simply choose not to speak about it. You’ve heard me on my radio programs and know how accurate my readings and predictions are. Do you really think I wouldn’t notice if you had even a fleeting distracting thought or ulterior motive? Be mindful of who you’re dealing with. The key for you is to cultivate your mind sincerely. Whether or not you are my disciple, if your actions align with those of my disciples, then you are one. Otherwise, it means you need to work harder on your cultivation. This is how people are—it’s through their actions that they define themselves. Cultivate diligently. The Bodhisattvas are above us, watching over us. Do you still dare to commit bad deeds, speak carelessly, or fail to cherish your life?
In our past lives, we were all connected by karmic bonds—there’s nothing extraordinary about that. The relationships we have in this life—whether as someone’s wife or in another role—are merely titles assigned in this lifetime. In essence, these relationships are the results of karmic connections; they are emotional ties carried over from past lives.
Do you know how powerful my energy has become? When I kneel before Guan Yin Bodhisattva and raise my hands, it feels as though I am holding up the universe itself. The magnetic force emanating from my hands is unimaginably immense.
All negative outcomes you experience stem from the causes you’ve created. Everything you endure today is the result of your own actions. If your wife argues with you, it’s because of the seeds you’ve sown. If you find yourself out of money, that too is a consequence of your past actions. Even misfortune arises from the causes you’ve planted.
I am now able to help and save people with my thoughts, which is why I must take cultivating my mind even more seriously. I cannot allow myself to treat others poorly. Even when anger arises, I must hold back, endure, and not lose my temper. You must all cultivate diligently. If you reach a level where your wishes come true, would you still fear illness? Guan Yin Bodhisattva has told me: the better I care for my body, the longer I can live. How could the Bodhisattva not be compassionate toward me? In the same way, Guan Yin Bodhisattva hopes that each of you will live each day of your life to its fullest.
A listener of my radio programs once told me, “Since you’ve been teaching people to recite scriptures, even the Australian government should thank you—you’ve reduced the number of people going to the doctor, saving the government money.” Indeed, many illnesses can be alleviated simply by reciting scriptures. If you persist in reciting, your health will continue to improve. If I keep broadcasting my program for another ten years, many people will become healthier, and the number of people eating seafood will decline significantly.
Spread the Dharma to benefit all living beings. When you promote the Buddha-dharma, you benefit yourself—it’s good for your well-being. Today, I am spreading the Buddha-dharma to benefit sentient beings. That’s why you must study diligently. As disciples, you must also maintain moral integrity. Everything in this world is subject to change—what seems bad today may turn good tomorrow, and vice versa. If your health is poor today, it may improve tomorrow. But if you don’t do good deeds, any improvements will only be temporary. If your business is struggling today, it could prosper tomorrow. And if you engage in good deeds today, you will reap good rewards in the future.
Always remember this: those who cultivate their minds must be humble, cautious, and kind to others. Cultivate sincerely. When you do things, do them quietly and earnestly—don’t seek attention or crave recognition.