Dadao Series — Book 25
English Edition · 大道因果
◆ Prefaces ◆
書名
## Namo Amitabha Buddha
June 20, 2008, the seventeenth day of the fifth lunar month in the year of Wuzi (Friday)
Supreme Master of the Heart, Lord of the Southern Heavens, Emperor Wenheng the Sage
The Dadao Series, Volume 25 – The Causality of the Great Dao
With diligence and courage, without sloth or neglect, steadfastly fulfill the mission, as a mother's heart anticipates.
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
Namo Amitabha Buddha, descending to offer praise and congratulations upon
◆ Prefaces ◆
書名
June 27, 2008, the twenty-fourth day of the fifth month in the year of Wuzi (Friday)
By Imperial Decree, Chongxin Receives the Edict Again; The Great Dao Series Nourishes All Universally.
The third monumental work in twenty-five volumes,  
Promulgating the profound principles for the benefit of all beings.
Respectfully receiving the sacred decree of the Wuji and the jade edict of the Haotian Heaven.
Today marks another auspicious occasion for the Chongxin Sect, as we once again reverently receive the sacred decrees from the Wuji Heavenly Mother and the Jade Edict of the Haotian Heaven, embarking on the composition of the twenty-fifth volume of the Great Dao series—a day of receiving divine will. The Chongxin Sect deeply reflects on the efforts of the past twelve years, which have enabled the commencement of the first volume of the third monumental installment of the "Great Dao Series Celestial Texts." This is an exceedingly rare and profound opportunity bestowed by heavenly providence.
With unwavering devotion to the Chongxin lineage, the honor bestowed by Heaven is to propagate and expand its teachings, which is truly commendable and worthy of affirmation. Now, the auspicious moment has arrived. We reverently receive the Sacred Decree of the Wuji, commanding the dispatch of the lineage’s Immortal Maidens of Void-Colored Spirit, Void-Colored Clouds, and Void-Colored Rosy Clouds to respectfully welcome the Sacred Decree of the Wuji to the hall from thirty li away.
It is decreed that the following deities of our lineage: the Celestial Worthy of Virtue Transmitted through the Emptiness, the Celestial Worthy of the Brush Descending from Emptiness, and the Celestial Worthy of Governance and Order from Emptiness, shall respectfully receive the Sacred Decree of the Wuji at a distance of twenty li from the hall. All other deities, Buddhas, disciples, as well as the cultivators and scholars of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, shall reverently assemble in ranks to await the arrival, ensuring no breach of decorum.
Before the Throne of the Limitless, Immortal Ma
By Imperial Decree, Vice-Chairman of Chongxin, Immortal Ma Xian'gu, Proclaims the Sacred Edict.
Twenty-Five Volumes of the Great Dao Series  
Expounding the Universal Principles of Cause and Effect
By imperial decree, the supreme edict descends upon the Chongxin lineage, bestowed and proclaimed, as gods and mortals bow in reverence!
Imperial Decree Announced and Read
Respectfully received.
The Great Celestial Mother of the Infinite issues this sacred decree:
The Mother resides in the celestial realm of supreme virtue, guiding all souls in the mortal world toward salvation and transcendence, enabling their return. From the mortal realm of Jambudvīpa—Taiwan, the heartland of the Mother—the "Yichichongxin Hall" has completed two monumental volumes of the "Great Dao Series Celestial Books." Now, for the twenty-fifth volume of the third monumental series, it is fitting that the Chongxin lineage be granted greater opportunity to expound and compose.
The Law of the Great Dao follows the principle of nature, using the framework of cause and effect to clarify the entire sequence of events. For sentient beings, there should be a fundamental understanding of principles and laws. This prevents ignorance and unknowingness, which lead to repeated entanglements in the mundane world and hinder the opportunity for a timely return. Therefore, the profound opportunities of heavenly secrets are once again bestowed upon the "Yi Chi Chong Xin Tang."
The mother's heart was deeply comforted. She titled these twenty-five volumes of heavenly scriptures "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect," so that all beings in the mortal realm might truly understand the principles of cause and effect—how all origins and consequences, functions and roles, come to be. It is also essential to comprehend how "the benevolent grace of the Great Dao and the understanding of karma" should be mutually received and reciprocated.
Not only does it truthfully and completely reveal the law of cause and effect, but it also allows the Heavens to bestow blessings and rewards according to each individual's "hidden virtues" and "moral cultivation." This is the Mother's heartfelt hope that the Chongxin lineage will persevere with unwavering determination to accomplish the extraordinary honor of the "First Marvelous Book of Heaven and Earth"—the twenty-five volumes of the Dadao series celestial texts.
With unwavering diligence and courage, without slack or neglect, steadfast in purpose to fulfill the great Dao's cause and effect.
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
南無阿彌陀佛　降讚賀　於
##Homage to the Medicine Buddha of the East, the Tathagata
Medicine Master Buddha Descends to the Reverent Heart,  
The Great Path's Cause and Effect Chanted and Encouraged to Unfold.
◆ Prefaces ◆
書名
The Supreme Celestial Mother of the Wuji issues a sacred decree to
The Sacred Teachings of Confucianism, the True Heart School of Buddhism, the Great Dao Court of the Infinite, the Chongxin Hall by Imperial Decree.
On the seventeenth day of the fifth lunar month, during the Xu hour, in the year Wuzi of the Tianyun cycle.
The proclamation of the Wuji Sacred Decree has now been fully issued. Congratulations! All deities, Buddhas, and students of the Chongxin lineage have once again been honored with the affirmation and praise of the Wuji Holy Mother. This is a distinguished honor achieved through everyone's diligent efforts. It is hoped that all divine beings and disciples will unite in heart and vigorously promote this mission. As your teacher, I shall now swiftly return to the Heavenly Realm to deliver the decree. You have all worked hard. Farewell!
Revered Chairman Chongxin Zheng, the Celestial Sage of the Void
From the void, destiny descends upon the reverent heart,  
Where the exalted gather with all sentient beings.
Twenty-Five Volumes of the Dadao Series: Elevating Human Conduct and Karmic Actions
All Saints, Buddhas, and virtuous beings, as well as the practitioners and scholars of the Wuji Great Dao Institute, good evening! Today marks another auspicious occasion for the Chongxin lineage system to receive the sacred decree of Wuji and the imperial edict of Haotian Jade Emperor. We extend our utmost congratulations to Chongxin! This day brings the extraordinary opportunity to elucidate and teach the first volume of the third monumental book — the foremost wonder of the heavens and earth.
Furthermore, it allows all divine beings, students, and sentient beings to achieve greater growth and transcendence. Such extraordinary conditions and opportunities, which are exceedingly rare and auspicious, have been graciously affirmed for the sacred lineage of Chongxin Sect, its enlightened sages, and disciples. Following the reverent reception of the Wuji Imperial Decree, the assembly continued to welcome the Heavenly Jade Edict from the Court of Haotian.
By decree, the Patriarch of this lineage, the Sacred Emperor of the Two and Three Passes of Wuji, shall respectfully receive the Jade Mandate of the Vast Heaven twenty li away. By decree, the Honored King of Vast Grace of Wuji, the Emperor of Culture and Enlightenment of Wuji, and the True Lord of Destiny of Wuji shall respectfully receive the Jade Mandate of the Vast Heaven ten li away and escort it to the hall. All other deities, Buddhas, virtuous disciples, and cultivating scholars of the Wuji Great Dao Institute shall line up in order to await the arrival, ensuring no breach of decorum.
Imperial Envoy of the Vast Heaven, Namo Xuanzang Bodhisattva
The Imperial Envoy of the Vast Heaven descends for the first time,  
Homage to the Bodhisattva Xuanzang, who stands in array.
By the decree of the Jade Emperor from the exalted heavens,  
The sacred teachings are recorded at the Chongxin Taoist site.
Today marks the first descent upon the Chongxin Lineage, truly feeling quite novel, which fully demonstrates the boundless and immensely great compassion and virtuous grace of Heaven. Regarding the accuracy of the appointed writings of the lineage, the Jade Decree of the Vast Heaven has been respectfully brought down to the Chongxin Lineage for proclamation, with both deities and mortals bowing in reverence.
The Jade Decree is hereby proclaimed.
Respectfully received.
The Great Celestial Jade Emperor, the Supreme Sovereign of Mysterious Spirit and High Emperor, proclaims the Jade Decree as follows:
I, the supreme sovereign, in overseeing the educational and cultural programs of the southern continent, take the "Three Bonds and Five Constants, Four Principles and Eight Virtues" as the guiding principles for the human world. I also seek to integrate the teachings of the five major religions more deeply into the harmonious coexistence of humanity, thereby providing abundant resources and nourishment for the benefit of all sentient beings.
Within the sacred system, the "Yi Chi Chong Xin Hall" has been resolutely dedicated, achieving the supreme works of the heavens in each and every instance, volume after volume, earning immense affirmation and admiration for the Chong Xin lineage. Moreover, since its establishment in the year of Bing Zi, the Chong Xin lineage has spanned twelve years to date, focusing on the creation of the "Dadao Series Celestial Books."
Moreover, each and every volume is capable of earning the approval of the Heavens for the "role of faithfulness" it undertakes, which is precisely due to the effective guidance of the gods and Buddhas within the Chongxin lineage, as well as their affirmation and praise for the students of Chongxin. Now, the twenty-fourth volume of the "Dadao Series Celestial Books" has been completed, fulfilling the sacred mission of propagating the teachings of the Heavens with unwavering determination and indomitable perseverance.
Truly, a great pillar of the heavens. We are deeply pleased to further bestow upon the Chongxin lineage the continuation of the twenty-fifth volume of the "Dadao Series Celestial Texts," titled "Dadao Cause and Effect." This is to enable all sentient beings to comprehend the origins and intricacies of cause and effect, not merely viewing it as a negative cycle of retribution and deficiency, but often as a virtuous grace of blessings bestowed upon beings through cause and effect.
This is precisely the continuation that the heavens have long awaited, a testament to the heartfelt efforts of Chongxin over these twelve years. It manifests the profound mysteries of celestial opportunities in the mortal world, further elevating and benefiting humanity. Moreover, through this honor, the deities and students of Chongxin will rely on it as a foundation for achieving the fruit of Buddhahood in the future—a reward earned through their own diligent efforts.
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
Ode to Exhortation
南無東方藥師如來佛　降大道因果頌勉　於
##Homage to Mahavairocana Buddha
南無大日如來佛　降序言　於
July 1, 2008, the twenty-eighth day of the fifth lunar month in the year of Wuzi (Tuesday)
跋     一
With unwavering diligence and courage, steadfast in purpose to complete the Dadao series, spreading its teachings across the world.
◆ Prefaces ◆
書名
Upon completion of the book, the decree was fulfilled; special rewards were bestowed. Through broad transformation and elevation, universal salvation and return were achieved.
The Great Heavenly Jade Emperor, the Supreme Sovereign of Mystical Divinity, has issued the Jade Decree.
The Sacred Teachings of Confucianism, the True Heart School of Buddhism, the Great Dao Court of the Wuji, and the Chongxin Hall by Imperial Decree.
On the seventeenth day of the fifth lunar month in the year of Wuzi, during the Xu hour.
Congratulations! The Chongxin lineage system is once again honored with the privilege of enlightening sentient beings lost in ignorance through the teachings of truth. The first issuance of the Jade Decree descending upon Chongxin is truly an occasion for boundless celebration and rejoicing for all of you! The proclamation of the Jade Decree is now complete! I shall swiftly return to the Heavenly Court to deliver the decree, and will visit again another day. Thank you all for your hard work. Farewell!
Chairman of Chongxin, Heavenly Venerable of Literary Grace and Education in the Void
Auspicious ceremonial cannons resound through the heavens,  
As the Imperial Envoy ascends in a divine leap.
The Limitless Heavenly Emperor issues another decree,  
The Great Dao's karma and virtue are selected with benevolent intent.
All Saints, Buddhas, and virtuous beings, as well as the fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today marks another auspicious occasion within the Chongxin lineage system, as we reverently receive the sacred decree. We are grateful to the Heavens for once again bestowing upon us the third monumental volume of the "Great Dao Series Celestial Texts"—the twenty-fifth book, "The Causality of the Great Dao," which elucidates the interconnectedness of causality for all sentient beings.
This will lead to the fulfillment of four billion future Buddhas, as well as the assistance of over two million highly accomplished practitioners.
Technical talents, along with all original spiritual beings, should strive for growth and elevation, enabling sentient beings to comprehend the concept of "knowledge of cause and effect." This understanding should bring blessings rather than misfortune. As it is often difficult to improve due to human factors, it is essential to grasp the necessary conditions for achievement.
