..續本文上一頁ve the law of karma, and believe in positive karma bringing happiness and negative karma bringing suffering.

　　You may perhaps ask, “If positive actions bring happiness, and negative actions bring suffering, why does the fruit of the positive karma I have created today or in this life not appear now

　　” This view is actually quite limited. Your positive action is the “cause,” the happiness that you will gain is the “result”; it is necessary and clear that there will be a delay between a “cause” and the “result.” For example, the farmer sows seeds in the spring, and then harvests in the autumn. It is impossible to harvest the day after the seeds are sown. In the same way, whatever karma we have created may ripen in the next life, the life after that, or may only ripen after many lifetimes. As Buddha said in the Karma Xia Gatha, this karma will not ripen in the external material world, nor disappear without cause and conditions, but will certainly ripen in our own mental continuum. Therefore, whatever karma is created, even after many eons, it will not cease until it has ripened in the mental continuum of the person who created it.

　　This philosophy is not just a law of cause and effect for Buddhists only, but should be generally adopted, as the philosophy of everyone”s life. If we can all realize and observe this point, then we can transform our society into a better, more harmonious place. However, at present, it is very hard to find someone who truly believes in the law of cause and effect, and truly dedicates him or herself to the benefit of sentient beings. You may feel that I am pessimistic, but the truth is that most success today actually has much darkness hidden behind it. What causes this darkness, this shadow

　　 The answer is that many people don”t believe in and observe the law of karma.

　　2) Recognizing past lives and future rebirth

　　To establish the correct view of the law of cause and effect, it is indispensable to ascertain the existence of past and future lives. Is there any authentic proof that we can rely on to establish this

　　 Of course the answer is yes. Thousands of Buddhist scriptures and treatises can prove that after we die, there will be a next life. When the fire is out, it is completely gone; similarly, when water evaporates, it is also gone. But the mind will not disappear like that. The scientist Isaac Newton said: “After humans die, the soul still exists.” In addition, people such as Albert Einstein, Bertrand Russell, and Lu Xun, while not fully mastering Buddhism”s doctrines during their research, also recognized the basic law of cause and effect.

　　Both macro- and micro-science are limited to the external material world. Inner consciousness and the existence of past and future lives are still a blind spot for science today, and most scientists neither confirm nor deny them.

　　Speaking from my personal point of view, although I am not particularly knowledgeable and well read, I have read some books written by various psychologists and physicists from both the past and present. When I was reading these books, I found that it was very clear that so-called science, from one perspective, has brought great benefits to people. It has improved living standards significantly. However, regarding consciousness, except for Carl Jung and a small number of people influenced by western philosophers or Tibetan Buddhism, few recognize the existence of the soul after death; the rest of the scientists have not yet come to very clear conclusions.

　　Today, in such a reputable Chinese high-tech centre, with so many learned experts here to discuss this topic, should any of you be able to point out a justifiable reason to refute the existence of past and future lives, then, as Buddhists, we will not dispute your view and demand that …

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