..續本文上一頁now, but ironically people choose to believe in these remarks as if they are Vajra words. This is rather absurd.

　　Sometimes it is true that some people might be very diligent at the very beginning, but gradually they get lazy and slack off. But you will not give up as long as you understand the importance of practice and the real benefits resulted from studying Buddhadharma.

　　Of course, it is inevitable to have endless afflictions as a person living in major cities. But I believe as your practice gets more and more advanced, your hindrances will become less and less, and your accomplishment will be reached sooner and sooner.

　　10. Question: I am a student at Shandong Traditional Chinese Medicine University. I often see hawkers selling turtles and fish outside the school gate or on the sidewalk. At first I wanted to purchase and rescue these lives. But there is a saying, “When there is no transaction, there will be no killing.” “Life-release is also a form of transaction”. As such, I began to have doubts and blame myself. I even have hypothesize to the extreme that some people might catch these animals deliberately and sell to you for life-release. What should I do

　　Answer: “Transaction” does not necessarily lead to “killing”, such as life-release. Thus we need to specifically address this specific issue.

　　Of course, some people might catch some birds or fish on purpose, then sell for our life-release activity. But even so, life is still the most precious. We must always put saving and protecting life as top priority regardless of the situation.

　　In the meantime, we need to be cautious about a few things when we perform life-release. Otherwise, some people will notice a pattern and deliberately catch animals on the first and fifteenth of each month, or Buddhist holidays, to sell at high prices. Therefore, we should avoid such dates. Life-release could be done at any time – after all, life-release is an occasional behavior. If we do it once or twice in a month randomly, then people would not be able to guess your schedule, and try to catch animals for you to release.

　　Therefore, some of us might need to be more considerate regarding the action of life-release. If we do so, the problem that worries you no longer exists.

　　11. Question: – Great master, would you please show us what you have accomplished

　　Answer: I have not accomplished much. I just always feel that the Buddhadharma is the truth, and I have gained very significantly through diligent study and practice in many years. I would love very much to share such spiritual wealth and wisdom with people all over the world, especially those in deep distress. What I have is but this heart of devotion, Other than this, there is nothing else which can be called “accomplishment”.

　　(12) Question: I am a Ph.D. Student at Shandong University. Buddhism advocates altruism. But if I take the initiative to help others, would they be indebted to me and thus passively accept the result in this cause and effect relationship

　　 Isn”t this in conflict with the views of altruism

　　Answer: The Altruism advocated by Buddhism is unconditional and expects no return. Those receive such help in this situation need not to repatriate the debt in the future. It is like you must return later what I loan you. However, if this is given to you as a gift, there is no need for you to give back in the future.

　　(13) Question: I am a student at the Liberal Arts College of Shandong University. I have not taken the refuge to become a Buddhist and I also have many doubts. The world must have been in existence before Buddha appeared. May I ask: where did this universe come from

　　 Who created it

　　Answer: I am always very delighted in exchanging with non-Buddhists on whatever occasion. Numerous Buddhas had appeared prior to Shakyamuni according to the point of view in Buddhism. Therefore, there is not just one Buddha ,Shakyamuni, in this world.

　　It is believed in Buddhism that this world which has been in existence prior to Shakyamuni was the result of causes and conditions. It was not created by God or other gods. Not only this world, but so is everything else, including all the plants in four seasons and infinite variety of animals. This reasoning has been detailed in “Abhidharma-kosa Shastra”, “Yogacarabhumi-sastra “ and Tantrayana”s “Kalachakra”.

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　　[1] The Tibetan version of the Wisdom & Compassion Buddhism Web was formally introduced on June 18, 2012, the 100th anniversary of the Omniscient Mipham Rinpoche”s entering nirvana. http://www.zhibeifw.com/Tibetan/

《Question/Answer Session at Shandong University》全文閱讀結束。