Experiencing The Effects of Bad Karma To A Lesser Degree
The Significance of Faith That Can Overcome Any Difficulty
Just as all people look different, no two people can have the same physical or psychological characteristics. Some may be gifted with talent while others are not. Some may be wise while others may be foolish. In the same way, some may be wealthy while others may be poor. Yet, such innate differences are not things that one may choose when born into this life.
Although one may exert the same amount of effort, he may not be as fortunate as another.
This helplessness of life is generally referred to as destiny. People vaguely think of fate and destiny when they realize there are so many differences between themselves and others or when they are confronted with difficulties in the course of life.
A true religion should serve to resolve the problem of fate while bringing forth the courage, power and wisdom to challenge such difficulties to bring out happiness in one's life. What is the Buddhist view of fate and destiny?
First of all, let's have a look at the Buddhist view of life and death. Buddhism teaches that the cycle of birth and death repeats itself constantly in the three existences of past, present and future. Only upon realization of this eternity of life is one able to understand correctly the concept of fate and destiny.
Nichiren Daishonin wrote a thesis called ''The Opening of the Eyes" which consists of two volumes. In this thesis, the Daishonin quotes a passage from the Shinjikan Sutra which reads, "If you want to understand the causes that existed in the past, look at the results as they are manifested in the present. And, if you want to understand what results will be manifested in the future, look at the causes that exist in the present." (MW 2, 197-198)
This passage teaches us that fate is not something given to us by God or some other supreme being, but rather it is entirely up to us to decide our own fate. This means that whatever effect one may experience in life is completely due to the causes that one has accumulated in the past. Furthermore, whatever causes created at present will serve to determine the future. The factors that constitute fate and destiny are called karma in Buddhism.
When doing the same thing continuously for long periods of time, it becomes second nature without our realizing it. Karma works in the same way, it is habits and behavioral patterns that have been accumulated through one's behavior from the distant past up to the present.
Accumulating Good Causes Is Just Like Saving Money In A Bank Account
The concept of destiny, or karma, can be better understood when thought of in terms of an account book that records all our 'behavior. This account may at times be in the red while at other times it may be in the black. If the account of our life is negative, we must put a lot of effort into resolving the situation. The lessening of karmic retribution is a Buddhist principle that teaches the way to resolve such situations in life.
This principle of lessening karmic retribution is taught in the Nirvana Sutra. Nichiren Daishonin explains this principle as follows, "If one's heavy karma from the past is not expiated within this lifetime, he must undergo the sufferings of hell in the future, but if he experiences extreme hardship in this life, the sufferings of hell will vanish instantly." (MW 1, 17)
Developing The Strength To Vanquish The Evil Sins In One's Life
Thus how can we lessen our karmic retribution? “The Letter from Sado” quotes a passage the Hatsunaion Sutra that reads, “lt is due to the blessings obtained by protecting the Law that one can diminish in this lifetime his suffering and retribution." (MW 1, 40) The blessings obtained by protecting the Law refer to the act of embracing the Gohonzon, chanting daimoku as well as the actions one takes for the sake of kosen-rufu. Even though one may have created karma heavy enough to experience sufferings for countless lifetimes, by believing in the Gohonzon and by practicing Buddhism, one is able not only to diminish the sufferings but also to vanquish them completely. The great benefit of changing one's karma is made known in this way in the “Letter from Sado."
Why are we able to change our karma by taking faith in the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin? This is because Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the one and only pure Law that penetrates the origin of life and the universe and is deeper than the dimension of life that generates karma. When drawing out this karma from within one's life, one is able to eradicate all tendencies that have been produced by karma created in the past.
Of course, the process of changing karma is not an easy task. It certainly requires tremendous hardship. To change negative karma or the filth in one's life, one must first get out the dirt before getting rid of it. Hardships will thus appear as the filth which enables one to eradicate one’s negative karma through the practice of the Mystic Law. Only by overcoming such difficulties is one able to achieve true happiness and growth in one's life.
When we confront hardships in life, we must have firm conviction that each one is the chance to change our karma and put the principle of lessening karmic retribution into effect. This kind of practice leads to human revolution.
