Issue 304

Contemplating the Karmic Conditions of Beings

This third chapter is called Contemplating the Karmic Conditions of Living Beings.”To contemplate” means to observe. What are”living beings”? Living beings are formed by a multitude of causal conditions and born according to the states. What is meant by formed by a multitude of causal conditions? Form, feeling, cognition, formation and consciousness are the multitude of causal conditions, which create the physical body, and are born pursuant to the different states. Those born from such causes and conditions are living beings. Why does karma exist? Karma may be created through speech, physical acts or thoughts. Since they are created, why are they called “karma” instead of “causes”? Causal conditions refer to a single incident; karma is an accumulation of many causal conditions over a long period of time.

“Conditions” refer to the causal conditions that create karma. There are varying kinds of causal conditions. Every living being has his/her own karmic conditions that lead them to experience different states accordingly. Some living beings always encounter joyful states. Why? In the past they planted good causes, and therefore in this lifetime they reap good results. Some living beings are beset with difficulties and tribulations. Why? In the past they did not plant good causes; they sowed bad ones instead. Over time these bad causes turn into bad karma; hence they face such miserable retributions in this lifetime.

Plant good causes and reap good results; plant bad causes and reap bad results. Whether we plant good causes or bad causes is our own volition; no one else makes us do it. The same goes with attaining Buddhahood, which we attain through our own hard work at cultivation, not because other people made us. Working hard at cultivation is planting the causes for Buddhahood, which leads to attaining Buddhahood in the future. Do the work of Buddhas and you will become Buddhas in the future; do the work of demons and you will become demons. Hence, it is earlier mentioned that karmic retributions are brought forth by the three evil karmas created by the body, mouth and mind. This is the meaning of karmic conditions.

At that time, the Buddha’s mother, Lady Maya, placed her palms together respectfully and asked Earth Store Bodhisattva, “Sagely One, could you tell us about the different kinds of karma that beings of Jambudvipa create, and the resulting retributions that they undergo?”
Earth Store replied, “There are many millions of worlds and lands that may or may not have hells, may or may not have women, may or may not have the Buddhadharma, and so forth up to having or not having Hearers and Pratyekabuddhas. Since the worlds differ, the retributions in the hells also differ.”

At that time, the Buddha’s mother, Lady Maya: Lady Maya is the Buddha’s mother. She gave birth to the Buddha from her left armpit. She died from hemorrhage and was reborn in the heavens. After Shakyamuni Buddha became enlightened, he spoke Dharma for forty-nine years in over three hundred Dharma assemblies. Two days ago, someone said the Buddha lectured on more than three hundred sutras; that is wrong. The Buddha held over three hundred Dharma assemblies. The Buddhist sutras are not limited to more than three hundred; there are more than several thousand. When the Buddha was about to enter Nirvana, it came to his mind that he had not delivered his mother to the shore of perfection, so he went to the Trayastrimsha Heaven to speak the Dharma for Lady Maya.

Now Lady Maya placed her palms together respectfully. To whom did Lady Maya show her respect? To Earth Store Bodhisattva. And asked Earth Store Bodhisattva, “Sagely One, could you tell us about the different kinds of karma that beings of Jambudvipa create, and the resulting retributions that they undergo? What is the situation here?”
To Lady Maya, Earth Store Bodhisattva replied, “There are many millions of worlds and lands that may or may not have hells. For instance, the Land of Ultimate Bliss has neither hells nor any of the Three Evil Paths. Whereas our Saha world has the Three Evil Paths, namely: the hells, the realm of ghosts, and the realm of animals. Those places may or may not have women: Some worlds – ours for example – have both men and women as well as sages and common people. The Land of Ultimate Bliss has only men. If there were no women, how can there be men? Don’t you worry, when the men go to the Land of Ultimate Bliss, they are still men. When the women get there, they become men. Where do the people of the Land of Ultimate Bliss come from? Who gives birth to them? If there are no women, how can there be people? This you do not know. The people in the Land of Ultimate Bliss were not born by women but are born from lotuses. All the people there are transformation bodies from lotuses.

