..续本文上一页ed onto an icy pond in winter, initially it would melt a little ice. But eventually it also slowly becomes ice. Hence, many university students need to first have the mental preparation: can you persevere and do good for life

　　 Persevere and have a heart of gold for life

　　If you wish to maintain this mindset, long-term habitual practice is very important. You also need to realize that being charitable and doing good deeds cannot stop just at the idea. You should realize from within how important it is, then have the resolve: “Although society is in a mess, I still wish to live a pure life and do meaningful things.”

　　In actual fact, there are a great many people like this today. Like Professor Gao, who has written so many books and dedicated himself to education for such a long time. It is really very sacred. It is not that I just meet someone and praise that person; but it is truly great for him to remain in the role of a teacher in order to nurture more students. Otherwise, nowadays quite a few teachers who as soon as they have the ability, buy houses, start businesses, and become involved in all sorts of activities. Their hearts are not in teaching at all.

　　Therefore, I really hope that when you are at school, you can often have this kind of determination: “Once I enter society, I prefer to let go of success in career and fortune, in order to do something meaningful for humanity!” In this way, as the mind is very powerful, it will have a kind of restrain on many of your actions.

　　(9) Question: I am a research student in the School of Political Science and Law. These two days you have spoken a great deal about doing good deeds, which really benefited us deeply. I have one question: some people do charitable acts out of the motivation of attaining fame and glory. But even though this is the case, they still manage to help many people and obtain good fruits. Yet there are others who have good intention, but often end up ruining things. Hence, when we evaluate good deeds, between intention and result, which is more important

　　Answer: Comparing intention with result, good intention is more important. It is said in Buddhism: “If the intention is good, the levels and paths are good. If the intention is bad, the levels and paths are bad.” This means, if the intention is good, one”s path ahead is bright; if the intention is bad, then the path ahead is dark. It is also said in The Treasure of Precious Qualities: “Intention, good or ill, dictates the act”s effects, and not the size of the apparent right or wrong.” The difference between good or ill can only be distinguished by inner intent, not by external actions.

　　There are some today who engage in charity in order to push their own religious values, or elevate their public profile. If various motivations are imbedded, then it is merely a virtuous appearance, not a virtuous heart. If the heart is good, then even if your actions do not perfectly succeed, as said in Buddhist sutras, they are still of limitless and boundless merit.

　　Hence, the key to measuring good and ill lies in the heart. If your heart carries no selfishness but the wish entirely to benefit all beings, then this is the best kind of virtue.

　　In particular there are those who are inadvertently misunderstood by others when they are engaged in charity. I also said during the “International Charity Forum” that charity today does not yet have well-established regulations, and lacks transparency and public trust. Under these circumstances, it is understandable if others do not trust you , and believe that you have ulterior motives or intentions. But so long as you have good intention and purely wish to benefit others, there is no need to worry about personal glory or shame, gain or loss; nor be overtaken by misgivings and fear…

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