Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 22-04-2013, 7:58 AM :

Cause and Effect

Common sicknesses can be treated by doctors. If it is a prolonged or recurring sickness, or one after undergoing operations and there is still no signs of recovery, it is Karmic sickness; often caused by much killing in the past lives. We can first tackle the causes by becoming a vegetarian, prevent killing, and also to free lives. More importantly is to emphasize on our personal cultivation and chanting the various names of the Buddhas.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 21-04-2013, 8:48 AM :

Cause and Effect

Bad-mouthing and criticising those who practise "bringing forth the Bodhicitta" will result in being mute.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 20-04-2013, 7:40 PM :

Cause and Effect

To avoid eating meat and to become a vegetarian, is to purify the body but not the tongue from contamination. To be pure in speech is to be pure in words, thoughts and deeds. Pure speech is without anger, blame, hatred, untruth and deceit. To use pure food, speech and always acting kind, is to develop a pure body, heart and mind.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 18-04-2013, 7:34 AM :

Cause and Effect

Our lives are not fated. "Destiny can be altered through virtuous deeds". For example : if in the past, we have committed killing and also caused hurt to others, we will have created the karmic effects of sicknesses and short life. But in this life, if we were to protect, save and liberate lives, we can stay healthy and be free from sicknesses. The past karmic causes together with the causes planted in this life will culminate into our present life-situations.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 17-04-2013, 11:18 AM :

Cause and Effect

Practicing giving increases fortune. Setting lives free begets longevity. One good thought transports us to Heaven. One evil thought delivers us into Hell. Cause and Effect is just and fair. Like Yin and Yang complementing each other. In our Saha world there are jails; In the Nether world there is Hell. Doing good or bad all come from you. Wait not when Death is near to know it's true.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 16-04-2013, 7:51 AM :

Cause and Effect

Unattached to all wordly possessions, saving and freeing lives -- a habitual action;

These result in blessings in abundance;
A long life and rebirth in Heaven
And escaping from dangers is so common.
Practising virtues will good fortune make,
Bu don't expect for nor rewards wait.
What you do and give, is what you will get.
Not expecting dues from virtuous acts,
The Law of Karma justly takes effect.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 15-04-2013, 8:00 AM :

Cause and Effect

Even as we uphold precepts in this life, sometimes we will also incur bad karma and become sick. Just because we fell sick while upholding precepts, we should not be discouraged to continue this practice. While we are upholding precepts and still fall sick, this is a sign that our past bad karma has lessened. It is an early sign that our karma is diminishing. 重业轻报

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 14-04-2013, 10:40 AM :

Cause and Effect

In the past, we may have caused bad karma which was supposed to result in us going into hell or into the ghost realms as karmic retribution. But due to our determination to upkeep precepts, we only suffer a little headache. After the headache has disappeared, the karma also vanished, and we are at peace and are well again.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 14-04-2013, 7:51 AM :

Good and bad karma needs conditions to make it happen. Though we can't change the seeds we have planted in our present and past lives. By following Buddha's teachings, we practice towards not letting the conditions for the bad karma to happen.

Posted by blue crystal on 13-04-2013, 8:10 AM :

Cause and Effect

All evil deeds spring from the following 10 Evil roots : Wanton Killing, Stealing, Sexual misconduct, False Speech, Scandalous gossip, Speaking with double-tongue, Bad mouthing, Greed, Hatred, and Ignorance. If one commits these 10 Evils, in the next life, one will be reborn into the realms of Hell, Animals or Hungry ghosts -- the 3 terrifying evil realms of Karmic Retribution.

Posted by blue crystal on 12-04-2013, 10:17 AM :

When past karma ripens in the present,
new karma is created by how one responds,
which affects the direction of past karma,
and creates the direction of future karma.

- Stonepeace

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 12-04-2013, 8:03 AM :

Cause and Effect

Many people do not really understand the cause of bearing a prodigal son. The reason is mainly due to not doing any meritorious deeds in the past lives; moreover there were Karmic debts still unsettled. By not doing evil, by doing lots of good deeds so as to accumulate merits, only will one have a truly good and fortunate child.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 11-04-2013, 7:03 PM :

One Buddhist sutra states: “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.”

欲知前世因,今生受者是;欲知来世果,今生作者是！

~ Daisaku Ikeda ~

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 11-04-2013, 6:48 PM :

Who is not aggressive…
Who is not getting angry frequently..
Who avoids quarrels..
Who willing to live with harmony ..
Most probably born in heaven after the death..
If somehow born as human again..
Will have an pleasant body..!