The Chongxin Sect bears the great expectations of Heaven, affirmed by Heaven in its promotion of education and transformation. It is essential to achieve self-fulfillment as well as the fulfillment of all sentient beings. This is the shared mission of all deities, Buddhas, and disciples of the Chongxin Sect, who must remain steadfast in their resolve, overcome every difficulty in the process, and ultimately attain the accomplishments shaped by human endeavor.
We hope that everyone can join together in promoting and disseminating the twenty-fifth volume, "The Cause and Effect of the Great Dao," to help sentient beings achieve greater elevation and transcendence. We look forward to everyone's participation in learning and growth, enabling themselves to attain genuine merit as a foundation, and ultimately reaching the transcendent "Fruit of Buddhahood and Sainthood." Thank you all for your hard work. Farewell!
2015, March 8, 19:44 ◎＃※   OK#;
◆ Main Text ◆
第一回　    因果規範
July 4, 2008, the second day of the sixth month in the wuzi year (Friday)
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
Homage to the Medicine Buddha of the East, Descending to Bestow the Ode of Cause and Effect in the Great Dao
南無大日如來佛　降序言　於
## Homage to the Ancient Buddha Dipamkara
虛空無極瑤池金母娘娘　親降跋三於
With unwavering diligence and courage, steadfast in purpose to fulfill duties, striving diligently in one's post, boundless blessings and virtue shall be attained.
◆ Prefaces ◆
書名
Namo Amitabha Sutra unfolds,  
The Buddha arranges the cause and effect in the human realm.
The Dadao series is truly extraordinary, with twenty-five volumes serving as a vehicle for the truth.
Praise and Congratulations
The Affirmation of the Great Dao
Naturally, it acts as the reliance and guide for all sentient beings across the vast universe, bestowing abundant resources and sustenance. Moreover, for humanity, through the spiritual baptism of religions in the human world, it rectifies past deficiencies, shortcomings, and errors, granting the great cause for upward elevation, thereby benefiting oneself and all beings.
For all original spirit Buddhas in the great cosmos, there will be just and equal bestowments, and for the welfare of future human beings, what can truly elevate and endure through endless ages is precisely shaped by the essence of genes. In past times and spaces, causes and conditions formed accumulated latent causes, thereby yielding the fruits of retribution.
The Reward of Cause and Effect
All sentient beings tend to believe that retribution in the cycle of cause and effect is a form of repayment, and they greatly fear the pursuit of creditors from past grievances. However, they fail to realize that the blessings bestowed by Heaven upon the sentient beings of the vast universe are precisely accumulated through latent causes, which facilitate the repayment and reward for the present life or the future. This lies in the true nature of karmic retribution.
There will be a considerable basis for sentient beings to accumulate merits and blessings in this present life, which is the right and correct path. This is the most fundamental aspiration of all sentient beings. Human beings can understand the intricate workings of "cause, condition, and effect," and will not mistakenly believe that the Buddhist principle of karma does not exist. On the contrary, it is profoundly real.
The Purpose of the Dadao Cause and Effect Works
In the future, the virtuous causes and conditions for all four hundred million Buddha disciples will be elevated and returned, and they will be able to gather with a grand direction. Through the third monumental volume of the Dadao series, the twenty-fifth book, "The Cause and Effect of the Great Dao," authored by the "Yi Chi Chong Xin Tang," a clear and grand direction will be provided for the welfare of all sentient beings among humanity in the future.
Then there will be an increase in goodness and a reduction in evil karma and its consequences. Such conditions will also foster positive growth and elevation, truly bringing immense celebration to the system of the Chongxin lineage. Moreover, the selection of the pillar lineage by Heaven is correct, genuinely benefiting the vast multitude of human beings.
Such a scene, such a sentiment—worthy of praise and encouragement, a cause for joy and celebration.
◆ Main Text ◆
第一回　    因果規範
## Namo Ancient Buddha of the Void, Supreme Virtue of Humans and Devas
第二回　   因果法則
July 8, 2008, the sixth day of the sixth lunar month in the wuzi year (Tuesday)
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
Homage to the Great Sun Tathagata Buddha, Preface Bestowed Upon
◆ Decree ◆
完書繳旨
With unwavering diligence and courage, without sloth or negligence, steadfastly determined to complete the Dadao series.
◆ Main Text ◆
First Chapter: The Law of Cause and Effect
第三回　   因果追循
July 11, 2008, the ninth day of the sixth month in the wuzi year (Friday)
第四回　    因果定論
##Namo Amitabha Buddha
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
南無阿彌陀佛　降讚賀　於
The Sacred Teachings of Confucianism, the True Heart School of Buddhism, the Great Dao Academy of the Wuji, and the Chongxin Hall of Imperial Decree.
The twenty-fourth day of the fifth lunar month, at the hour of Xu, in the Wuzi year of the Tianyun cycle.
Congratulations. The Chongxin Sect lineage system has been able to produce the work "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect," which will enable the future elevation of sentient beings, original spirits, and Buddha's disciples to advance with genuine understanding. Such conditions of karma require the collective efforts of everyone. Thank you all for your hard work and for dedicating your time to the Chong Sect lineage. Let us meet again at the future salvation conference. Farewell!
◆ Main Text ◆
The Second Chapter of Dadao Cause and Effect: The Fundamental Structure of the Law of Cause and Effect
第四回　    因果定論
July 15, 2008, the thirteenth day of the sixth month in the year of Wuzi (Tuesday)
第五回　   因果超越
## Homage to Our Original Teacher, Shakyamuni Buddha
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
南無阿彌陀佛　降讚賀　於
Namo, all beings are Tathagata, the true world of Eastern Lapis Lazuli.
◆ Main Text ◆
Episode Two: The Law of Cause and Effect
第五回　   因果超越
July 18, 2008, the sixteenth day of the sixth lunar month in the wuzi year (Friday)
第六回　    不昧因果
## Homage to the Great Sun Tathagata Buddha
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
頌     勉
The Encouragement of the Great Dao
It is precisely by aligning with the creative transformations of heaven and earth that the human world exists within it. As the most spiritual of all beings, humanity inevitably possesses knowledge and wisdom surpassing that of other species, enabling self-elevation and transcendence. This allows genuine upward growth, leveraging all present virtuous conditions and favorable circumstances to achieve true transcendence.
Now, the Heavens have bestowed the third monumental volume of the "Dadao Series Celestial Books," the twenty-fifth volume titled "Dadao Cause and Effect," upon the "Yichong Chongxin Sect" for its compilation. This truly brings boundless celebration to the Chongxin system, and it is imperative to strive for the establishment of all peoples under heaven and the cultivation of hearts for all beings, in accordance with the divine mission of the Heavens.
It also elucidates through cause and effect, presenting a higher and more sublime truth, enabling the human world to understand what great virtue and grace truly are. By grounding in the essence of inherent causes, the entire process of life's transmission in the human world can be comprehended. Within this, one may realize how cause and effect itself operates, thereby yielding benefits that follow as closely as a shadow follows its form.
The Consequence That Follows the Deed
One should understand that the net of heaven is vast and wide, sparse yet nothing escapes it; whether one creates blessings or karma, there will be retribution both in the present and the future. Therefore, the accumulation of causes within each individual in the human world results in retributions that manifest as either blessings or karmic obstacles, and this also enables a greater elevation for all original spirit Buddha-children throughout the great cosmos.
It is for the sake of one's own growth that this is undertaken. This is what the Heavens have long hoped for—to once again create such extraordinary conditions following the "Jade Calendar Treasury Notes" and the "Journeys to Heaven and Hell," enabling the analytical composition of the "Heavenly Book of Dao and Karma," so that sentient beings may comprehend the fundamental principles of the law of cause and effect.
Thus, the "Yi Chi Chong Xin Tang Sect" in Bade, Taoyuan, Taiwan, within the Southern Continent of Jambudvīpa, has once again received the divine decree from Heaven to undertake a greater mission of propagation through its writings. It elucidates every detail of the process, aiming to serve as a guiding principle for the four billion future Buddhas and sentient beings, enabling them to achieve greater growth and harvest through this profound truth.
The Works of the Great Dao of Cause and Effect
To enable future generations of humanity to achieve mutual fulfillment and mutual elevation, within the system of the Chongxin Hall lineage, which truly embodies the Great Dao lineage of Heaven, and with the support of all Buddhas and sages of Buddhism for the creation of this series of books, allowing for greater dissemination and promotion, we truly feel immense admiration for Chongxin.
◆ Main Text ◆
Episode 3: The Cycle of Cause and Effect
第六回　    不昧因果
July 25, 2008, the twenty-third day of the sixth month in the year of Wuzi (Friday)
第七回　    因果不昧
## Homage to the Medicine Master Tathagata Buddha
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
南無東方藥師如來佛　降大道因果頌勉　於
The Sacred Teachings of Confucianism, the True Buddha Heart School, the Great Dao Court of the Wuji, and the Chongxin Hall Bestowed by Divine Decree.
On the twenty-fourth day of the fifth lunar month in the year of Wuzi, at the hour of Xu.
Aha! In the human world, there is an even greater and more extraordinary cause, akin to the ancient "Jade Calendar Treasure Scroll" and the "Journeys to Heaven and Hell," which provides a more detailed supplement on the celestial scriptures of karmic retribution and reward. It is truly heartening that such a work can be composed in the mortal realm! I shall trouble the Chongxin lineage for a time, to jointly accomplish the future mission of guiding four hundred million Buddhist disciples back to the assembly.
◆ Main Text ◆
Chapter Four: The Law of Cause and Effect
第七回　    因果不昧
July 29, 2008, the twenty-seventh day of the sixth lunar month in the year of Wuzi (Tuesday)
第八回　   含因起動
## Namo Medicine Buddha
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
南無東方藥師如來佛　降大道因果頌勉　於
Namo, may all beings awaken wisdom,  
Together we meet the Great Sun Tathagata.
Human connections are even more sublime,  
The great Dao's cause and effect gathers virtue from all.
Preface
The Achievement of the Great Dao
In the human world, all religions are meant to mutually elevate one another, providing richer resources within the cycle of cause and effect in the human realm. Through the collective deliberation of the heavens, the entire process of composing the twenty-fifth volume of the "Dadao Series Celestial Books" — "Dadao Cause and Effect" — has been established. This work elucidates the origins and processes of karmic retribution in the human world.
In the works of the "Dadao Series Celestial Texts," the causes formed within the human world are further distinguished as either the bestowal of blessings and rewards or the retribution of karmic creditors. To truly understand the "origin of causes, the gathering of conditions, the destination of effects, and the repayment of retributions" created by humanity, one must recognize their interconnected and coherent functions.
Those who understand cause and effect.
The vast world is being elevated to rectify and improve the accumulation of negative causes, transforming them into rewards of goodness. In the face of karma, which influences all aspects of human existence, what mindset should one adopt? By distinguishing between creating negative karma and cultivating blessings, all virtuous rewards and karmic retributions arise. Those who are wise will surely elevate the causes of goodness to a higher level.
Moreover, it can help settle past negative karma; this allows for greater resolution and elimination of all cause-and-effect relationships in the human world. You are fortunate to encounter the exceptional work of "Dadao Causality," which in the present moment enables you to gain greater returns and benefits from the "First Heavenly Book" of the Supreme Heaven, and to understand all the detailed processes within.
The "Great Tao Cause and Effect Celestial Book" is authored to affirm and commend the "True Buddha Heart Sect and the Yi Chi Chong Xin Temple," while also offering congratulations in its preface. This enables all the deities, Buddhas, and students of Chong Xin to achieve greater elevation and growth. This recognition comes not only from the Heavens but also from the multitude of saints and Buddhas within the Buddhist system, who genuinely affirm the Chong Xin-authored celestial book "Great Tao Cause and Effect."
◆ Main Text ◆
Episode 5: Transcending Cause and Effect
第八回　   含因起動
August 1, 2008, the first day of the seventh month in the Wuzi year (Friday)
第十回　   成果定論
## Homage to the Ancient Buddha of the Void, the Supreme Virtue of Humans and Devas
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
南無大日如來佛　降序言　於
The Sacred Teachings of Confucianism, the True Heart School of Buddhism, the Great Dao Court of the Ultimate, and the Chongxin Hall by Imperial Decree.
On the twenty-fourth day of the fifth lunar month, during the Xu hour, in the Wuzi year of the Tianyun cycle.
Excellent! Congratulations to the Chongxin Hall system for once again being honored with the compilation of the First Heavenly Text bestowed by the Supreme Heaven—"The Causality of the Great Dao." This allows the sentient world to attain greater returns and benefits. We have taken the liberty of engaging the Chongxin lineage for a time to jointly discuss the future Buddhist deliverance and the return of four hundred million Buddhist disciples. Thank you all for accompanying this compilation. Farewell!
