..续本文上一页al practices and human relationships first.
With the accumulation of righteousness in this world, the causes and merits needed for us to progress towards Buddhahood will also increase. None of us should waste our time, we should fully utilize the short life span that we have and strive diligently towards the goal of Buddhahood.
3. Faith and Understanding needed in Practising
To follow the Buddha”s path, faith and understanding are indispensable. The scriptures give eight logical, solid reasons why we should have faith in the Buddha-Dharma. We have now simplified them into six categories.
3.1 The authority and merits of the Triple Gem
The Triple Gem is the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. The Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in Mahayana Buddhism all possess supreme wisdom and compassion and are worthy of our deep reverence. They are also capable of doing things that ordinary people cannot do. Besides our belief in the Buddha”s and Bodhisattva”s authority and merits, we should further believe in Buddha-Dharma, which is the door towards Buddhahood. The Buddha-Dharma also possesses merits and powers, which enable us to attain our ultimate aim if we practise conscientiously.
3.2 The Truth of All Dharma
By "All Dharma" we mean all events and things in this world. All phenomena that we know in this world is not absolute. Why
This may be explained in two ways.
a) All things, from human beings to the earth that we live in are in constant change, they are not permanent and not ultimate.
b) Everything in the world is relative. When there is good there will be bad; when there is birth there will be death; when there is a rise there will be a fall; when there is this, there will be that; when there is this family, there will be that family, when there is this nation, there will be that nation; and within the same nation, there are different parties. In addition, there are parties outside the party and there are groupings within the party. This is how the world stands. It is relative and full of contradiction. Hence the phenomena in this world cannot be considered absolute. Since everything in this world is relative and changing, human existence cannot be regarded as ultimate either. Therefore, a true follower of the Buddha must believe amidst this variegation, that there is an unchanging indiscriminate truth of absolute equality. If one tries to understand this by proper methods, and puts this understanding into practice, then one will be able to experience the Truth. Suffering will then be alleviated and endeavours towards Buddhahood and Bodhisattvahood will be duly rewarded.
3.3 Pure Karma
Most people know that Buddhism lays a great deal of emphasis on the Law of Cause and Effect. But the causes and effects that we have created may not necessary be pure, Evil deeds such as killing, robbery, adultery and lies have causes and effects that are not pure. Likewise, even acts such as almsgiving, paying homage to the Buddha, or reading sutras are not necessarily pure.
Take almsgiving for instance, which is undoubtedly a good act. Sometimes people may do this with the thoughts; "I can perform good acts", or "I have given more than others", or "I can win someone by this action to serve my own purposes". In these situations, as long as there are thoughts of an ego or an expectation of reward for the act, then the act is not a pure one, and is sullied. Thus, one who follows the Buddha, must believe in the existence of pure causes and effects; i.e.: causes and effects that are free from defilements, free from the attachments of an ego. Pure causes will produce pure effects. One should adopt the attainment of Buddhahood as one”s ideal goal and have strong faith and understanding in pure causes and their corresponding effects.
3.4 The Possibility …
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