(Source: Buddhist Studies, Pg: 11-13)
The Significance of Faith That Can Overcome Any Difficulty
Just as all people look different, no two people can have the same physical or psychological characteristics. Some may be gifted with talent while others are not. Some may be wise while others may be foolish. In the same way, some may be wealthy while others may be poor. Yet, such innate differences are not things that one may choose when born into this life.
Although one may exert the same amount of effort, he may not be as fortunate as another.
This helplessness of life is generally referred to as destiny. People vaguely think of fate and destiny when they realize there are so many differences between themselves and others or when they are confronted with difficulties in the course of life.
A true religion should serve to resolve the problem of fate while bringing forth the courage, power and wisdom to challenge such difficulties to bring out happiness in one's life. What is the Buddhist view of fate and destiny?
First of all, let's have a look at the Buddhist view of life and death. Buddhism teaches that the cycle of birth and death repeats itself constantly in the three existences of past, present and future. Only upon realization of this eternity of life is one able to understand correctly the concept of fate and destiny.
Nichiren Daishonin wrote a thesis called ''The Opening of the Eyes" which consists of two volumes. In this thesis, the Daishonin quotes a passage from the Shinjikan Sutra which reads, "If you want to understand the causes that existed in the past, look at the results as they are manifested in the present. And, if you want to understand what results will be manifested in the future, look at the causes that exist in the present." (MW 2, 197-198)
This passage teaches us that fate is not something given to us by God or some other supreme being, but rather it is entirely up to us to decide our own fate. This means that whatever effect one may experience in life is completely due to the causes that one has accumulated in the past. Furthermore, whatever causes created at present will serve to determine the future. The factors that constitute fate and destiny are called karma in Buddhism.
When doing the same thing continuously for long periods of time, it becomes second nature without our realizing it. Karma works in the same way, it is habits and behavioral patterns that have been accumulated through one's behavior from the distant past up to the present.
Accumulating Good Causes Is Just Like Saving Money In A Bank Account
The concept of destiny, or karma, can be better understood when thought of in terms of an account book that records all our 'behavior. This account may at times be in the red while at other times it may be in the black. If the account of our life is negative, we must put a lot of effort into resolving the situation. The lessening of karmic retribution is a Buddhist principle that teaches the way to resolve such situations in life.
This principle of lessening karmic retribution is taught in the Nirvana Sutra. Nichiren Daishonin explains this principle as follows, "If one's heavy karma from the past is not expiated within this lifetime, he must undergo the sufferings of hell in the future, but if he experiences extreme hardship in this life, the sufferings of hell will vanish instantly." (MW 1, 17)
Developing The Strength To Vanquish The Evil Sins In One's Life
Thus how can we lessen our karmic retribution? “The Letter from Sado” quotes a passage the Hatsunaion Sutra that reads, “lt is due to the blessings obtained by protecting the Law that one can diminish in this lifetime his suffering and retribution." (MW 1, 40) The blessings obtained by protecting the Law refer to the act of embracing the Gohonzon, chanting daimoku as well as the actions one takes for the sake of kosen-rufu. Even though one may have created karma heavy enough to experience sufferings for countless lifetimes, by believing in the Gohonzon and by practicing Buddhism, one is able not only to diminish the sufferings but also to vanquish them completely. The great benefit of changing one's karma is made known in this way in the “Letter from Sado."
Why are we able to change our karma by taking faith in the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin? This is because Nam-myoho-renge-kyo is the one and only pure Law that penetrates the origin of life and the universe and is deeper than the dimension of life that generates karma. When drawing out this karma from within one's life, one is able to eradicate all tendencies that have been produced by karma created in the past.
Of course, the process of changing karma is not an easy task. It certainly requires tremendous hardship. To change negative karma or the filth in one's life, one must first get out the dirt before getting rid of it. Hardships will thus appear as the filth which enables one to eradicate one’s negative karma through the practice of the Mystic Law. Only by overcoming such difficulties is one able to achieve true happiness and growth in one's life.
When we confront hardships in life, we must have firm conviction that each one is the chance to change our karma and put the principle of lessening karmic retribution into effect. This kind of practice leads to human revolution.
(Source: Buddhist Studies, Pg: 11-13)
No comments:
Post a Comment