Master Jun Hong Lu’s
Public Talk
Macau SAR, China
26 February 2017
THE ROOT OF EVIL
Master Jun Hong Lu: A man went to seek advice from an eminent Master, who looked at him with compassion and said, “A heart with no evil will not experience any pain. If there is pain, it means that a corresponding evil still remains in your heart. If you often suffer, it indicates that you are not a genuinely kind-hearted person. On the same token, those you perceive to be wicked may not be a true-blue villain. If they can still live happily, it shows that they are not genuinely evil.”
This man was dumbfounded by the Master’s reply. In his mind, he told himself, “That person is a clear-cut villain, and I should at least be considered as a kind person? It looks like the Master has inversed the logic.”
Then, the man asked, “Master, how can I be a bad person, if my heart has been very kind?”
The Master probed, “Do you feel any pain in your heart?”.
The man responded, “I am an educated person, surviving on a meagre pay with a modest shelter above my head. I work tirelessly to earn a living and my future is uncertain. On the other hand, I see a lot of illiterates who have struck it rich in life and yet are constantly oppressing others. How could I be convinced? Here you are telling me that I still have evil in my heart despite having heard my story. I feel really upset.”
In response, the Master said, “My child, inner feeling of injustice is usually manifested through one’s words and expressions, and herein lies the root of one’s evil tendencies. In this world, the word ‘evil’ does not only make reference to the acts of murder, arson or adultery. The innate characteristic of evil is hidden in one’s heart. Evil stems from hatred, jealousy, the act of cursing others, malicious remarks and deeds, oblivious of the law of causation and a vengeful heart. All of these are examples of evil and the only difference lies in the degree of severity.”
“As such, we must exercise extreme caution when we are rich and abstain from committing any wrongful deed. Those, who do not have inner peace and have yet to come to terms with the injustices of this world, may not outwardly commit any misdeed but deep down, they are lacking the kindness as they hate the rich and disdain the poor. Even in times of need to help the troubled souls out there, they abandon kindness by holding tightly to their inner hatred, and choose not to extend a helping hand. This is also a manifestation of evil.”
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