Why do we recite the Buddha’s name? With a single recitation of the Buddha’s name we do here in the Saha World, our lotus-mother in the Land of Ultimate Bliss brings forth a lotus flower. When we recite more, our lotus flower grows bigger. The more sincere our recitation, the more refreshed our lotus flower becomes. After people die and before becoming reborn as a human, a ghost or a spirit, the Eighth Consciousness is in a state between skandhas, or “the Intermediate Skandha Body”. If we recite the Buddha’s name sincerely, when we die, our Intermediate Skandha Body will immediately enter our lotus flower in the Land of Ultimate Bliss. When the lotus flower blooms, a child is born. Children in the Land of Ultimate Bliss are born from lotus flowers and they are all men, no women.

May or may not have Buddhadharma. Perhaps this nation and this world have the Buddhadharma, such as there are Buddhas speaking the Dharma as well as Buddhadharma in existence. There are places where no one speaks the Dharma, where there are no Buddha images, sutras, or monastics. The Buddhist sutras say such a place exists in northern Uttarakuru, which is categorized as one of the eight difficulties. Not having the Buddhadharma is one of the eight difficulties.

And so forth up to having or not having Hearers and Pratyekabuddhas. There may or may not be any Sound Hearers, Pratyekabuddhas, or Bodhisattvas in these worlds. From the point of view of ordinary people, Sound Hearers are very happy. In the eyes of the Bodhisattvas, however, Sound Hearers also suffer. So, these worlds may or may not have Sound Hearers or Pratyekabuddhas who suffer. Since the worlds differ, the retributions in the hells also differ: Anybody who creates karma will receive the matching retribution. Anybody who did not create karma will not undergo the corresponding retribution. There is not a bit of impartiality. All are fair and equal.

Lady Maya spoke again to the Bodhisattva, “Could you please tell us about the offenses committed by those in Jambudvipa that result in retributions in the evil destinies?”
Earth Store replied, “Sagely Mother, please listen as I speak briefly about that.”
The Buddha’s mother answered, “Great Sage, please do tell us about it.”
Earth Store Bodhisattva said to the sagely mother, “Retributions that result from offenses committed in Jambudvipa are described like this:
“Beings who are not filial to their parents, even to the point of harming or killing them, will fall into the Relentless Hell where for thousands of billions of eons they will seek escape in vain.”

Lady Maya spoke again to the Bodhisattva. The Buddha’s mother repeated to Earth Store Bodhisattva,  “Could you please tell us about the offenses committed by those in Jambudvipa that result in retributions in the evil destinies?” “The other worlds are too far away and I have not been to them; even if I have, I do not remember. Therefore I ask not about the other worlds but only of Jambudvipa. I wish to know the evil destinies brought forth by offenses of those in Jambudvipa, the evil karma created and the corresponding retribution. I would like to listen, will the Sagely One please tell me?”

When Earth Store Bodhisattva heard the Buddha’s mother plead in this manner, he answered “Sagely Mother, please listen to what I have to say. As I speak briefly about that principle. I will not explain it in detail because I may not even finish in several great eons. The Buddha’s mother answered, “Great Sage, please do tell us about it.” The Buddha’s mother heard what Earth Store Bodhisattva said and responded, “I am most delighted and wish for the Bodhisattva to speak.”

Earth Store Bodhisattva said to the sagely mother, “Retributions that result from offenses committed in Jambudvipa are described like this. . . At that time, Earth Store Bodhisattva told the Buddha’s mother that in this world of Jambudvipa, the names of the hells in response to offenses created and retributions received, are as many as the ones he shall describe.

Beings who are not filial to their parents, even to the point of harming or killing them. . . We living beings should be filial to our parents. Those who are not filial, even going as far as killing their parents, are committing offenses. Why should people practice filial piety? Because it is the basis of humanity; if people are not filial, then they have forsaken their roots. It is said, “Father gave me my life; mother brought me up. Their kindness – as vast as the high heaven, as manifold as the hairs on the head – is difficult to repay.” There is no kindness greater than what our parents have given us. Hence, it is imperative that we regard them with filial piety.