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 11-04-2013, 7:52 AM :

 

Cause and Effect

If you like to do charity, but you just have got no money; don't worry, just send out your compassionate heart, and together with your kind and loving thoughts, to all those whom you wish to give and help. A kind word here, a caring thought there is as charitable as the money that others share.

When you encourage others to do charity, and also rejoice in setting animals free, though the participation may look insignificant, your good, loving thoughts make all the difference.

Heaven and Earth, so high so near, within without, what's rich what's poor?!

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 10-04-2013, 8:02 AM :

Cause and Effect

"Practice Compassion -- No Killing" is one of the 3 types of pure blessings which result from pure actions :

1) Worldly Blessings (Filial-piety)
2) Precepts Blessings (Taking refuge in the Triple Jewels)
3) Cultivation Blessings (Practising the bringing forth of the Bodhicitta)

If in this life we can avoid killing, save, and set lives free, and together with the chanting of Sutras and Mantras, we can transfer the merits that accrue from such virtuous acts to the deceased, with the hope that they will someday be reborn in the Pure Land. Devotion such as these will result in our securing a place in one fo the 9 categories of lotuses in the Pure Land of Amitabha.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 09-04-2013, 7:08 PM :

Moliya Seewaka : I think one’s all the amenities & pains depend on his past Karma..L.Buddha.. what is your opinion about that…?

L.Buddha : Don’t ever say so Moliya..!
Sicknesses and deceases cause pain..
Mucus and air in this body cause pain..
Changing of seasons cause pain..
Accidents cause pain..
So, what you said is not true..!

(Not everything happens in this life is due to past lives karma. Only enlightened beings able to tell whether it's the cause or the effect).

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 09-04-2013, 7:58 AM :

Cause and Effect

The ancient sages say : " A face devout of hatred is like an offering. A mouth free from hateful words emits fragrance. A heart empty of hatred is like a priceless gem. Not created nor destroyed, the Eternal Truth stands ." A heart free from hatred and filled with Equanimity is completely whole and pure.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 08-04-2013, 12:32 PM :

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 08-04-2013, 7:55 AM :

Cause and Effect

If in the past or present life one easily gets angry, a revulsive and ugly person one will be born to be.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 06-04-2013, 8:15 AM :

Cause and Effect

No one can escape death. When a person leaves the world he takes along nothing with him, except his karmic seeds of good and bad deeds. It is said :"At death not even one of 10,000 thing we can bring; Except only the karmic seeds of every deed we did."

万般带不去，只有业随身。

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 05-04-2013, 8:22 AM :

The foolish are trapped by misunderstanding karma, while the wise are liberated through understanding karma.

Your karma is only as dynamic as you are in changing yourself. - Stonepeace

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 05-04-2013, 8:17 AM :

Cause and Effect

Not to kill but to set lives free is to create blessings, a practice so easy; Not to eat meat is our human dignity. For we were born to live, to learn to love, be free. There is nothing great to shout about. Just do not kill in your deeds, speech, thoughts. Bad karma you will then not create. Only Blessings you reap and take.

吃素就是修福

However, if one is unable to be a vegetarian due to some reasons, Buddhists should eat only 三净肉. 三净肉 means :

1) The animals were not specially killed for your consumptions.
2) You did not see the animals were being killed and how the animals died.
3) You did not hear the cries of the animals when they were being killed.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 04-04-2013, 8:07 AM :

Cause and Effect

Creating bad karmic reactions is like being in debts. To be free of such bitter fruits is like being free of debtors. To patiently accept such bitterness is better; it is like paying up all our debts. We may now escape not paying up our debts, but our debtors will keep haunting us until all our debts are settled.

However, by repenting according to Buddhist teachings, we can lighten our present and past lives sins. Repentance in Buddhism is not just for the sins committed in present life but also for sins committed in our many past lives.重罪轻判。

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 02-04-2013, 8:18 AM :

Cause and Effect

Always receiving charity from others is like diminishing one's own blessings. Realising this, an understanding person will always be happy and ready to give, and will not simply receive charity from others.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 01-04-2013, 8:00 AM :

Cause and Effect

If in the past life or in this present life one did not live virtuously, and though one's parents may be very highly-educated, one will not be blessed with virtuous children. Instead, unfortunate and sickly children will be born to one, resulting in future unease and suffering.

Note : There's no such thing as we inherit our parents' karma. This is due to the child's personal karma from his/her past lives.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 29-03-2013, 7:53 AM :

Cause and Effect

The Chinese characters for prison (牢狱) consist of the characters for cow （牛） and dog (犬). Those who prevent the consumption of beef and dog - meat will be exempted from being put into jails. In the animals kingdom, cows and dogs contributed and benefitted the most to the human race.

