..續本文上一頁tep. It takes nine years in the worldly compulsory education system to graduate from the middle school, so it is impossible to understand the vast and profound dharma in a short term. Dharma learning is much harder than any worldly knowledge. If you don”t study it systematically and are satisfied with a refugee certificate or some empowerments, the outcome is only skin deep and exists in name only.

　　Therefore, Buddhism is not as simple as someone might think. It requires both learning and practicing, and none of them can be neglected. When I was talking with Mr. Kam just now, we both agree that in Buddhism, theoretical study alone is far from enough, and practice is also a necessity. In addition, one”s practice needs to be guided by dharma teaching. Everyone needs to work hard on these two aspects.

　　Coming back to suffering, as I said, if you want to eliminate sufferings, you need to know emptiness, which requires some learning and contemplating on the middle way. Especially the shastras such as Fundamental Treatise on the Middle Way, I guarantee you can benefit from it. It was Bodhisattva Nagarjuna, the author, who had spread dharma all over the world back then. I had read many worldly and trans-worldly books, and they are really able to arouse the irreversible faith in me towards the Buddha.

　　If you want to learn about emptiness, you”d better start with Fundamental Treatise on the Middle Way. The dedicatory verse at the beginning of the text reads:

　　To the one who teaches dependent arising,

　　Which is peace and the pacification of complexity—

　　No cessation, no birth,

　　No nihilism, no externalism,

　　No coming, no going,

　　Not many things, not one thing—

　　To the perfect Buddha, the best of teachers,

　　We prostrate.

　　The truth about all phenomena are thoroughly revealed by these few words. Regardless of our mind, our sufferings, or all external phenomena, their nature is all about no cessation, no birth, no nihilism, no externalism, no coming, no going, not many things, nor one thing. Bodhisattva Nagarjuna spent 27 chapters to explain the truth in great details, which cannot be refuted by any scientist.

　　Yesterday, one professor at The Chinese University of Hong Kong asked me, “What should we do if college students these days do not believe those stories in Buddhism

　　” I said, “Actually we needn”t tell them stories, otherwise they would mistake Buddhism stories for those myths or cartoons they are used to know. To guide them in knowing Buddhism, we”d better start with the middle way and the Buddhist Logic, to remove their arrogance first. Then, we can tell them the stories so that they can appreciate the greatness of the Buddha.

　　On July 2009, the Geneva-based International Coalition for the Advancement of Religious and Spirituality (ICARUS) unanimously named Buddhism the Best Religion in the World. The title is based on the votes by more than 200 religious leaders from every part of the spiritual spectrum. Many religious leaders voted for Buddhism rather than their own religion. Why”s that

　　 It is because in history, there wasn”t a single war fought in the name of Buddhism. The compassion in Buddhism is to love and benefit every sentient being, and its wisdom can reveal the truth of all phenomena. These are all unique characteristics of Buddhism.

　　While at Fudan University, I quoted the former President of University of Science and Technology of China. He said, “When scientists finally managed to climb to the top of the mountains, the masters of Buddhism had been waiting there for a long time.” Indeed, regardless of the subject, one can always find perfect answers in Buddhism. If some Buddhists are not familiar with this view, that”s their personal problem, not the fault of Buddhism.

　　By analyzing the so-called non-existence of “I”, especially…

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