认识业力，改变人生。

Dharma talk @ FGS Temple Singapore
16 Mar 2011
Speaker: 慧僧法师
Title：认识业力，改变人生。

Shifu starts the talk by shaking up our perceptions on what constitute good and bad. Red color is seen as prosperity while the westerns view red as danger. White means death for chinese while it means peace and purity in other society. Thus, color is neutral and is not good nor bad. It is our habitual perceptions to norms we encountered everyday that shapes our wrong views.

If someone that comes for the talk with interest, he will benefit at least 80% of what's taught in the talk. Those that come when asked by a friend will gain lesser. Those that came unwillingly will waste the trip altogether.

Even for people that is born with a good life (Karma) needs wisdom. “有钱是福报,用钱是智慧。”How we conduct ourselves with good action, speech and thoughts needs the right conditions for success to happen. Yet, without observing our action, speech and thoughts, we can not lessen our mental stress.

On how Karma works, Shifu shared that when we planted a water melon seed, we can not expect to get another fruit. And when we have planted the right seed, we need to give it optimal conditions and fertiliser to let it mature into a big plant.

Seeds (Karma) that has been planted can never be changed or removed. It can only be lessen. The concept is on the proportion of bad karma to the overall good. Doing more good will reduce the proportion of bad, thus reducing the chance of the bad Karma to ripen.

Karma does not support the extreme of "resigning to fate" and "things happening spontaneously with no reason." Results of the future can be changed based on what we do now. There are matters that could be controlled and matters that we have no power to control. Thus, we can not expect a sure good life just by practising Buddhism faithfully now. Bad things that can happen is resulted from bad seeds planted before.

"If by chanting rapidly allow us to reach enlightenment, then the chanting player is better at it.
If by meditating for long hours allow us to reach enlightenment, then animals in hibernation is better at it. And if by being vegetarian allow us to reach enlightenment, then cows and sheep is definitely better at it."

As buddhist, we need to be aware that Buddhist practise is to train our mind (修心) and not to develop other abilities. Doing bad deeds worsen our Karma by not just disallowing plants to grow well but burying stones in the soil.

Factors that affects Destiny are;
1) 习惯 - Habits (Action leads to habit)
2) 迷信 - Superstition (Result from lacking of self-confidence)
3) 情念 - Love attachments
4) 权利 - Desire for power
5) 业力 - Karma (Actions are the biggest factor that decides the destiny)

How and when the Karma will ripen depends on
1) Strength of deed.
2) Habits
3) Thoughts

To change our destiny,
1) Change our behavior.
2) Change our behavior; thoughts and views.
3) Make friends (广结善缘)
4) Keeping precepts (持戒)

Happiness can be attained by cultivating
1) 感恩 - Gratitude
2) 乐观 - Optimistic
3) 正面思维 - Positivity
4) 发挥所长 - Develop strength
5) 多做善事 - Doing good deeds