(Don't ask me why because I copied from Cause and Effect Dharma book and I'm also learning )

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 27-03-2013, 8:15 AM :

Cause and Effect

If in this life one likes to fight, enjoys killing animals and destroying their homes, and is happy when someone one dislikes has passed away......... in one's next life the life-span will be short.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 25-03-2013, 8:53 AM :

Cause and Effect

Not all retributive actions will have their reactions appearing in this life. Sometimes their reactions appear in the next life. If the conditions are not right, the reactions will appear in the next few life-times or in other future life-times.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 23-03-2013, 9:40 PM :

Cause and Effect

Longevity and Compassion are closely related, just like "Humaneness is Longevity". Having Humanity and the Compassion of No-Killing is the source of Longevity.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 22-03-2013, 8:36 AM :

Cause and Effect

If in this life one easily gets angry, has a hateful nature, despises others, is disrespectful to parents...... in one's next life one will have an ugly and revulsive personality.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 21-03-2013, 8:57 PM :

siao mei wrote:

身为一个佛教徒, what is your view on 算命? those 算命from thailand temples de?

 

There are many types of fortune tellers. The true fortune tellers will not see the fortune for the true Buddhists. The true "gods" that gone into trance will also won't dare to decide for the practicing Buddhists.

This is a true story. My friend who had just taken 3 refuges went to see her fortune as she was a beginner, she didn't know that true Buddhists don't go for fortune telling as what's going to happen to you relies on your practice.

She met a true fortune teller who could tell that she's a Buddhist who had taken the 3 refuges. The fortune teller told her that he couldn't see what's ahead of her （看不到她的命）because what's ahead of her depends on her practice. The fortune teller also did not take any "ang pao" from her. Instead, the fortune teller advised her to practice diligently.

Next time, if you are a practicing Buddhist and a fortune teller tells you that he's able to tell your fortune. You will know that he's a con man.

There's a Dharma talk by Ajahn Brahm but I couldn't remember which video clip. I can't remember everything but this is roughly what he mentioned. He said there was this practicing Buddhist who was ill, his family members went to ask the Taoist god that went into trance. The moment the Taoist god knew that the person was a practicing Buddhist, the "god" immediately gave back the "ang pao" to his family members and told the family members that he could not decide anything for him as he's a practicing Buddhist.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 21-03-2013, 8:25 AM :

Cause and Efffect

Some people have been committing evil deeds, yet their lives are not short nor do they meet with unexpected deaths. This is because the seeds of their evil actions planted in this life have not ripened; while the seeds of their good actions planted in their past lives have ripened.

不是不报，只是时辰未到。

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 20-03-2013, 8:30 AM :

Cause and Effect

At the moment I am healthy and seldom fall sick; this must be due to my past or perhaps because of certain compassionate deeds I have done in this life. In this life, I should be more caring and should prevent the killing of animals. When one is happy and contented, it is the best time to do more good deeds and accumulate merits.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 19-03-2013, 8:41 AM :

Cause and Effect

In "Contemplating the Great Stillness" it states : Attachment to forms, sound, smells, tastes and touch, is the cause of sicknesses. Because these 5 senses taint our Bodhicitta and Mind, they are referred to as "the 5 Dusts".

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 18-03-2013, 8:20 AM :

Cause and Effect

If in this life one loves and enjoys hunting, in the next life one will suffer from chronic nervousness to the point of insanity.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 17-03-2013, 8:33 AM :

Cause and Effect

A charitable family accumulates good merits; its descendants will definitely become prosperous. A family that does unwholesome deeds accumulates demerits; its descendants will definitely meet with unexpected calamities.

Parental karmic (or genetic) inheritance is illusory as we seem to "inherit" similar but actually personal karmic tendencies from our past - by Stonepeace

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 16-03-2013, 8:53 AM :

 

 

Cause and Effect

A person's wealth, poverty, beauty or ugliness, long or short life, birth and death, is all destined. One's destiny is the result of one's past thoughts, deeds and speech.

However, we can repent our sins (present or past lives) according to Buddha's teachings. By following Buddha's teachings, we are able to change our destiny.True repentance means not to repeat the wrongful act again. Don't underestimate the power of repentance.

Following is the repentance verses. Reciting Nanmo Amituofo is also one of the effective way to repent.