Celestial Worthy of Literary Grace and Edification in the Void, Sacred Emperor of Literary Balance.
The supreme works of Buddhism reveal the origins and consequences of the great path.
All Buddhas and Saints have descended,  
Together they deliberate the future return.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, Namo Amitabha Buddha, Namo Bhaisajyaguru Buddha of the East, Namo Mahavairocana Buddha, Namo Sakyamuni Buddha, Namo Dipankara Buddha, along with all other Buddhas and revered saints, have collectively descended upon Chongxin to jointly discuss the compilation of the work "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect."
With a genuine clarity towards the future sentient beings, there will be greater growth and benefits in understanding the details of the cycle of cause and effect. Today is truly a lively occasion, as all Buddhist systems—whether Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, or leaders—have gathered to celebrate, praise, and compose prefaces for this work on the "Great Dao of Cause and Effect." Moreover, the Ancient Buddha of the South Sea and the Ancient Buddha of Nanping Daoji have returned to Chongxin to participate in the discussions. Students of the Chongxin lineage must refrain from making noise to avoid disrupting the meeting. Farewell for now!
March 8, 2015, 19:45 ◎＃※  OK＃;
◆ Main Text ◆
The Sixth Retribution of the Great Dao: It Is Only Right to Remain Clear About Cause and Effect
第九回  　  觸緣接續
August 5, 2008, the fifth day of the seventh lunar month in the wuzi year (Tuesday)
第十二回 　  好壞報償
## Homage to the Ancient Buddha Dipamkara
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
南無大日如來佛　降序言　於
Namo, the mind-dharma of all beings unfolds,  
The lamp of enlightenment ignites, its secrets naturally arrayed.
The Ancient Buddha descends to compose the first chapter,  
Wherein the great path of cause and effect is recorded and regulated.
◆ Main Text ◆
第一回　    因果規範
Why There Must Be Causal Norms
Why do human beings in the sentient world descend to the human realm to live as people? It is believed that among all sentient beings across the vast universe, very few can truly understand where the crux of this question lies. This is precisely one of the most profound and challenging dilemmas in the sentient world—the very act of navigating existence within the human realm. What mindset and perspective should one adopt to engage in the life of the human world?
It is from the perspective of humanity that one must undertake the cultivation and transformation of one's own flawed genetic essence, thereby discarding the inherent negative factors. In doing so, one can rectify personal shortcomings, deficiencies, and errors, and genuinely elevate and transcend oneself. Most sentient beings in the human world are contaminated by the impurities and afflictions of this degenerate age, and few among them realize that their existence in this realm is not merely for the sake of "eating, drinking, excreting, trivialities, and sleeping."
However, it is essential to elevate the spiritual essence of humanity to a higher and purer state. In the terms of worldly science, this is akin to DNA: how can DNA be elevated to the superior genes of RNA? Furthermore, how can these superior RNA genes be enhanced to achieve self-luminous QNA? None of the religions across the vast universe have truly grasped the origins, intricacies, and key principles behind this process.
This will form a barrier that is difficult to overcome, leading one to perceive only their own actions due to human factors, and even more so, preventing them from understanding that the human world is not merely about survival. Moreover, when you are in the stillness of the night or in a similarly quiet space, do you not feel a sense of emptiness that is hard to break through? How, then, can this sense of emptiness foster your growth through "void perception"?
The Original Intent of the Dadao Series on Cause and Effect
By purifying one's own Buddha-nature through inherent qualities, the mystery and key lie in distinguishing between the retribution and rewards of the causal cycle, thereby giving rise to the cycle of karmic consequences for sentient beings, along with related issues of good and evil, fortune and misfortune. Within this temporal and causal context, sentient beings—whether cultivated or uncultivated—often encounter a profound sense of "emptiness" that is difficult to overcome. How, then, does this sense of "emptiness" arise?
If, at the moment of "reaching the utmost stillness," one can become aware of all past processes within this sense of emptiness, it is what religions in the human world pursue as the highest state—"the resonance of emptiness." This can connect all past, present, and future lives, allowing one to understand how each cycle of existence is transformed by this very "sense of emptiness."
It is realized through the highest realm in the human world—"the resonance of emptiness." Not every religious practitioner can attain the necessary conditions and state, which involves connecting the causes and effects of sentient beings. If one cannot truly achieve profound stillness, any purification and elevation will only be fragmented and intermittent. It is difficult to fully and harmoniously integrate all causal cycles accumulated over countless lifetimes.
It is essential to understand that the retributions experienced due to all causes, conditions, and effects are not solely demands from enemies or creditors. In fact, many are the rewards received in return for past kindness. Sentient beings often perceive entering the realm of suffering due to karmic retribution as being toyed with by invisible forces, leaving a profound and unforgettable impression. From the perspective of the vast world, how does such karmic retribution make sentient beings reflect on their own actions?
The Works of the Great Dao Fulfill Cause and Effect
How can we alleviate this kind of adverse suffering and hardship? When sentient beings face the retribution of cause and effect, they are often unable to respond with a heart of gratitude. On the contrary, they frequently harbor feelings of unwillingness and resentment. Moreover, this leads to "adding causes upon causes, effects upon effects, retributions upon retributions, and repayments upon repayments," making it impossible for them to comprehend the reckoning brought by karmic obstacles.
There are many instances where the act of retribution serves to shape a future being: a Buddha, a saint, a Bodhisattva, or a lofty immortal. Why is this so? The retribution from karmic creditors is not always negative. Most people tend to view it as an unavoidable form of karmic retribution, unaware that such retribution often serves as a form of reverse fulfillment. Sentient beings fail to comprehend the benevolent grace of Heaven, which, in its paradoxical way, adds to their fortune and blessings.
When wealth and prosperity flourish, they often arrive in ways that run counter to the true path. If one fails to deeply comprehend the insights gained during such trials, it is worth considering from another perspective: this process of adversity can cultivate a heart of gratitude as a form of repayment. It often introduces adverse and unfavorable actions into the smooth, habitual routines of human life—something that sentient beings today struggle to grasp deeply. How, then, can such adversities lead to accomplishment? All too often, they only deepen karmic debts and intensify suffering.
All negative achievements tend to leave a deeper impression than positive ones, and the motivation spurred by adversity serves as a driving force for upward growth. Sentient beings often believe they should lead a smooth life, assuming that in both spiritual practice and daily conduct, they ought to achieve greater success. For ordinary beings, this perspective seems fitting. However, for those who genuinely aspire to advance in cultivation and ascend to the future states of Buddhas, sages, bodhisattvas, or exalted beings,
The Framework of Cause and Effect in the Great Dao
This is an undesirable outcome, so why does it occur? Throughout the ages, humanity has rarely been able to deeply comprehend that the heavens often bestow blessings, prosperity, and wealth through seemingly adverse means. Why do these virtuous cycles of cause and effect, through human factors, achieve fulfillment in such a contrary manner? Could it be otherwise? No! For within the interplay of human actions in the cycles of cause and effect and retribution,
Regardless of how the past was, Heaven will distinguish how each person in this life should be perfected positively or negatively, based on the extent of their merits and blessings from past lives! What sentient beings find most difficult to comprehend and endure is precisely the inability, amidst a smooth life, to reform and transform all their shortcomings, flaws, and mistakes—so that they may elevate themselves.
This is the most difficult part to understand. That is to say, it is incomprehensible why, since the heavens can use both positive and negative retribution, as well as repayment and suffering, to mutually fulfill one another, they do not allow sentient beings to pass through the trials and tribulations of all unfavorable karmic retributions more easily. This is a misconception taught by predecessors in the human world. Sentient beings are also unable to deeply comprehend this kind of negative fulfillment.
Furthermore, it will ascend and transcend even more than positive achievements. This is within the framework and normative meanings established by the "Great Dao of Cause and Effect," which, among all the mysteries and secrets, provides sentient human beings with greater growth, harvest, and benefit. How will the human world completely resolve all past causes and effects? How will they be settled? How will they be elevated? How will they be transcended?
The Law of Cause and Effect in the Great Dao
In the present era, human beings often perceive suffering and trials as exceedingly difficult to endure. It is essential to deeply comprehend the profound grace of Heaven through such notions and understandings. When all adversities and obstacles arise, how do sentient beings confront the habitual patterns of worldly life? And for those who engage in religious practice, how are their genuine and earnest efforts assessed and graded in their spiritual cultivation?
In times of ease and smoothness, it is impossible to discern the results of one's trials. Only through undergoing trials can one gain clear insight. When comparing the trials faced by a religious practitioner with those faced by an ordinary individual without cultivation, the former, fortified by innate spiritual immunity, is able to navigate the inner journey with greater resilience. In contrast, ordinary sentient beings, lacking such support, often find it difficult to achieve significant growth and elevation.
For those who genuinely practice cultivation, it is necessary to undergo numerous trials and tribulations to truly see the depth of their practice. How profound is the merit of their trials? Or are they merely nominal, claiming: "I am a practitioner, I am a religious believer, I am a student"? In truth, even the slightest human factor can cause them to falter in the face of trials. Human behavior can thus be observed with absolute clarity.
Regarding those who consider themselves religious practitioners, what is their true nature? And what are their accomplishments? It is precisely by discerning each individual's "wisdom, mindset, beliefs, actions, and responses" that one can understand whether they are genuine cultivators or merely nominal followers! For all who truly aspire to transcend and elevate themselves, engaging in trials and hardships—even through a single small test, amidst the torment of adversity—can reveal the truth.
The Foundation of Cause and Effect in the Great Dao
What about the "mindset, concepts, behavior, wisdom, and responses" of those undergoing trials and tribulations themselves? Incorporating such cultivation, those who genuinely aspire to ascend and achieve transcendence in the future must undergo this process of realization. Otherwise, among all those in the vast world who engage in religious practice, who would not consider their own cultivation to be perfectly sound? Yet, as soon as they face even the slightest test or obstacle—
Thus, one can understand: what about mindset, knowledge, and the ability to respond? This often leads to the extension of other causes and effects. May I ask, what kind of beings are those you come into contact with? They should be human beings, of course! Such human beings: as long as they are human, there will be matters; where there are matters, there will be relativity; where there is relativity, there will be: right and wrong, good and evil, correctness and error, righteousness and wickedness. Even within a small test, how will a multitude of problems arise and extend?
The process of examination and tempering often gives rise to considerable helplessness! Some may constantly grumble and complain, others may feel unwilling and resentful, while still others may fly into a rage. There are those who remain unmoved and silently endure, and others who apply knowledge and wisdom, or take action to elevate themselves—all responding in various ways. Regarding the causes and effects, what outcomes will they bring about? One must be able to understand the origins and consequences, and how they unfold.
If one cannot clearly examine oneself, it is precisely the opposite that brings fulfillment. If you wish to elevate yourselves, it is fundamentally impossible; why is this so? This is about the mindset and process with which human beings face and handle their environment. At times, it depends on oneself: whether one’s mindset, perspectives, knowledge, and responses are up to standard. If they fall short, it will affect the reappearance of the next test.
Transcendence of Cause and Effect in the Great Dao
Sometimes, when viewed through the trials of life: sentient beings often consider them undesirable and wish to avoid such trials, but what about those who truly seek to transcend and elevate themselves! If one remains perpetually in smooth and favorable circumstances, it is instead easy to unknowingly commit unwholesome deeds in daily life. This is not the compassionate grace of Heaven; for ordinary beings, it is understandable,
If directed towards one who truly possesses the Mandate of Heaven, such an approach would be unacceptable; humanity is but a transient traveler in this world. When material comforts in the mortal realm become excessively abundant, one can easily lose sight of one's innate nature and the path of return, often mistaking this world for a place of endless amusement. For ordinary beings, this is indeed the case.
However, for those who bear the sacred duties and missions entrusted by Heaven, it is easy to become lost amidst a life of ease and comfort. Such circumstances and conditions cause them to lose sight of the purification of their innate essence and to stray from the path of their return. This is precisely why sentient beings fall into such depths. Otherwise, every being descends with a profound, innate vow, yet how many truly fulfill their mission? Far more succumb to downfall instead.
Sentient beings, are you willing to choose to return for another lifetime, or to transcend and ascend in this very life? Can you answer this? If you claim that you can return to the source in one lifetime, then the trials and sufferings you endure in the present will be somewhat greater. Yet it remains uncertain whether you will grumble and complain, or whether you will harbor reluctance and unwillingness.
