Spot Light

Your actions may look very much like Master's actions, but there is actually a big difference. We are not performing experiments with the poor and destitute people, or playing with them like toys. Only when we act out of love can we do things naturally. Even then we are not earning any merit, not to mention when we despise others, or use them to satisfy our ego and our wrong concepts. In this way, we are not earning merit but creating bad karma instead.

There was a man whose business was very prosperous; he followed his Master's instructions, so his business got better and better. Since he became exceedingly wealthy, he went to thank his Master, and asked, "Master, now that I have so much money, I don't know how to use it. I want to help other people, but I don't know how to do it. Will Master please advise me?"

He didn't receive a reply from his Master, but was told to go home. When he came next time, he asked the same question, and again received no answer. On the third time, he said, "Oh, please say something Master! Whatever you tell me, I will do accordingly."

His Master was "backed up against a wall," so he sighed three times, and then told him, "I don't know what I should tell you to do. If I tell you to make offerings to the temples or churches, I am asking you to feed the greedy monks. If I tell you to give money to your relatives, it is harmful -- not helpful at all to your spiritual practice. If I tell you to use the money to help poor people, your ego will emerge -- absolutely not beneficial to you, as you will think that you are great. However, I think it is still better for you to help the poor people, because at least they will get benefit. (Master and everyone laugh.) Though you do not benefit from it, those in need will."

You see! Helping the needy is not good for us. Do you understand my words? Don't imagine that we are doing meritorious deeds, and we will have blessed rewards. It is very difficult! There is scarcely anyone who has the noblest intent in making offerings. Whenever people give anything, they always have a little demand. They know they are giving and think that they are great. Before they have earned any merit, they are trapped by the devil of arrogance! Therefore, it is a very dangerous thing for us to help others.

Even when I help people, I also fear that my ego might emerge (everyone laughs); but I tell myself, "Never mind, it doesn't matter even if I hurt myself. As long as the poor benefit, then it is fine!" Therefore, I don't care much about whether my ego has emerged or not, or whether I am hurting myself or incurring karma. I don't care.

We must do everything clearly, otherwise the result will be different! I've never told you that you should give alms to earn merit, have I? (Everyone answers: No!) Have I ever deceived you? (Everyone answers: No!)

I have often told you some funny stories about giving alms. These few days, I have been telling some stories to the foreigners. Here is one of them: A person had given two coins to the Buddha. As a result, life after life, for sixty-one aeons he was always born with plenty of money. Each time he opened his hand there would be two pieces of gold in it, so he enjoyed wealthy lives for sixty-one aeons.

Sometimes, when I go outside, the hawker selling cabbage wants to offer vegetables to me, but I dared not take them. (Master and everyone laugh.) I am afraid that the hawker, for the next sixty-one aeons, will always be born with two cabbages in her hands, and will never get out of this business of selling vegetables. Therefore, I dare not take them.

Some time before, when I went outside the Center on Sundays, I see them selling vegetables along the road. Whenever they see me, I'd comment that some of the vegetables looked beautiful. They would say, "I would like to offer them to You, Master! Please take them!"

I did take his goodwill to give him blessed rewards, but I still paid. In this way, the two of us will not be born with two cabbages or carrots in our hands. (Master and everyone laugh.) We could never finish eating them! Even if we sell them, it is very boring selling vegetables for sixty-one aeons!

A beggar once offered the Buddha a piece of ragged cloth. In return, he always had a napkin below his chin each time he was born. I don't want ten, not to mention one. (Everyone laughs) Having to stay in the illusionary world life after life, you don't want it even if you were given ten thousand napkins, not to mention only one. Isn't that right? When there is cause, there is effect. However, karma is really funny sometimes.