The evil karmas I have done with my body, voice, and mind are caused by greed, anger, and delusion, which are without a beginning in time. Before Buddhas I now supplicate for my repentance.
往昔所造诸惡业 皆由无始贪嗔痴 从身语意之所生 今对佛前求忏悔


The evil karmas I have done with my body, voice, and mind are caused by greed, anger, and delusion, which are without a beginning in time. I repent of all sins, the cause of hindrances.
往昔所造诸惡业 皆由无始贪嗔痴 从身语意之所生 一切罪障皆忏悔


The evil karmas I have done with my body, voice, and mind are caused by greed, anger, and delusion, which are without a beginning in time. I repent of all the roots of sin.
往昔所造诸惡业 皆由无始贪嗔痴 从身语意之所生 一切罪根皆忏悔

 

 

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 14-03-2013, 6:58 PM :

Cause and Effect

Although when I am in need, let me wish that others will have plenty. Although when I am sick and weak, may I wish that others are healthy. When suffering comes to me, let me accept it with peace.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 14-03-2013, 7:57 AM :

Cause and Effect

Cultivating a compassionate heart is performing one of the various virtuous deeds; resulting in one being healthy and prosperous. To be compassionate among living things is to relieve suffering and poverty; to be compassionate among animals is not to kill, but to save and protect their lives by setting them free.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 13-03-2013, 7:54 AM :

Cause and Effect

Do not simply pour hot water onto the ground. This is because many small insects (cause) live in the ground. This reckless action will harm their lives and moreover it will result in our having a short life (results).

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 12-03-2013, 7:47 AM :

Cause and Effect

If in this life one eats excessively and wastes food, in the next life one will suffer from hunger pangs and throat problems.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 11-03-2013, 8:11 AM :

Cause and Effect

If a person is rich but is evil minded, not only in this life will be denied of peace and good health, but in his future life he will meet with untimely death.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 09-03-2013, 8:50 AM :

Cause and Effect

If a man is born handsome and a woman beautiful, it is because in the past, they practised hospitality (gentle and kind to others, didn't scold others) and were charitable to others. If in this life one controls anger, is free in giving, lovingly serve others, respect even the ugly with equanimity.... in one's next life one will have a wholesome personality.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 08-03-2013, 7:53 AM :

Cause and Effect

If in this life one indulges in scandalous gossips and lying, in the next life one will be reborn into a broken family and is always quarrelsome with one's spouse.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 07-03-2013, 8:06 AM :

Cause and Effect

If in this life one practises Compassion and Equanimity and avoid killing, and is always happy to help others..........one will have a long life-span.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 06-03-2013, 8:26 AM :

Casue and Effect

If in the past, one beat, tortured and caned living beings (including animals). In this life, ulcers and sores will grow on one's body.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 05-03-2013, 8:02 AM :

Cause and Effect

A truly charitable person will perform charitable deeds without the thought of getting name or rewards. To expect name and rewards in doing charity is selfish. Such motives, in the name of charity, will only lead to demerits and creating future karmic afflictions.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 04-03-2013, 1:34 PM :

Cause and Effect

Although you may provide food to animals you keep in cages, but you are depriving them of their freedom. Your next life may be long, but you will live with limited freedom. As such, keeping animals in captivity is not worth doing, rather let them be free.

The reason why one is mistakenly thrown into prison is because in one's past life, one often put animals into cages.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 03-03-2013, 12:10 PM :

NUMBer wrote:

ç·£? - YouTube

what do u think of this video

It's a good video clip. It would be better if there's a English or Chinese version. Luckily I can understand Cantonese

 Cause and Effect

When a child is born to us, we need not be too happy yet; because his coming into the world could be to repay or to collect karmic debts.

"As you sow so shall you reap, it is all written in your name; Good or bad, your karmic debts, In the end you must claim."

However, as per the video clip, we should try our best to improve our life-situations to a better one.

I understand that if a child was born disabled and the parents have to look after the child for life long, it is also due to their karmic connection. As parents, one should look after the child well and try to improve the life-situations for both the parents and the child.

Posted by AUTUMN&WINTER on 02-03-2013, 8:58 AM :

NUMBer wrote:

i wanna ask if selfisness n jealousy are big wrong deeds?! ish not good rite

 

Selfishness and jealousy are not just bad deeds, they will also hinder your life. If you are not selfish and not easily get jealous, you will have many friends to help you when you are in need. One will feel happy when sharing. What goes around, comes around.

 

Cause and Effect

If in this life one does evil deeds and easily gets angry, if one often gets jealous or likes to scold people, in the next life, the karmic retribution will be reborn with an ugly and crooked mouth.