..續本文上一頁ast and future lives indeed exist.

　　Of course, both Christianity and Buddhism acknowledge the existence of past and future lives. This point is in common. Christians such as Galileo and Newtown also both acknowledged future lives, feared descent into hell, and aspired to ascend to heaven. Since they both acknowledged this, then Christianity should also have its own complete system of theories. Otherwise, these scientists would not have blindly believed.

　　Question: On doing good deeds to help others, as a Christian, sometimes I feel that it is not genuine. Perhaps it comes from some utilitarian motivation such as wishing to ascend to heaven, or avoiding hell. But I have heard Professor Gao say, when we help others, we would feel joy inside, and feel great happiness. I feel that this second type is more pure. Dear master, how do we engage in more pure deeds of good in our daily life

　　 How do we live in a way that better reflect our faith

　　Finally, I wish to say: listening to master”s talk, I feel very peaceful inside; I really like master, thank you!

　　Answer: In Mahayana Buddhism, the aspiration of bodhicitta to benefit all beings is placed first. Some believe that attaining buddhahood is the most important. But this is not the ultimate. Only placing helping others first is the true reflection of bodhicitta.

　　Nowadays Christians engage in many charitable deeds in a myriad of places. Some may have utilitarian motives, but some have true compassion towards living beings, just like Mother Theresa. Therefore, irrespective of the religion, we should all live in harmony and understand each other. When the essence of altruism is reflected in someone, regardless of who that person is, it is worthy of learning; regardless of which religious community it is, it is worthy of acceptance.

　　I also feel that for example, after a busy day, I may be particularly tired. But if I can be of help to someone, no matter how exhausted I am, I feel very willing and very happy. But if one is busy throughout the day purely to extend one”s own fame and fortune, then one cannot speak of being a Buddhist, let alone a Mahayana Buddhist. If each and every day is just for the self, that is truly to be ashamed of. It is hardly different to living as a yak – to keep themselves alive, yaks also exhaustingly search for grass and water each day.

　　Thus, regardless of what religion you believe in, your pursuit should be to benefit others. This is the key!

　　(3) Question: I am a philosophy research student at the Central China Normal University. There is a philosopher in the West called Pyrrho who expounded skepticism, which is to not express any opinion in order to maintain inner peace. My question is: contemporary society is very restless; as contemporary research students, doctorate students, how can we abandon distracting thoughts to maintain inner peace

　　Answer: Sometimes to maintain silence, to not express a view on many things is also a state of realization. Within Buddhism, especially Chan or Tantra practitioners, when they reach a certain state of realization, they feel that all matter and phenomena in the world are false and unreal. Using Buddhist language, in the ultimate reality, everything cannot be expressed in words; in the conventional reality, although things manifest like dreams and illusions, but these do not have true substance. To express many views at that point is not very meaningful. Hence, particular ideas in Western philosophy could also have some profound hidden meaning.

　　As research and doctorate students, if you wish to maintain silence when later face many issues in life, you actually need a type of practice. I heard that you often have summer retreats here, and you have some experiences with Chan meditation. In the Tantrayana tradition, there…

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