..续本文上一页 you can debate with them using logical reasoning. If you have solidly grounded reasons, you will be able to defeat them in the debate, and then, even if they don”t acknowledge it verbally, at least in their heart they might think, “In case there are past and future lives, what should I plan and do for my future life

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　　I think there are two ways: first, educating children with the correct view from an early age; second, debate with them. This may change their wrong views.

　　Question: Even if we believe that past and future lives exist, in our own life it is still difficult to always manage our behavior in accordance with that. An example to illustrate this point is that many people know that smoking is harmful to their health, but they still continue to smoke. This shows that there is a gap between “knowing” and “doing,” so how can we get beyond this gap

　　Answer: If you consider this point seriously, no matter how firm your habits are, you will not dare to act carelessly. For example, if you know that as a result of murdering someone you will face the harshest possible punishment under the law, even if you have intense hatred for someone, you would not dare kill him or her. Similarly, if you truly believe there are future lives, and that killing will cause you to fall into the hell realms, no matter how great your agitation, you will simply not kill or create negative karma.

　　Therefore, the main point is whether you have faith and confidence in this or not. If you are dubious about it, then it is normal that you will create negative karma. On the other hand, if you have firm faith in this, and know the consequences in advance, you usually won”t commit negative acts.

　　 (6) Question: I am a bank employee. In my work, we organize entertainment for our customers, and my boss asks me to take responsibility for ordering the food. This requires me to choose some live animals. If I don”t order them, I am opposing my boss, and will be criticized. If I order the live animals, I am directly creating the negative karma of killing. Some people have said, “If you are not killing intentionally, you can just confess it later.” However, I often kill living beings and then confess. Being in this loop again and again will cause me to develop a bad habit. What should I do in this case

　　Answer: In such cases, you either leave the company, or continue to kill. If you continue to kill, it is definite that you are committing some faults, as the precious lives of living beings are taken because of your placing the order to kill them. This kind of confession is really not very good, but, between confessing and not confessing, it is still better to confess. Other than that, there is no other solution.

　　Question: I often advise people around me to pray and ask for the blessing of buddhas and bodhisattvas in times of difficulties. However, they scoff, “If things go well, you will say that it is the blessing from the buddhas and bodhisattvas; if the situation continues to be unfavorable, then it means that it is due to my negative karma since beginningless time. Buddhism is always like that: there are always two sides to whatever they say.” In this regard, I do not know how to explain it.

　　Answer: Actually, it is very simple, and the same thing applies to the mundane world as well. For example, a person commits a crime. If his family successfully save him from prison by seeking the help of a political leader, then everyone will give credit to the leader for saving that person. But if it is impossible for the leader to help, then everyone will think that the prisoner must have committed a very serious crime. So, by using this analogy, it is very easy to explain the blessing of Buddha and bodhisattvas. In fact, Lord Buddha said in the scriptures that even the …

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