..续本文上一页of contradiction. It is like diplomatic relations between countries, although each has different views, but when heads of states meet, they only praise the good points of each other, as if the conflicts no longer exist. In this manner, when Buddhism meets Christianity, the differences can be elided – after all, faith is deeply ingrained, no one can easily change their faith because of someone else. Hence, for the happiness and benefit of humanity, everyone should cooperate, encourage each other, and advocate all ideas of virtue.

　　Ideas of virtue are truly important! From ideas of virtue, Christians have built hospitals, schools, and performed many charitable deeds. This is something that many of us Buddhists cannot accomplish. This is why I have said on different occasions that we Buddhists should learn from Christians. Of course, we do not need to learn all behaviour, but some behaviour, like charity.

　　For Christians, although Buddhism is a different religion, but there are many shared teachings such as Bodhicitta and emptiness, which allow much room for exchange. Therefore, when the causes and conditions are later mature, not only between Buddhists and Christians, all people from the major religions can sit together, learn from each other, and draw on the strong points of others to overcome one”s own weak points.

　　Really, in this world, each religion has its own charm and value, and its own reason for existence. There is absolutely no need to have animosity, or even rejection, defamation. If non-religious groups can harmoniously co-exist, then why can religious groups not do the same

　　Thus, in some universities, if there are more Christians, please do not discriminate against us Buddhists, please do not forcibly drag Buddhists into your “Godly” group; but if Buddhist groups are stronger, then also do not forcibly absorb non-Buddhists, forcing them to enter the kingdom of “Buddha”. In Western cognition, this kind of brainwashing is considered very unethical behaviour.

　　Therefore, we should respect each other”s belief and at the same time, learn from each other”s strengths.

　　 (9) Question: I am a Social Science student here. There is a saying in Buddhism that “I seek my fortune, I create my destiny”. I wish to know, ultimately is it possible to change one”s destiny

　　Answer: Destiny, can be changed, also cannot be changed.

　　Some destiny can be changed, just as it is said in Liao Fan”s Four Lessons: The latter 20 years of Yuan Liao Fan”s career was changed because of his great charitable efforts. Thus, Buddhism is not deterministic, it does not say that what is decreed by fate cannot be changed. For instance, even a person who has been sentenced to life can be released given some skilful ways.

　　But also not all destinies can be changed. If some particularly severe karma has been created in the past, the so-called “fixed karma”, then that cannot be changed and one must bear its fruit. Just like some prisoners, no matter how they try to find someone to help, they still cannot be released.

　　 (10) Question: I am a high school student. Is it that once we have compassion and loving kindness, we have Bodhicitta

　　Answer: Compassion and loving-kindness have two types: worldly and transcendent. Worldly compassion and loving-kindness are generally aimed at those around oneself, and mostly have compassion towards “all humans”. Its scope is relatively small. Whereas transcendent compassion and loving-kindness, especially that of Mahayana Buddhism, is the wish for “all beings” to be free from suffering and to be happy. This capacity of the heart is enormous.

　　But compassion and loving-kindness are not yet Bodhicitta. They are the cause of Bodhicitta.

　　Question: In our Chinese classes, there are many classical texts such as Si Ma Qian”s The Bas…

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