The Illusion of Right and Wrong

The Shifting Sands of Perception

Namo Amituofo asks us: What is right, and what is wrong? Who can truly say which is which? In this world, our perceptions of right and wrong are formed entirely based on our individual standpoints and the angles from which we view a situation. Because our perspectives are limited, our judgments are often flawed.

In truth, you should not be overly attached to what you see before your eyes. Although the distinction between right and wrong may appear crystal clear in the present moment, if you were to look further back into the past causes of these events, you would often find that the truth is the exact opposite of what you currently perceive. This is the nature of the world we live in.

We are trapped in a cycle of reincarnation, where beings are constantly interacting in ways that perpetuate suffering. It continues to grow and consume beings without pause. Consider the various ways in which beings interact: you eat me, and I eat you; you slaughter me, and I slaughter you; you harm me, and I harm you; you help me, and I help you; we cooperate with one another to achieve mutual benefit. Depending on the specific time and the specific beings involved in these interactions, the results will vary, and our perception of these events will change accordingly. This is the true nature of reincarnation. Therefore, you must not become attached to the circumstances you see before you, for they are merely fleeting manifestations of deeper karmic conditions.

The Unmoving Heart Amidst the Storm

Before one has successfully transformed their karma, ordinary people live entirely within the laws of karma and cause and effect. In this state, right and wrong, good and evil, are inextricably linked as cause and effect. When you see or hear things through your Six Roots, you must strive to keep your heart from being moved. This is what it means to have an unmoving heart.

In terms of your actions, you must be discerning: if an action is evil, you must stop it immediately; if an action is good, you may continue to perform it. This is the practice of outer movement while maintaining inner stillness. This is the path taken by those who truly understand the laws of karma and cause and effect, as well as the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. You should not allow every thought and intention to be stirred by the right and wrong you see before you; instead, you should use that very observation as an opportunity to stop evil and move toward goodness. This is true compassion. It is how one who is engaged in True Cultivation avoids wasting this human existence.

The Governance of Realms

In the human world, there are laws and regulations designed to maintain social order, protect the safety of the people, and ensure that individuals are not violated. In the spiritual realms, there are also laws that maintain the order of the ghost realm and ensure that different spirits do not infringe upon one another. At the same time, there are the Ten Kings of Hell, who examine the actions of people during their time on earth. They make final judgments based on these actions, which determine the nature of the karmic rewards or punishments that the spirit will receive, as well as their future destination.

The Path to Awakening

Because of this, the Buddha’s teachings constantly counsel all beings to cultivate the following virtues: compassion, wisdom, inclusivity, a vast mind-capacity, a heart of repenting, being humble and modest, and strict adherence to the precepts. Regardless of what your past karmic conditions may have been, you must not be led by the desires, feelings, emotions, ego-attachment, or subjective views of this false body. All of these are merely the manifestation of past karmic consequences.

You must listen to and follow the teachings of Namo Amituofo, the guidance of the Buddha, and the earnest reminders of Practitioner Su. If you are told that something is not to be done, not to be thought of, or not to be acted upon, you must listen and follow those instructions precisely. Only by doing so can you stop the suffering that arises from these actions and cease the creation of new negative causes that lead to further evil consequences in the cycle of reincarnation. This is the only way to gain the opportunity to transform your karma and achieve an awakened being. Namo Amituofo.