The Comprehensive Works on the Great Dao and Karma
If this is the mindset, you merely carry the label, calling yourself a practitioner, a person of religious faith, or a student. Yet such a person fundamentally does not even understand how to purify their innate nature. How can they expect to transcend and ascend in this lifetime? Moreover, they believe they are living quite comfortably in the present moment. This is the result of relatively favorable worldly blessings in this life, granting them a more comfortable living space.
Of course, the blessings and rewards may be slightly greater, allowing for the accumulation of fortunate karma in this life. Yet, whether the next life will be the same or whether the circumstances of time and space will differ—how can one truly achieve elevation and transcendence? The intricate cause-and-effect relationships within the human world are explained in greater detail. All the unfathomable mysteries of heavenly secrets that have eluded you for millennia will be elucidated in the celestial scripture of "The Great Dao's Cause and Effect."
Why, then, is this celestial secret revealed to the mortal world, if it brings great returns and benefits to all sentient beings? Throughout the ages, in all the processes of human existence, it has been difficult for people to understand why their lives can be so pleasant, happy, and joyful, or so painful, frustrating, and difficult, with trials and tribulations abounding. What causes this to come about? Can sentient beings with feelings comprehend it? It all stems from the karma of past lives.
The First Chapter of the Great Dao's Cause and Effect: The Original Intent of This Work Descends to the Assembly.
The human world arises from causes and conditions,  
Thus are distinctions of good and bad determined.
Unveiling the ancient mysteries,  
Cause and effect are intricately linked.
Creating blessings or evils in this world —  
In the future, one reaps what one sows.
This verse is shared among all sentient beings, original spirits, and Buddha's disciples to encourage one another! The welfare and blessings for future beings will be truly manifested in your present moment. Understand that within this universe, the "first-hand information" lies in your own cultivation, transformation, and change. Only by clearing and resolving all karmic causes and effects can true reality be realized. Thank you all for your hard work, and let us continue with the next installment together! May everyone be auspicious. Farewell!
Wuji Yaochi, Guardian Treasure Immortal Child
Few tread the sacred land of Wuji,  
For the reason is known to Zhenbao Ming.
Today, the immortal child meets the divine being,  
For the first time, the great path reveals its cause and effect.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and fellow students of the Wuji Great Tao Academy, good evening! Today, the primary authoring immortal Buddha of "The Great Tao Cause and Effect," the great patriarch of our lineage, Namo Dipankara Ancient Buddha, has descended to compose the main framework and guidelines for "The Great Tao Cause and Effect," offering the first detailed analysis. In the next session, we will continue to build upon this causal framework, providing you with a renewed space for contemplation and greater potential for your future elevation.
Now, let us consider how you have applied your hearts and minds to the essence of the matter. Having come this far today, I appreciate everyone’s hard work.
2015, March 8th, 1946. ◎＃※ OK;
Sixth Chapter: Unobscured Cause and Effect
第十回　   成果定論
August 8, 2008, the eighth day of the seventh month in the Wuzi year (Friday)
第十三回  　 父母因緣
## Namo Lixin Guangming Rulai Fo
第一回　    因果規範
Homage to the Supreme Virtue, the Buddha of Humans and Devas,  
The Void Ascendant descends to compose this work.
Seventh Chapter: The Unerring Law of Cause and Effect
第十回　   成果定論
August 12, 2008, the twelfth day of the seventh lunar month in the year of Wuzi (Tuesday)
第三十回　  小人惡禍
## Homage to the Ancient Buddha of the Void, Supreme Virtue, Lord of Humans and Devas
第二回　   因果法則
The Fundamental Function of the Law of Cause and Effect
In the human world, all actions are governed and influenced by the law of cause and effect. Moreover, why does the human world rely on the factor of communal living for mutual growth and development? This is because, within the vast universe, all orientations for survival stem from the interactions among humanity. These interactions are guided by dichotomies such as yin and yang, right and wrong, affirmation and negation, correctness and error, and righteousness and evil.
Furthermore, the introduction of human factors into the cycle of cause and effect drives its continuous mutual reinforcement, thus forming the law of karma. This principle applies to all aspects of human existence through mutual interactions, where all good and evil causes become corresponding good or bad retributions. This has remained unchanged since ancient times, regardless of whether it is the First Kalpa or the Second Kalpa.
To this day, the third cosmic cycle has continued in this manner, where all causes and effects interact in a cyclical process, evolving the laws and principles of karma. In accordance with the impartial order of the great cosmos, every individual is subject to these laws and principles, entering into the cycle of "bearing causes" and "receiving effects." This operates within the framework of the law of karma and the principles of universal justice.
Every sentient being living in the human world, regardless of whether they have entered religious practice and baptism, or have not engaged in religious faith and learning, and regardless of whether they believe or disbelieve in religious faith, is constrained by many obstacles of ignorance. Why, then, do such limitations and obstacles of ignorance arise?
The law of cause and effect is remarkably just.
It is essential to understand that every sentient being's existence in the human world is shaped by the accumulation of all karmic causes and effects from past lives, combined with the habits and tendencies developed in this lifetime. Through actions aimed at elevating their own survival experiences, each being inherits the consequences of past karma, which in turn determines their actions and existence in this present life.
Since ancient times, this fundamental principle has never changed. Why then, in this era of technological civilization, when all sentient beings across the vast universe have attained the foundation of blessings through their survival-oriented actions, am I born as a human in the realm of Earth and the underworld star? Why was I not born on another celestial body?
This is due to the varying karma from each person's past lives, which only allows for the conditions to exist on the Earthly Star. Moreover, all the accumulated karma from past lives in the human realm has shaped the fundamental conditions for one's birth as a human, which have long been predetermined. Similarly, for some sentient beings on the Earthly Star, all the grievances, kindness, good and evil, as well as the karmic retributions of cause and effect, are also at play.
It is necessary to personally come to repay and resolve these debts. If one cannot repay and resolve them on the Earthly Underworld Star, nor enjoy the blessings of good karma, it will become extremely difficult for every sentient being to break through all orientations of existence. This will create disparities in the "causes, conditions, and karmic retributions" across lifetimes, and prevent sentient beings in the human world from resolving the accumulated karma of past lives through their own efforts.
The Norms of the Law of Cause and Effect
Through one's own actions, one can achieve self-reconciliation and resolution, as well as bear and enjoy the resulting blessings. Moreover, it is through human effort that all actions in this life are realized. This is what sentient beings possess: the karmic causes and effects accumulated over countless lifetimes necessitate the enjoyment of this present life and the obligation to undertake acts of reconciliation.
Why does the human world possess such interactions, and how does it establish norms of virtue and grace within the evolution of heaven and earth? Through human actions and behaviors, combined with all accumulated habits and customs over countless generations, human survival is guided by frameworks where the fundamental functions and benefits are rooted in the evolution of heaven and earth. Consequently, the orientation of human existence is shaped by various human-made conditions.
Within the realm of existence, every sentient being often perceives the Earth as a stable and peaceful homeland for their survival orientation and lifestyle. Yet, they fail to realize that upon entering this world to live, they frequently endure all manner of adversities and hardships from the human realm. Why, then, does this happen?
In the human world, driven by the pursuit of survival, the accumulated habits from all past and previous lifetimes of every being come together, giving rise to numerous obscurations of ignorance. Why then do so many misfortunes and dissatisfactions arise? Even with great effort, endeavors often prove futile, and in more severe cases, situations may worsen further.
The Necessity of the Law of Cause and Effect
In matters that are inherently simple and beautiful, it is often the influence of human factors—driven by flawed dispositions, inexperience, and ignorance—that leads to the complete ruin of something good and virtuous. This can leave one overwhelmed and unable to cope. Why do such human factors arise in this way? It is essential to reflect deeply on the root of the problem.
It is also necessary to reflect on why one's own good intentions and kindness can lead to considerable hardship and suffering, as well as foster unfavorable traits and obscured understanding. These factors influence the approach to handling matters and hinder favorable outcomes. One must accumulate ample experience and apply knowledge truthfully. If, in this process, there is also an invisible force at work pushing things forward.
It will directly or indirectly affect oneself, as all actions of good will and kind intentions are formed by "the cause of karma." Conversely, actions shaped by human factors also pass through the human world. Why, then, does karma arise from causes and effects? If "blessings" are incorporated into the cycle of cause and effect, how does this process unfold?
This original disturbance, which could affect one's own good intentions, cannot be used to play tricks on each other. Why, then, when there is no accumulation of blessings or when "misfortune" arrives? How does the human world, through human factors, negatively influence the formation of such cause and effect? It lies precisely in the two distinct issues of "blessings and misfortunes" among humanity.
The Original Meaning of the Law of Cause and Effect
It is essential to first understand: How does the entire process of cause and effect unfold? And why does such karmic retribution exist? Implanted within one's own causality, this is precisely the sequence of events that must be comprehended in the human world. Regardless of whether sentient beings believe in the relationship of cause and effect or not, all are equally subject to it.
You do not distinguish between any religious sects or lineages, for you are precisely undergoing the retributive function of cause and effect—that is, the functional efficacy formed by karma. How does this manifest? Since ancient times, in all human worlds, regardless of heaven and earth, male and female, yin and yang, or any other species of sentient beings, it has been the same: fairly and impartially, karma pursues and repays all human beings.
The relationship formed by such cause and effect will influence all your actions and behaviors in this present life, the latter half of this life, or in future lives. This encompasses both the blessings and rewards of "karmic retribution through cause and condition" and the retribution of grievances in "cause and effect retribution." No one can escape the constraints of these two aspects.
The law of cause and effect is a principle established by Heaven since ancient times, remaining consistent across all times, spaces, and circumstances. Why, then, in the Buddhist teachings of the present era, is there an increased emphasis on urging sentient beings to believe in the necessity of the "law of cause and effect"? This necessity must be clearly understood in the context of today's time and conditions, which apply equally to every individual.
The Function of the Law of Cause and Effect in the Five Teachings
In relation to all religions, it is precisely the five major religions—Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism, Christianity, and Islam—that serve as the foundation. If one follows the principle of returning to the origin, believing only in the one "Allah—the true God," then the others cannot be accepted, and this is described as "prophet and foresight." If one follows the Christian path, then "Jehovah—Jesus" is regarded as the sage.
It is precisely through the practice of "universal love" in the world that this love, without distinction between internal and external, becomes a means of compassionate salvation. However, when it comes to spiritual elevation, it is difficult to achieve transcendence and ascension. If we take Confucianism as the doctrine of the Middle Way, applying this Middle Way in human society, it can be said that it enables more transcendent actions and conduct.
If viewed from the perspective of cosmic evolution: this is yet another limitation! From the Daoist standpoint: many sublime truths and treasures of Daoism have long been disseminated into the human world. However, what humanity currently applies are merely some principles and laws that are relatively adaptable to human survival.
The Sublime Cause and Effect of Humanity
Therefore, the shortcoming of Daoism lies in the fact that while its methods are quite remarkable, its lineage lacks successors. Moreover, few delve into the essence of Daoism to inwardly explore its deficiencies, making these shortcomings even more pronounced. When viewed from the perspective of Buddhism's understanding of the entire empty dharma realm, it appears boundless and infinite, with few principles that can truly compare to those of Buddhism.
Why, in the present era, should Buddhist principles serve as the primary foundation and cause for establishing standards of conduct? Why has your Chongxin faith further incorporated the "True Buddha Heart School" and the notion that "the true Buddha is within the heart"? What are the inner conditions and causes for this? It is based on the "principles of Buddhism," further enhanced by the previously exceptional and wondrous methods of "Taoism."
Furthermore, by incorporating the Confucian doctrine of the Mean, and adding the Christian concept of universal love, along with the profound sense of well-being from "returning home," one may ask: If you truly return to your heavenly home, how would you feel? This is the primary reason why, since ancient times, few who have attained enlightenment and returned home have ever ventured back into the mundane world.
The Fundamental Principle of the Law of Cause and Effect
There are very few who, having attained enlightenment and returned, would descend into the mortal realm to manifest themselves. Even if there are, they are extremely rare. Throughout the ages, it has always been uncommon for those who have achieved enlightenment and transcended to descend again into the mortal world to explain how this process unfolds. Moreover, the ways in which each enlightened being returns are different, and cannot be confined to a single pattern.
You are truly fortunate to have the revelation of the heavenly secrets of "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect," the twenty-fifth volume of the third monumental series of the Great Dao Celestial Books, opened by the Supreme Heaven. This will bring greater fulfillment and clarity to the overall elevation of all your karmic connections, and even the Buddhas, Saints, and Venerable Ones of Buddhism, as well as those who have attained the fruit of Buddhahood in the past.
A portion of it will descend to manifest, bringing this celestial mystery and profound secret once again into the mortal realm. This is a rare and extraordinary opportunity for transcendence and elevation that arises only once in countless millennia. Can you grasp it? Will you cherish it? Will you apply it? It all depends on how diligently you strive, which will shape the distinctions in your future karmic retribution.
