..续本文上一页ism not learn from Christianity and be more actively engaged with society

　　This teacher”s question is a very good one! While not all Buddhist monasteries are in remote mountainous regions, many are indeed built in relatively quiet areas.

　　Today, Christianity has many churches in a city. Some have been approved, some not, and exist in the form of home temples. They are actively immersed in society in areas such as charity, medicine, education, hygiene, and environmental protection. We can say that this surpasses Buddhism.

　　Thus, a while ago, I also called on Buddhist communities to dedicate more love, not just being inpidualistic, burning incense and praying to the Buddha for self-liberation, without ever caring about society. Certainly, this does not apply to all Buddhists, but there are indeed many who are like this. This teacher”s suggestion is right; we Buddhists from now on should care about society. We need to be organized, to plan, and at the same time to be responsible for society. You need to know that Buddhism”s altruistic spirit is incomparable, but the action of us Buddhists is far lacking. This still needs to be improved.

　　It is exactly because of this that some Tibetan monasteries originally built in remote valleys have shifted closer to towns. Some people asked an abbot last year: “Don”t you need a quiet place for monastic practices

　　 How come you have moved to the side of the road

　　” The abbot answered: “We have to flow with life in the world, and be in touch with more living beings. If we remain in the mountain, access is not convenient.” So, in Tibet there are also situations like this.

　　(3) Question: I wish to ask a question that everyone is quite concerned about: I believe that many have read Liao Fan”s Four Lessons, which teaches us how to change destiny. My question is, do we have a destiny

　　 If so, how do we overcome it

　　Answer: There is destiny. As to how to change destiny, there are different teachings in the Sutrayana and the Tantrayana traditions , Liao Fan”s Four Lessons also mentioned quite a few things.

　　Actually, Buddhism is not deterministic, it does not say that everything in life is pre-determined and can never be changed. But it also does not say that all destinies can be changed. It is just like worldly laws, if you have committed a very severe crime and must be sentenced to death, it is futile to try to find someone to help. But if it is not so severe, then some things can be negotiated and there is some room for leniency. Destiny in Buddhism is the same. Some destiny, through your wholesome deeds, can be changed. But when it comes to particularly severe unwholesome deeds, the fruits will definitely manifest. Doing good may moderate it, but cannot completely obliterate it.

　　Regarding this question, the chapter on “Differentiation of the Karma” in the Abhidharma has very fine descriptions; you can investigate it. In brief, according to the Buddhist perspective, destiny exists, but not everything in life has been determined, and doing wholesome deeds can change destiny. Even if you must bear some sufferings, doing good absolutely has an effect.

　　(4) Question: I am a Tibetan university student at Huazhong Normal University. Perhaps everyone will not understand if I speak Tibetan, so I will use Chinese.

　　Khenpo has also just said then that within our Tibetan culture we have debates where some things can be said frankly. Well then, the first student from the Huazhong Science and Technology University Philosophy Department, his third question, I feel really uncomfortable about it.

　　For Khenpo to come to Huazhong Normal University today, we need to do everything possible to show our hospitality. What is the purpose of asking a question like that

　　 Imagine, if you treat this as a serious occasion, would y…

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