1.Among the wrong
views not accepted in Buddhism are the two extremes of nihilism and eternalism.
The first states that only the material world exists and denies rebirth or life
after death, and the second contains elements such as faith in an eternal god
who is the creator, ruler, and judge of the world. Both visions contradict the
law of cause and effect (karma), as well as the Buddhist explanations of the
world, and should not be followed by Buddhist disciples.
2.Sons and daughters
of True Dharma, do not be fooled by the nihilistic and materialistic teachings!
No one is just body and matter! The body is the vehicle of consciousness,
arising from the karma of past lives. Our consciousness (mind stream) is only
carried by the body, covered by it, influenced and limited by it, but it is
certainly not the body.
3.The body resembles a
machine that operates automatically if it is provided with sufficient fuel like
food, water, and air. This machine has needs similar to any device or car that
has to be sheltered from rain and other physical elements. The body is
sustained by food and water, it is also washed and clothed, but nevertheless all
of these things are not needed by the mind. Who can clothe his mind and give it
water to drink? Then, how could we say that only our bodies exist when we see
that the mind is different from the body!
4.The consciousness
or mindstream "permeates" the body, attaches itself to it and
identifies with it, which is why we experience physical sensations of pain or
pleasure. This consciousness is limited by the body, so that our vision becomes
filtered by the eyes, ears, nose and other parts of the body. After death,
however, the mindstream (it is called mindstream because it changes constantly
due to different desires and karmic impulses) is carried by another vehicle or
body and continues its journey in different realms of existence. Only if you
have faith in Amida Buddha can this unenlightened mindstream naturally and
spontaneously turn into a Buddha, freed from birth and death.
5. Fear of death
arises from attachment to the body and identification with it. Life, in the
general acceptance of the world, is the functioning of the body from birth to
death. But this period when you have your present form and you are carried by
this vehicle (body) is only part of an endless change. So relax and do not let
yourself be overwhelmed by the fear of death because of the materialistic
visions that are so widespread today. Just look at your bodies carefully and
you will realize that you are different from them.
6.Sons and
daughters of True Dharma, do not be fooled by the wrong views of eternalism
that propagate the idea of an eternal God who is the creator and judge of the
world!
No
one can be the creator of samsaric universes because samsara itself is the
common dream of all unenlightened beings. If somebody was the creator of this
world it means that he is the only one guilty of all its evils and sufferings.
Buddha,
the supreme Teacher, tells us that nothing appears without karma and that we
are born in a world that is the manifestation and effect of our actions and
delusions. No one can say that he created this world unless he is filled with
the sin of arrogance and megalomania.
7.No one can be the
supreme judge of samsaric beings because they automatically receive the effects
of their own actions, thoughts, and words through the natural law of karma (the
law of cause and effect).
8. Just like humans, other
beings too are dominated by the desire for power. Many spirits or gods suffer
from the need for attention, wanting to be revered and worshiped by others, thus
creating religions to satisfy their evil egos. Because of this deluded desire
they fool people with miracles and false revelations in order to manipulate and
exploit them.
Having an imperialist mentality, they ask other beings to
worship them and submit to them exclusively and unconditionally. These beings also
lie by trying to convince others that they are the creators of the world and all
beings. In this way, they make others depart from the correct teaching of karma
as the origin of the diversity of samsaric beings and realms of existence.
9. By gathering other
spirits around them, they create a retinue of subjected beings ready to serve
their interests with which they share the riches and benefits of their state of
existence acquired through the karma of other lives or the offerings of the believers
who worship them. Some of these so-called supreme gods consume the vital
essence of the blood of the victims sacrificed on their behalf or the aromas
offered in the houses of prayer dedicated to them.
Ignorant people end up wanting to be born after death close
to these jealous and domineering spirits or deities, which sometimes happens
because of karmic ties, but what they do not know is that the beings they
worship are unenlightened and will die at some point (like any other deluded
samsaric being) when the karma that propelled them to that state of existence
is exhausted.
10.Powerful celestial
demons of illusions called Maras keep these spirits and deities under their
control and maintain their dreams of grandeur, or they delude themselves
because of their own mind obscurations.
11. How pitiful is the fate of these deities and spirits who think they are
all-powerful and creators of the world! What immense negative karma they
accumulate by deceiving others! If they and their worshipers were to truly
repent and turn their minds toward Amida Dharma, then they would attain true
happiness and deliverance.
12.Disciples of the
Buddha should never receive in their hearts any kind of unenlightened beings,
especially those who consider themselves as supreme gods, rulers, creators, and
judges of the world. They must not take refuge in them, don’t pray to them,
don’t worship them, don’t make contracts with them.
They should also not despise such beings but wish them to
repent and attain faith in Amida Buddha.
There is indeed no one, no matter how evil or ignorant, that
has not been at some point, in the beginningless past, our father or mother and
therefore, we must try to look at them with compassion and to wish only what is
good for them.
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