The principle of cause and effect in the Great Dao has remained elusive to clarity since ancient times.
The heavenly secrets descend into the mortal world;  
One's own karma is truly reaped in reality.
Transcending and returning, no distinction is made; the fusion of five teachings is realized in this realm.
The path of life is divided into ascent and descent;  
Rising or falling is determined by one's own actions.
This verse is shared with all sentient beings to encourage one another! It is also for all students of the Chongxin lineage, to achieve greater fulfillment and transcendence. For you, this is not merely an exploration of a single religion! May you develop a broader mind toward the cultivation methods of the "teachings of the five religions," gaining greater clarity and truly elevating yourselves to transcendence. This will be a practical journey of growth through your own efforts. Thank you all for your hard work. May everything be auspicious. Farewell!
Wuji Yaochi, Phoenix Qiong Immortal Maiden
Few tread the path to the Infinite Jasper Pool;  
The Phoenix-Qiong Immortal Maiden ascends the dais to greet.
The Great Dao of Cause and Effect Governs Immortals and Buddhas;  
The Supreme Virtue of Humanity and Heaven is the Ancient Buddha’s Cause.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous students, and fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Tao Academy, good evening! Today, the presiding immortal of "The Great Tao and Cause-Effect," the True Principal of our lineage—the Ancient Buddha of the Supreme Virtue of Humanity and Heaven in the Namo Void—has descended once more to compose the second chapter of "The Great Tao and Cause-Effect." This section, "The Laws of Cause and Effect," will illuminate and complement the previous chapter, "The Norms of Cause and Effect."
Let all deities, Buddhas, and students understand that under the celestial opportunity and virtuous affinity descending into the human world, an immense opportunity has once again been opened for you. This is no ordinary book on karma—that would be far too superficial! How then does the virtue and grace of heaven and earth evolve? Through the work "The Great Dao and Karma," you may come to understand, from each successive volume, how the laws of karmic retribution and recompense operate.
2015, March 8, 19:47 ◎＃※ OK;
Ancient Buddha of Nanping, Daoji
Episode 8: The Stirring of Hidden Causes
第十二回 　  好壞報償
August 15, 2008, the fifteenth day of the seventh month in the Wuzi year (Friday)
第三十回　  小人惡禍
##Namo Ancient Dipankara Buddha
第二回　   因果法則
The spirits of Taiwan's land at Nanping,  
Daoji descends to pen this writing's beginning.
The ancient Buddha's virtue blesses millions upon millions,  
The great path's cause and effect closely follow the sincere.
The Ninth Cycle of the Great Dao's Cause and Effect: Touching Karma, Continuing to Arrange the Fruits
第十三回  　 父母因緣
August 19, 2008, the nineteenth day of the seventh month in the year of Wuzi (Tuesday)
第三回　   因果追循
Pursued by the law of cause and effect.
The cause, condition, and effect within the human realm are actions of mutual reception and absorption. Every sentient being is subject to this principle, and none can escape its confines. In the human-driven process of "karmic retribution," there is no distinction between virtuous deeds and hidden merits or evil actions and their consequences—all will undergo the cyclical interplay of cause and effect.
The origin, development, and fulfillment of all things arise from causes and conditions. Without distinction, every sentient being, in any time, space, or environment, under the influence of various causes and functions, evolves through human factors across generations. This process differentiates the karmic consequences of good and evil, fortune and misfortune, shaping the life orientation of each being in the human world.
Every human being is subject to the principles and norms established by Heaven, while each individual’s actions, deeds, conduct, and undertakings mutually shape one another. In the human world, every action and behavioral standard gives rise to various causes and effects of good and evil, fortune and misfortune, which will be judged in the future and in the next life.
Why does this "pursuit of cause and effect" closely follow each sentient being across their different lifetimes? Could it possibly overlook even the slightest detail? That is precisely impossible! Every sentient being’s entire process of existence in the human world carries with it the accumulated habits and latent causes from past lives, which give rise to their present life and current existence.
Human karma follows in its wake.
If not for the causes and conditions contained within, along with the various accumulated habits from past lives, how could there be the mutual interplay of "cause and effect following one another"? The implantation of various circumstances from past lives into the present life and this very world precisely aligns with the fundamental principles of the law of cause and effect. Regarding the unfolding of events, it is essential to understand the complete context and sequence of each matter.
In this "causal tracing," all blessings and misfortunes from past lives are integrated into the current space-time. Moreover, all past-life karma follows sentient beings, each of whom possesses four elements—"color, score, code, and energy"—even before birth. These serve as the "basis" for the retribution of blessings and misfortunes in their present life—the disc basis.
Based on the distinctions of each sentient being's fortune, prosperity, longevity, wealth, status, poverty, hardship, and adversity in this life—though all are merely one kind of human existence—different levels of life are assigned with varying rewards of blessings and misfortunes. This basis follows one throughout this lifetime, determining what conditions each sentient being experiences in their present existence.
Regarding the karma accumulated from past lives that inevitably follows into the present life through the law of cause and effect, one may ask: What state of mind does one experience in the present moment? It is precisely the accumulation from past lives that manifests now—this very cause, condition, and environment. If one finds oneself in unfavorable circumstances, only through a sincere intention to change can transformation be achieved.
Consequences follow from their fundamental causes and conditions.
Only then can we confront and transform the current unfavorable environment into a more comfortable space, which aligns with the "law of cause and effect." Moreover, the principle of karma is embedded within the human world, where every time and space environment follows the laws and frameworks of cause and effect, established by the heavens for the human realm, as a form of recompense after countless cosmic cycles.
In the current cosmic cycle, the past thirty thousand years have seen all doctrines and laws distinguishing the causal connections of the human world through karma: "What causes were sown in past lives? What fruits are reaped in this life? What causes are sown in the present? What fruits will be gained in future lives?" This delineates the distinctions among "past lives, the present life, and future lives," as every sentient being exists within this temporal and spatial context.
Bearing the karmic consequences from past lives, one is born into this present existence. The "causes" embedded in your current actions and deeds will become the "effects" in the next life, regardless of whether they are good or evil, favorable or unfavorable. These outcomes are shaped by human factors toward sentient beings. "What causes were sown in the past life? What fruits are reaped in this life? What causes are sown in this life? What fruits will be reaped in the next life?"
It is about being quite fair and equal to every sentient being, regardless of the mutual causes, conditions, and outcomes among the human world. Moreover, one's accumulated habits also form a kind of mutual cause and condition, distinguished by the "hue, score, code, and energy" of past-life karma. Each sentient being, in this life and this world, undergoes the process of receiving the corresponding karmic retribution.
The karmic causes and effects of human beings across multiple lifetimes
If sentient beings receive blessings bestowed upon them, they will not harbor any irresistible unwillingness. However, when subjected to intangible pressures or pursued by karmic creditors seeking retribution, they often become reluctant to make amends. Instead, they may believe themselves to be exceptionally virtuous in this life, having never deceived or harmed anyone.
I have never borne grudges against anyone, so why is it that no matter how hard I try in this life, I cannot erase the karmic debts accumulated from past lives, the relentless pursuit of creditors from past grievances? How can sentient beings come to understand how such circumstances arise? All habits of survival in the human world are formed by you in the present moment, through the cycle of cause and effect spanning past and future lives.
Now, the cycles of time and karma have shortened sixteenfold. In the past, the principles of cause and effect would only be witnessed in the next life, but today, such mutual fulfillment and karmic retribution can already be observed within this very life and this very world. Moreover, these cases of karmic reckoning will emerge endlessly and can be seen everywhere.
All actions and behaviors of sentient beings can carry the karmic causes accumulated from past lives into the present life and this world. Why is it that the law of cause and effect follows each individual through life after life, without the slightest omission? It is essential to recognize that all accumulated habits in this life and this world are formed in accordance with the deeds and actions performed in one’s past lives, carried over into the present.
The Law of Cause and Effect Follows the Great Dao
When sentient beings embark on religious practice, they enter a different kind of innate destiny, which readjusts their fate and destiny charts. This accumulation of karmic causes from past lives manifests in the present, giving each religious practitioner a distinct destiny chart. For all who enter religion, there is also a reduced tendency to be bound by fatalism within their fate.
Act according to one's original destiny and inherent nature, while gradually following another religious path. For a practitioner who has entered a religion, observe whether their behavior and actions have truly changed or if they merely bear the name, claiming, "I am a religious practitioner, I am a virtuous believer." Such individuals are far too numerous.
One can clearly observe from the actions of those who enter into religion. Why is it that the conduct of those who truly cultivate themselves serves to redefine their own destiny? Furthermore, after ordinary individuals enter religion, can their fate truly be altered? Whether destiny and fate can be changed is determined by distinguishing one's own actions and choices.
If one merely holds a nominal affiliation without genuine change, they will still follow the karmic causes accumulated from past lives, which manifest in the present existence. For a religious believer, this can feel utterly helpless! Human beings enter this world carrying all the actions and deeds of their past lives, along with the karmic consequences accumulated from those previous causes.
The law of cause and effect follows the fundamental principles of action.
And what of this life, this present existence, in relation to the many lives before? For a sentient being, such untraceable roots of ignorance inevitably shape the habits of daily life. How are these habits distinguished by the hues of past lives? What is their measure? What are their codes? And what of their energy?
This is the foundation upon which every human being lives their entire life. Though all are merely human beings, the foundations of their lives vary in thousands of ways, distinguished by four aspects: "score, hue, code, and energy." Through these, one can trace where each person is born!
Thus, from the moment each person is born, they come into the world with different blessings, lives, environments, dispositions, and conditions for enjoyment. The heavens have long established a set of principles and standards for implementation, further incorporating the four human factors from past lives: "hue, score, code, and energy."
Each individual's actions and choices determine the cause and effect.
As for distinguishing among the various types of human beings and sentient beings, what circumstances does each individual encounter? Different scores distinguished by varying hues, along with distinct codes used to differentiate energies across time and space, give rise to diverse environments in which they live. Sentient beings grow according to their distinct genetic essences, all emerging from the causes and conditions of their present existence.
Regarding the influence of human factors from living environments and spatiotemporal conditions, each being, depending on the circumstances and time they encounter, will live in a corresponding environment. The way one interacts with others and the standards guiding all actions are predetermined; each individual merely lives according to their "karmic destiny from past lives."
It is merely about conducting oneself in this present life, which means using the innate fate determined by the eight characters of one's birth in the human world to distinguish between past lives, the present life, and future lives in all matters. As for how the accumulated actions in the future will shape human existence, this is a karmic cause of life that sentient beings in the present fundamentally cannot comprehend.
Code of Conduct for Sentient Beings
Moreover, one may even become confused about how everything will unfold in the future! In each moment and space, how can one understand the principles guiding their present actions? What will the next moment bring? Why did the ancients caution: "Signs appear before fortune or misfortune arrives; the course of life leaps into the future; cause and effect follow all beings, leaving nothing unaccounted for in this life"?
In the human realm, all habits and ways of life, the noble and petty individuals each being will encounter in this life, as well as the blessings they will enjoy and the misfortunes they will suffer, are all predetermined. The different behavioral standards of each being determine how the karmic consequences of cause and effect will unfold in the latter half of this life or in future lifetimes.
Thus, in the unseen realms, the divine principles governing the conduct of sentient beings are imprinted within the microcrystalline IC of their eighth consciousness, recording every action and deed throughout this life and existence. This microcrystalline IC of the eighth consciousness accumulates the causes and conditions from past lives into the present one. If you wish to understand them, you must await the next cycle to continue the journey.
Life comes into being bearing its causes,  
Accumulating past deeds to shape this present existence.
The deeds of this life are borne in the next,  
Human existence follows in pursuit.
From the field of the eight consciousnesses emerges memory,  
There exists an I.C. micro-crystal.
Record the deeds of this present life,  
To connect with the karmic foundation from a past existence.
This verse! To encourage all sentient beings together! In reflecting upon all actions and deeds in this life and this world, one must understand the direction of their own existence, recognize the obstacles of ignorance and unawareness, and take responsibility for this life and this world. Do not let yourself down, for it is a rare and precious opportunity to be born as a human. Farewell.
Wuji Zhongtan Yuanshuai
A life of the Middle Way is inherently supreme benevolence;  
Within the altar, all sages tread the great path's course.
Originally ancient and charming, yet also adorable,  
Truly brimming with a heavenly handsomeness.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and the scholars of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, the main guiding immortal of the Great Dao series, the Ancient Buddha of Nanping Daoji, has personally descended to author the third installment of "The Cause and Effect of the Great Dao." The principle and essence of "Following Cause and Effect" are shared here as mutual encouragement, urging everyone to wholeheartedly dedicate themselves to the sixth phase of the Chongxin Sect's propagation and guidance, in order to lead all brothers and sisters back to the path. Your efforts are deeply appreciated. May all be auspicious. Farewell!
2015, March 8, 19:48 ◎＃※ OK;
Ancient Buddha of the Southern Sea
Episode Nine: The Continuation of Fate
第十四回     夫妻情義
August 22, 2008, the twenty-second day of the seventh lunar month in the year of Wuzi (Friday).
第三回　   因果追循
The Great Path of Nankai enlightens all beings;  
The Pearl's radiance upon the sea fulfills the human way.
In ancient times it was said, cause and effect are once more refined;  
The Buddha's established teachings bear witness to sentient beings.
Chapter 10: The Final Verdict on Achievements
第十五回   　夫妻恩情
August 29, 2008, the twenty-ninth day of the seventh lunar month in the Wuzi year (Friday)
第四回　    因果定論
The Fundamental Function of the Doctrine of Cause and Effect
All habits and behaviors of human beings are inevitably interwoven with causes and effects in the course of life. Regardless of time, space, or circumstance, every process follows this principle. Through the interconnection of causes and effects, sentient beings in the human realm are able to comprehend the essential cyclical nature of the "law of causality" that governs the human world.
Moreover, in the human realm, there is no distinction among nations; all are alike. When any sentient being comes to exist in this human world, they cannot escape the determinations of cause and effect. However, sentient beings are unable to incorporate the causes of the past and the consequences of the present into their actions, conduct, and all behaviors within the human realm.
In the future, the judgment of good and evil, as well as fortune and misfortune, will be distinguished as follows: fortune and misfortune, good and bad, good and evil, with the function of "causal determinism" being implemented. Throughout the vast universe, as long as there are human beings and all living creatures, all are subject to this mutual cycle of "karmic retribution." When sentient beings live in the human world, each and every one of them is bound by this principle.
Every moment of time and space is likewise. This is using the Earthly Obscurity Star to implant the "determinism of cause and effect" into every action and behavior of human life. Yet, when human factors enter such limitations, why do all living beings become confined? Why do such cycles of cause and effect interact with one another? In understanding the Earthly Obscurity Star, one realizes that everything exists in mutual relation.
The Function of Causal Determinism
It is precisely due to mutual opposition and distinctions—such as heaven and earth, male and female, yin and yang, good and evil, right and wrong—that sentient beings, regardless of time, space, nation, or circumstance, abide by the cyclical process of cause and effect. How, then, can such "mutual opposition" achieve "absolute" growth?
In the human world, there is mutual interaction, and even those who seek growth and transcendence can achieve the absolute through such mutual interaction. Although bound by the cycle of cause and effect, it is possible to "reach the absolute" through "mutual interaction." Can the cycle of cause and effect be elevated to a higher level? And can it be fully resolved and extinguished?
Moreover, it is beyond the comprehension of sentient beings to fathom the celestial mysteries, and why such elevation can transcend the cycle of cause and effect in the human world. As for the conditions that enable "reaching the absolute through the relative," does every sentient being possess such a rare celestial opportunity? Not necessarily! They are even less capable of understanding all the points of achievement within it, or where they lie!
In the human realm, every being enters the mundane world and grows through the accumulation of firsthand experiences in all matters. From a human perspective and viewpoint, the fundamental nature of being human remains unchanged. Yet, when living as a human in this world, one inevitably encounters numerous limitations and obstacles.
The execution of the doctrine of karma.
Regarding human factors, without a broader perspective and mindset, it is impossible to break through the limitations and obstacles of the human world. If we remain confined by these limitations and obstacles, every sentient being must still survive through "eating, drinking, excretion, miscellaneous tasks, and sleeping." Yet, without relying on human factors, how can these basic needs—"eating, drinking, excretion, miscellaneous tasks, and sleeping"—be fulfilled?
You will then fail to treat your own bodies with moderation, and will easily squander your precious lives. Yet within life itself, the composition of the food chain is necessary for survival and comfort. Can sentient beings, through human effort, elevate and transcend the cycle of "eating, drinking, excretion, miscellaneous needs, and sleep," thereby freeing themselves from the constraints of the food chain?
How can one transcend the constraints of the food chain? For sentient beings, this is precisely what makes spiritual cultivation and elevation more attainable. However, most human beings remain bound by the limitations of the food chain. To achieve greater elevation and transcendence, it is essential first to diminish and reduce the significance of the food chain, for only then can one align with the true nature of reality.
If humanity no longer relies on the food chain, what then would sustain human existence? This presents a profound paradox. Do you believe that by diminishing, transcending, or elevating the food chain, humanity could rise above its constraints? Indeed, it would signify an ascension beyond the worldly realm—free from the limitations of the food chain and no longer bound by the cycles of cause and effect.
The Doctrine of Cause and Effect Mutually Fulfills Each Other
Wherein lies the mystery and key to this? Sentient beings may believe that in the human world, survival depends on the food chain. Yet, in the near future, human beings will gradually reduce their acts of killing within this chain, inevitably diminishing all forms of cruel slaughter and transforming their dietary habits.
This is a technological civilization that has existed since the second cosmic cycle, capable of elevating the human world to greater heights without relying on the accumulation of the food chain. It further allows for the advancement of this technological civilization, a feat already accomplished by the heavens in ancient times, eliminating the need for the slaughter inherent in the food chain! However, it is currently constrained by the limitations of technology in the human world.
Thus, it is impossible to elevate this technological civilization's food chain or address the insufficiency of food. You often jest that immortals and buddhas do not need to eat, which is correct. Moreover, in the future technological civilization, many unnecessary killings in the food chain can be eliminated, allowing for more refined food and dietary functions.
Furthermore, the obstacles of cause and effect can be cleared relatively easily. For those who genuinely cultivate and practice, this food chain can be reduced, thereby alleviating the mutual limitations and karmic hindrances it brings. Are you able to deeply implant this concept into the eighth consciousness, firmly establishing the principle of the cycle of cause and effect, and integrating all orientations of human existence into one's actions and behaviors?
The cycle of cause and effect among sentient beings.
Sentient beings can transcend the constraints of the food chain, which represents an upward purification and elevation. However, this technological civilization has gradually been realized within the human realm, yet it remains difficult to fully manifest due to the current embryonic stage of technology. It must be implemented step by step.
This is a food chain that does not require killing, and it will inevitably arrive in the near future. The law of causality does not discriminate between the causes and conditions at each stage of time and space, nor does it concern itself with the process. This applies to all sentient beings, precisely because the past causes, present consequences, and future outcomes are all manifestations of reality. There will surely be wholesome and favorable conditions to foster growth.
If every being fails to understand what causes they have sown and what fruits they will reap, it becomes difficult to integrate the concept of "the cycle of cause and effect" into life in the human realm. In all karmic retributions, the relationship between "sowing and reaping" is absolute truth. Every action bears the consequences of past causes and shapes the future.
Since ancient times, all human actions and behaviors, if one fails to understand how past causes came to be, will inevitably lead to future karmic retribution, leaving no room for notions of reward or punishment. Does this mean there is no cycle of cause and effect in the human world? Not at all! This definitive relationship between past causes and future consequences is precisely the framework and moral laws that Heaven has long established.
Retribution is determined by the law of cause and effect.
When such principles and precepts are publicly discussed, all sentient beings, regardless of the country in which they live or the religious sect they belong to, are treated equally. This has been the universal understanding of the cycle of cause and effect since ancient times, and it necessitates a corresponding return in accordance with reality. It lies in human factors adhering to the laws of justice, equality, and public consensus.
To act within the world, one must ask: what causes have I sown, and what fruits shall I reap? This principle applies to every sentient being across the vast cosmos. Reflecting on the entire history of human endeavor, we must understand why so many calamities and disasters afflict the present age. It is essential to recognize that these arise from the accumulated human actions, manifesting as the adverse karmic retribution of our time.
What, then, were the causes from one's past life? The present life is the result of accumulated causes from previous existences, manifesting in the here and now. This is what has been known since ancient times as the law of cause and effect—the interplay of all living beings. Human beings, in particular, cannot escape this limitation, unless one truly transcends and rises above it, only then can one dissolve the cycle of cause and effect.
Such capability is the great causal condition of the "state of uncontaminated supernatural power"—a profound celestial truth that sentient beings throughout the ages have fundamentally been unable to comprehend. In human terms, it distinguishes between ascending to higher realms and descending into degradation. What do you think of this? The Heavens have long prepared numerous opportunities across time and space, awaiting everyone's realization.
The Implementation of the Doctrine of Karmic Determinism
Regarding the principle of the cycle of cause and effect in terms of mutual growth and elevation, it is generally believed that sentient beings, once immersed in the habits of life, are consistently confined by this cycle—a view that is quite accurate. However, there exists a means to transform both antecedent causes and subsequent outcomes, which facilitates the growth of those striving for upward elevation. This transcends the limitations of mere human factors.
If one believes that the law of cause and effect is immutable, how can these transcendent beings achieve greater elevation within the causal cycles of the human world? For ordinary individuals, this notion fundamentally prevents a true understanding of all origins and consequences, thus eternally confining them within the limitations imposed by the cyclical nature of the law of cause and effect.
Moreover, it is believed that in this life, if one cannot overcome the obstacles of the law of cause and effect to ascend and transcend, what then of the human world? Can the cycle of karma be positively elevated? If one is unable to ascend and transcend, one will forever endure the retribution of the cycle of cause and effect, making it exceedingly difficult to elevate and transcend karma.
Why does Heaven impose the cycle of cause and effect upon sentient beings? It is to enable humans, through their own efforts, to truly ascend and transcend. Otherwise, how could those Buddhas and sages who have already attained enlightenment achieve further elevation and transcendence? It is by dissolving the obstacles of karmic determinism, thereby fostering greater growth.
Cause and effect follow all living beings.
Do human beings believe that once they enter the realm of the Earthly Star, they can never break free from its limitations? Not necessarily! It depends on individual effort and growth—whether one takes responsibility for this life, enabling oneself to truly transcend. This lies in elevating the human mindset and advancing the understanding of cause and effect.
Moreover, it is the transcendent saints, immortals, Buddhas, and bodhisattvas of sentient beings who, by placing their thoughts and concepts in purification and growth, apply this life to immediate development. Do you truly understand the impartiality and equality of "the law of cause and effect"? Since you have entered the Earthly Star of Darkness, why is it possible for you to ascend and transcend, and to dissolve the limitations and obstacles?
This is the key and the mystery; have you grasped the essence within it? Sometimes, to understand the full story of a matter, it is not about how each moment and cause unfolds. Rather, it is about how all human beings in this vast world can come to know the root of all causes that lead to upward elevation, and where the key lies.
The Law of Causal Determinism
All past karmic obstacles and causes can be resolved within a single lifetime. When conditions of time and space are not yet fully aligned, this present life can still reduce many unfavorable and unwholesome karmic conditions, allowing one to practice diligently with peace of mind. In this process, many karmic connections accumulated over countless lifetimes will come to settle accounts or offer mutual support.
How can one leverage strength to achieve greater growth and benefits? It is about whether sentient beings can possess the energy of "purification, purification of the heart, purification of the soul, purification of nature, and purification of the self," integrating it into their own energy bodies. This is a great karmic opportunity that has never been revealed in the human world since ancient times, and now it is made possible through the sacred text "The Great Dao Cause and Effect" of Chongxin.
To unveil a portion of this mystery and elevate sentient beings to a higher level, much effort is required to accumulate the necessary energy. This self-luminous energy, QNA, will bring you greater benefits and fresh perspectives, enabling purification and transcendence within the cycle of cause and effect. Observe the fruits of your own efforts and discern the outcomes you have attained!
Predestination is determined by fate,  
Human effort must not be underestimated.
Understanding the great mysteries within,
The self-nature shines forth in full manifestation.
Many conditions must converge and combine;  
It cannot be achieved in a single stride.
Only the true energy body of one's own mind can achieve future attainments.
This verse! Let us encourage one another among all sentient beings! How, within the causal principles of the human realm, can sentient beings come to understand that ascending and transcending—becoming immortals, buddhas, sages, deities, or bodhisattvas—is achieved step by step? In this process, do not think there are shortcuts or leaps; it is essential to progress steadily, following the proper order, to achieve upward growth.
It is through the composition of the "Dadao Series Celestial Books" that you are able to attain a broader framework of thought, enabling your own growth and transcendence in the future. This will also foster virtuous causes and conditions for upward advancement and return. In truth, the one who benefits is none other than yourself! Thank you all for your hard work and for dedicating some time to Chongxin. Farewell, everyone!
Wuji Yao Chi, the Joyful Jade Fairy
The cause and condition of the Wuji came into being long ago;  
Few tread the sacred grounds of the Yaochi.
The joyous fairy Qiong descends for her turn on duty,  
Together meeting divine beings, a blessed and fated encounter.
All Saints, Buddhas, and virtuous beings, as well as the fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Dao Institute, good evening! Today, the Ancient Buddha of the South Sea has descended to compose the fourth installment of "The Great Dao Cause and Effect," also elucidating the "Determinism of Cause and Effect" from another perspective. This is offered to all human beings for greater growth and benefit, enabling mutual support in the cycle of cause and effect.
In the human world, for all sentient beings who aspire to ascend and grow, and for those who genuinely cultivate and practice, how can one transcend the realm of saints, immortals, and buddhas? How should one transform karma? This requires awaiting each volume of the heavenly scriptures, composed chapter by chapter and time after time, to grant you greater growth and benefit.
2015, 0308, 1949◎＃※  OK;
Chapter Twelve: Retribution for Good and Evil
第十六回  　 恩怨夫妻
September 2, 2008, the third day of the eighth lunar month (Tuesday), Year of Wuzi.
第四回　    因果定論
Homage to all beings, originally thus come;  
The Amitabha Sutra, contemplating self-being.
The Buddha inscribed the great book of karma,  
Making the principles of cause and effect clearer and more profound.
Episode 13: The Bond of Parents
第十七回　   怨債夫妻
September 5, 2008, the sixth day of the eighth month in the Wuzi year (Friday)
第五回　   因果超越
Sentient beings transcend cause and effect.
The human world often traps itself in the cycle of "cause, condition, and effect," believing that once confined by such limitations, it cannot break free from these obstacles. For ordinary sentient beings, this is indeed the reality of "cause, condition, and effect." But what of the celestial immortals, Buddhas, holy deities, and Bodhisattvas? Here lies the distinction between those who can ascend and those who cannot.
These two interact with each other, distinguishing the cause and effect of karma. Thus, all actions and behaviors in the human world are differentiated by whether they can transcend karma. This also relates to whether all sentient beings can comprehend and achieve within the cycle of cause and effect, while understanding the limitations and obstacles inherent in the human world, and how to dissolve them.
Regarding the conditions for ascending and transcending divine beings, immortals, Buddhas, exalted sages, and bodhisattvas, how are they achieved? This involves distinguishing the "transcendence of karma" through genuine actions. The fundamental conduct for ascension and transcendence should be cultivated through all behaviors and actions within the human world, integrating them into one's daily life.
One often encounters numerous obstacles that are difficult to overcome. Observable human factors often lead people to act based on their own perceived values and mental attitudes, thereby creating many barriers. Even when they are aware, they may fail to act, or act without diligence, making it even harder to understand that these long-established principles in the world are precisely what they must follow.
Karma Transcends the Relationships Among Sentient Beings
Therefore, sentient beings often fabricate numerous causes and reasons for themselves, thereby finding excuses to step down from their own standards. They indulge and nurture their own shortcomings, tolerating all their actions and behaviors. Consequently, the opportunities that could have been seized for self-improvement and transcendence are lost, leaving them unable to grow and elevate themselves. Truly, there is nothing to be done about it!
Instead, it creates more difficulties and greater obstacles, with a multitude of reasons and justifications, making it hard for oneself to grow and improve upward. Moreover, time and again, it leads to being trapped by life's unavoidable circumstances, which also undermines all one's current actions and behaviors, making it difficult to truly learn and grow upward.
In the human world, people often infuse their actions with their own flawed ideologies and subjective consciousness. Although they understand the principles of human existence, this is merely a transitional phase. They clearly know what should be done, yet lack the strength to change course, making it exceedingly difficult to reverse the situation.
It is precisely the inability to address one's own shortcomings, deficiencies, and errors to the point of achieving transcendence that constitutes a common human failing. In every matter, we rely on the painstakingly accumulated legacy passed down by predecessors. Yet, can sentient beings truly comprehend the full context and origins of these classics, practices, and precepts that our predecessors so diligently amassed?
The Elevation of Cause and Effect in the Great Dao
This makes it easier for oneself to progress toward greater room for growth. Often, the inability to overcome obstacles in life stems precisely from "indulging oneself and nurturing one's own shortcomings." When personal effort creates opportunities for self-improvement, accumulating various knowledge and experiences to elevate oneself should not be too difficult.
However, the determination, perseverance, and sustained strength of human beings often fail to remain consistent and unwavering. In striving for self-improvement and transcendence, as well as in fostering the growth of sentient beings, they thus miss the opportunity to achieve fulfillment. The obstacles arising from human factors cannot be overcome by merely adhering to the "way of human survival" to ascend further.
What will desire be like in the future? Sentient beings often fail to realize that, upon entering the human world, beyond the necessities of life, there are many other humans who provide the means for their survival. These are obtained through one's own actions and deeds, which can be refined and transformed to amend shortcomings, deficiencies, and errors.
Why must sentient beings in the human world rely on a food chain to sustain their existence? This food chain, integrated into human life, is built upon the accumulated experiences of predecessors, making it impossible for humanity to revise or transform its own inherent limitations and obstacles. This stands as the greatest delusion for all affectionate human beings.
The Necessity of Transcending Cause and Effect
Within the food chain, sentient beings often believe that their daily three meals and late-night snacks satisfy their appetites, and that the accumulated experiences of predecessors within this chain are just so. Yet, for those who truly aspire to rise and transcend, their dependence on the food chain will be comparatively less.
The sustenance provided in the human world nourishes sentient beings. Whether these foods involve humane slaughter or undergo inhumane processing—leading to pesticide residues, wastewater pollution, and the like—becomes a critical consideration. For those who genuinely aspire to elevate and transcend, it is essential to reduce all desires within the food chain.
Furthermore, one's own digestive system gradually purifies itself, clearing away all impure energies. Such negative energies can become significant obstacles to the orientation of survival. In the human world, you might believe that your food supply in the human realm is composed of the food chain, and thus think that you must eat three meals a day, plus a late-night snack.
In the world of human affairs, all established customs are taken for granted as the way things should be. Can they truly be changed? Not so! If one could follow the precept advocated by certain Buddhist traditions, such as "not eating after noon," and abstain from all food offerings after midday, how would sentient beings comprehend the meaning behind this?
Buddhism advocates not eating after noon.
This can reduce the amount of food entering the body. Since the body consumes less food, it can adjust to negative energies accordingly. While ordinary beings often find it difficult to accept such a concept and practice, "not eating after noon" does not truly mean abstaining from any food after midday; rather, it implies eating less.
Furthermore, it reduces the supply in the food chain and diminishes many acts of killing. For the broader humanitarian world, reducing the supply in the food chain naturally lessens the digestive burden on one's own stomach and intestines, thereby easing the body's load—a manifestation of compassion and cherishing blessings. The significance of "not eating after noon" lies precisely in this.
It will certainly transform the food chain across all human worlds, eliminating the need for reliance on killing and artificial additives. In the future, the invention of food supplies will benefit all sentient beings, thereby reducing the act of killing in the process of food provision. You should understand that such opportunities and conditions are gradually manifesting on Earth.
This will influence your thoughts and perceptions, and under such conditions in the space where you live, it can greatly reduce acts of killing and slaughter, extend lifespan, and decrease the occurrence of physical illnesses. Moreover, it holds positive value in mitigating adverse reactions to all human ailments and cancers, and truly serves as an alternative source of sustenance.
Life Recreated for Elevation
This provides sustenance for the bodies of future beings, increasing their energy reserves while enabling you to reduce killing and predatory behavior in the food chain, thereby offering essential nourishment for sentient beings. In the future, through technological advancements, consuming just one pill will generate abundant beneficial energy and sustain life for extended periods.
Furthermore, there is no occurrence of any illness or cancer. How would you perceive such a temporal and circumstantial opportunity? Does it evoke envy? Or jealousy? In the future, how should one accumulate and ultimately transcend such opportunities? Only then can greater growth be achieved. This very opportunity of time and circumstance is precisely what the Divine has repeatedly used to refine and elevate humanity.
Transplanting the technological civilizations of the first and second kalpas from the past into the lower realm of Diming Star provides a greater space for growth for you, the original spirit Buddha-children who truly aspire to transcend and ascend. This is precisely why the Heavens have repeatedly imposed such demands—to offer those genuinely committed to cultivation, growth, and elevation greater benefits and rewards.
This is the benevolent grace that the heavens are destined to realize in the future, created as the human world enters a civilization of high technology. These are the principles and guidelines established by the heavens during this period. Sentient beings, unable to transcend karma for elevation, have repeatedly descended to the earthly star to become human. What do you think of this? Ponder for yourselves: Is this the path you wish to follow?
Transcending the Root of Karmic Retribution
Are you truly willing and convinced of this yourself? The distinction lies in whether it transcends and ascends or falls into the cycle of reincarnation. This human-world technology, drawing upon the advancements of the "First Great Kalpa and the Second Great Kalpa," will continue to grow, innovate, and create, bringing greater benefits to the well-being of all living beings in the future.
All functional roles contribute to the food chain supply. When obstacles arise in the human pursuit of survival, many acts of killing and harmful behaviors toward life can be reduced. How can we maintain a pure body and living environment? This should be the mindset for humanity in today's world. It can be said that this technological civilization is already in the making.
This creation aligns with the fundamental principles of the Divine, aiming to reduce harmful slaughter and killing among sentient beings in the future. Moreover, through successive works, it elevates and transcends the understanding of cause and effect, offering you renewed perspectives and concepts. These will replace the shortcomings, deficiencies, and errors found in previous texts on causality.
Technological creation is the outcome,  
arising from the accumulation of causes and effects.
Created for the well-being of humanity,  
To benefit future generations.
Reducing killing and slaughter diminishes,  
Karmic obstacles and evil fruits naturally dissolve.
No need for the food supply chain,  
Achievements will naturally be great.
This verse! Let us encourage one another, all sentient beings! How can one always maintain a truly healthy body? It has already been revealed in the present moment. Will you be fortunate enough to witness this grand occasion? The benefits brought by invention and creation will reflect how much merit you have accumulated, how much effort you have exerted, and how much you will receive in return. Thank you all for accompanying this work and for your time with the Chongxin lineage. Until we meet again.
The Celestial Venerable of the Dao Descended from the Wuji
How rare in life to have such a chance,  
When the Buddha’s honored presence grants a glance.
Unveiling the Mysteries of the Human World  
The Reality of Future Technology
All Saints, Buddhas, and virtuous beings, as well as the fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Tao Academy, good evening! Today, the Buddhist Venerable Master, the Original Venerable Namo Amitabha Buddha, descended to compose the fifth chapter of "The Great Tao Cause and Effect," detailing the process of "Transcending Cause and Effect" within the "Great Tao Series Heavenly Texts." This is to elevate your thoughts and perspectives to a true state of advancement.
It is precisely that which you, even over countless lifetimes, would find difficult to truly contemplate and construct. Under a reverent heart, it has already transformed and reshaped your thoughts and concepts time and again, cycle after cycle. You may carefully consider: in this present age, how rare are those who possess such extraordinary affinity! It is also thanks to your companionship in this work, your attentive listening, that each and every instance of ideological transformation will bring benefit to yourselves.
It remains to be seen whether you all can truly cherish this opportunity and achieve success. This depends on how much of your efforts and growth you can apply, and whether you, as virtuous students, can grasp the true intent behind the work "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect"—which is to enable your genuine purification and elevation, to bring you greater gains and benefits, and to facilitate your steady progress, transcendence, and upward growth.
2015, March 8, 19:50 ◎＃※ OK;
Chapter Fourteen      The Bond of Husband and Wife
第十八回  　夫妻冤家
September 9, 2008, the tenth day of the eighth lunar month, Year of Wuzi (Tuesday)
第五回　   因果超越
Homage to the Original Teacher, who descends and arrives,  
Śākyamuni, whose works are arranged in order.
Episode 15   　Marital Affection
第十九回　   婚外情孽
September 12, 2008, the thirteenth day of the eighth month in the Year of Wuzi (Friday)
第六回　    不昧因果
The Fundamental Action of Not Obscuring Cause and Effect
In the course of existence, sentient beings must, through growth shaped by human factors, achieve the capacity for elevation and transcendence beyond fundamental functions. It is essential to understand the concept of "transcending causality," which enables sentient beings to attain greater advancement, preventing them from being solely entangled in karmic obstacles. A true understanding of the law of causal cycles is indispensable.
It is possible to avoid being condemned by the cycle of cause and effect. In the present day, sentient beings often believe that their orientation in human life can never transcend the cycle of cause and effect. This is the common mindset of ordinary sentient beings. However, if one transcends this state, how do sages, deities, immortals, and buddhas perceive cause and effect with clarity and precision? What, then, is the fundamental nature of karma?
If one cannot comprehend the nature of such mysteries and subtleties, they remain merely ordinary beings. Without a fundamental understanding of the true workings of karmic cycles and retribution, how can one elevate and transcend oneself? This is precisely why the Heavens have authored "The Great Tao of Cause and Effect"—to realign humanity's moral principles and ethical foundations.
The human world is one of mutual interactions, an inescapable barrier inherent to its nature. With the principle of "cause, condition, effect, and retribution" integrated into the functional orientation of human existence, who can truly break free from the fundamental entanglement of the law of causality? In the face of the cyclical interplay of cause and effect, one must bravely confront the consequences of past karma when the cycle arrives.
The Foundation of the Law of Cause and Effect
Allow yourself to face the process of "cause, condition, effect, and retribution" and its repayment. This is the right path—to understand why human factors must be resolved through human effort! Do not "add cause upon cause, effect upon effect, retribution upon retribution, or repayment upon repayment." When we cannot bring about significant change for sentient beings, we must dissolve the cyclical interplay of cause, condition, effect, and retribution.
Why are sentient beings unable to bear the cycle of cause and effect? They often perceive karmic retribution as entirely adverse and punitive. If this is the case, they cannot fully comprehend the "law of cause and effect," and it becomes difficult to overcome obstacles to their spiritual elevation. Moreover, they fail to realize that karmic retribution is not entirely negative.
In the human world governed by karma and retribution, why is it that one is not inevitably entangled in the consequences of evil deeds? Often, there are many instances of "increased blessings and enhanced spiritual nature." For sentient beings, the potential to ascend and transcend lies in their ability to transform their thoughts and perspectives into virtuous merits and blessings, rather than remaining trapped in past erroneous beliefs.
The universal laws of heaven and the principles of earth dictate that every human being entering the human realm—whether born as a person or as any other sentient being among all living things—carries with them the accumulated karma from their previous and past lifetimes, shaping their present existence in this life. Every aspect of this process is the result of the combined actions of past and previous lives.
How the Law of Cause and Effect Remains Infallible
As for all actions and deeds in this present life, an ancient saying states: "If you wish to know the causes of your past life, look at the circumstances of your present life; if you wish to know the consequences of your future life, observe the deeds of your present life." This is the fundamental and irrefutable principle of karma, which remains unchanged across all religious traditions—be it Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, or any other sect.
Although some religions may not believe in the law of cause and effect, every being, upon entering the human world, carries forward the accumulated habits and actions from previous and past lifetimes, shaping their present existence. With the addition of human factors into the interplay of cause, condition, and retribution, distinctions arise between what is virtuous and what is base—a reality that is profoundly true.
Why is it that some people can effortlessly enjoy the necessities of life—clothing, food, shelter, transportation, education, and leisure—while others must toil strenuously just to secure three meals a day, and still others, no matter how hard they strive, can only manage to eat irregularly? Where does the crux of this issue lie? Can one understand that "the seeds sown in a past life determine the harvest reaped in this one"?
If one has not performed even a little charity in past lives, yet wishes to have blessings added in this life and this world, it is like having no deposit in a bank—can one expect to withdraw money? Moreover, it is impossible to seek blessings from heaven for no reason at all! One must understand what seeds were sown in past lives; only then will one know what blessings to enjoy in this life.
The fundamental principle of not obscuring cause and effect.
This is both a universal truth and a fundamental principle, from which no sentient being can escape. Yet why is it that some, without needing to exert much effort, can enjoy the property, wealth, and blessings passed down from their ancestors and elders, without having to worry about how their own lives unfold? From the moment they are born, every comfort in life is arranged for them.
Observing the facial features again, it is clear that this person does not possess great blessings. Why, then, does such a situation arise? It is precisely because the blessings sown in past lives determine what kind of fortune and rewards one enjoys in this life. These blessings, planted in previous existences, are now being reaped and enjoyed in the present life. Thus, the virtuous seeds sown in the past are what allow one to enjoy blessings in the present.
Moreover, there is no distinction among the ascended and transcendent beings: the Holy Spirits, Immortals and Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and exalted sages are all the same! Furthermore, for each ascended and transcendent being, there exists a cycle of karmic cause and effect, and this holds true for every individual who attains enlightenment and ascends! By not disregarding the retribution and cycles of karmic cause and effect, one can achieve virtuous transcendence.
However, these ascended beings will achieve even greater elevation and transcendence over the afflictions and ignorance that plague sentient beings; otherwise, how could these enlightened ones surpass the obstacles of karmic cycles? It can be understood that the principle and framework of "karma never fails" constitute an immutable law, through which human factors clarify these obstacles in the process.
How to Avoid Ignorance of the Law of Cause and Effect
To have a greater experience of growth, for those who have already attained enlightenment, they remain undeluded by the cycle of cause and effect. Yet, how can those who have already attained enlightenment transcend the cycle of cause and effect and elevate further? It can be understood that cause, condition, and retribution constitute the fundamental principles of the Heavenly Realm, as well as the basic framework of universal law, which applies impartially to all living beings and myriad things between heaven and earth.
All follow the same principles and adhere to the same rules and guidelines; by applying human factors or the foundation of those who have attained the Way to infer each temporal and spatial process, the outcomes generated by causes can be reduced! Furthermore, by restraining the causes that have already occurred, this approach distinguishes those who have attained the Way from sentient beings, highlighting their differences.
Sentient beings are often unable to restrain the accumulation of such causes, frequently facing challenges and trials when the karma of cause and effect manifests. For each enlightened being, the process of elevation and transcendence is unique. Yet, how can one restrain and prevent the occurrence of negative and harmful causes during the process of accumulating such factors?
It is precisely the subtle changes in the causes and conditions across each moment and context that give rise to different future outcomes, whether favorable or unfavorable, virtuous or wicked. Thus, it can be observed that even among some religious adherents, there may not necessarily be a clear understanding of the law of cause and effect. If one can believe in the principle of karmic retribution, that alone is already a significant step toward clarity. Yet, even this understanding often remains elusive to the average person.
All functions and effects are not obscured by cause and consequence.
Sentient beings are capable of change. The original predetermined heavenly laws and missions, as well as the retribution and blessings for good and evil, serve to inform the human world of the law of cause and effect. Each being's understanding of karma and its consequences varies, and among them, those who truly cultivate themselves are more inclined to believe in the retribution brought about by cause and effect.
Although followers of other religions may have embraced their faiths, they often regard the concepts of karma and retribution with great dread. They understand only that karma and retribution are undesirable, unaware that there are also numerous blessings that can be accrued through virtuous actions. This is, in fact, a way to positively alter the predetermined laws of cause and effect through one's own deeds—a principle that has endured through the ages, allowing individuals to transform the originally set principles of cosmic justice through their actions.
Regarding: good causes, good conditions, good results, and good retribution—these are both universal principles and guiding tenets; evil causes, evil conditions, evil results, and evil retribution are likewise universal principles and guiding tenets in the conduct and actions of the human world. However, it must be added: good causes, good conditions, and good results do not necessarily lead to good retribution; similarly, evil causes, evil conditions, and evil results do not necessarily lead to evil retribution.
Why is this so? One must observe each individual: what is their mindset, their response, their wisdom, and their actions? Sentient beings in the present moment often fail to act in accordance with the laws, principles, and universal norms. This relates to the actions of each person, which can be discerned through the process of cause, condition, and effect, distinguishing between future consequences of good and bad karma.
The Criterion for Advancement through Unobscured Cause and Effect
Progressing and transforming are distinguished by the nature of events—good or bad, virtuous or evil, and the retribution of blessings and misfortunes. Why is it that sentient beings, upon entering the human world, become confined by mutual interactions? This is the universal principle of the human realm. Within this principle, how can one transcend and elevate oneself? Indeed, there are methods and pathways to be found, and by observing carefully, one will surely comprehend all.
The elevation and transcendence of the human realm is a form of transcendence within the law of karma that does not obscure the impartiality of causal principles. Indeed, the law of karma serves as a just framework. Whether human factors can align with and adhere to the principles of karma is akin to how laws in the human world function as a framework, a universal truth, and a system, collectively upheld by all.
If one does not violate the laws, what can these axioms, principles, and rules do to you? The mystery lies precisely here! Sentient beings often become attached to one extreme, unable to more fully abide by the laws of cause and effect. As for the rules, axioms, and principles established in the human world, what can they truly do to you?
The same applies to the divine laws, principles, axioms, and systems: you can follow them according to the established rules without violating their statutes. Moreover, what can these principles and guidelines do to you? Through them, you can ascend upward, grow through human effort, and achieve the elevation to another level of spiritual attainment.
The principles and laws of not obscuring cause and effect.
This is the fundamental framework governing the operation of both the sentient world and the realm of immortals and buddhas. The most significant elevation within this framework lies in the integration of karma and retribution into it. How willingly do we accept the consequences of our actions across lifetimes and in the present moment? Sentient beings, unable to comprehend this, remain trapped within these limitations, perpetually immersed in them.
Moreover, when evil causes combine with evil conditions and are compounded by evil effects, they will continue to cycle through vicious obstacles in an unending loop. This is an undeniable truth. Why is it that sentient beings fail to comprehend that within the law of cause, condition, and effect, nothing is obscured? Only by personally experiencing and repaying these consequences can they be dissolved. Yet, human beings often fail to resolve them, only to add further layers of retribution in the next cycle of cause and effect.
This leads to the perpetuation of one cycle of cause and effect after another, making it forever impossible to dissolve or improve them. Therefore, it is essential to first calm the mind, observe the ins and outs of matters more clearly and understand them in greater detail. Only then can one comprehend how to dissolve these entanglements, and discern what obstacles and ignorance lie within.
All sentient beings are not oblivious to the law of cause and effect.
By skillfully utilizing the clear understanding of cause, condition, and effect, one can actually cultivate many wholesome causes and conditions. The accumulation of such wholesome karma over a long period will yield great benefits and rewards in the future, and can also attract many benefactors and favorable circumstances. Understanding the workings of these principles means that even negative causes, conditions, and effects do not necessarily have to result in: retribution.
Furthermore, good causes, good conditions, and good effects do not necessarily guarantee good retribution. It is essential to observe how one conducts oneself, as the law of cause and effect is impartial and equal, and its outcome depends on human actions. How, then, can one reverse the consequences of negative karma? The best mindset is precisely "not being ignorant of cause and effect," which in turn will transform one's behavior and actions.
If you can fulfill these conditions, all the immortal and buddha teachers hope that from now on, through the writing of the "Great Dao Cause and Effect" heavenly book, you will achieve greater elevation and transcendence. You will surely ascend and grow, and there will also be favorable conditions and virtuous causes to return, rather than continuously suffering from the entanglements of karma and the retribution of evil deeds. Do you understand?
Upon careful reflection, all human actions are created,  
and through cause and effect, consequences are repaid.
Fearlessly embracing cause and effect with courage can surely alter its outcome.
The celestial framework serves as the structure, personally undertaking the great restoration of retribution.
Regardless of how the past has been, elevate and transcend to achieve excellence.
This verse is shared with all sentient beings for mutual encouragement! It aims to analyze the principle of "karma never fails" upheld by the ascended and transcendent immortals and buddhas, in the hope that it will bring you greater benefits and rewards. May it also foster virtuous causes and conditions in the human world, thereby benefiting everyone. Thank you all for your companionship in this endeavor and for dedicating your time to the Chongxin lineage. Farewell, everyone!
The Celestial Worthy of Boundless Joy and Bliss
Truly a rarity in the mortal world,  
The Buddha himself descended to impart his teachings.
Karma's unwavering law lays the foundation,  
Bringing favorable outcomes for all sentient beings.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and the scholars of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, the founder of Buddhism, Namo Sakyamuni Buddha, has personally descended to compose the sixth chapter of "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect." Building upon the previous chapter's "Transcending Cause and Effect," this continuation presents the principles of "Unobscured Cause and Effect," offering all virtuous human beings an opportunity for growth.
It is also through one's own efforts in human factors that one can achieve greater elevation and transcendence. This is an unprecedented work in over two thousand years of history. You all are truly fortunate to encounter such a rare and profound opportunity, even after countless lifetimes. Let this way of thinking and perspective take deep root. Truly admirable! And worthy of celebration! Everyone has worked hard, may all be auspicious. Farewell!
2015, March 8, 1951 ◎＃※ OK;
Chapter Sixteen: Husband and Wife, Gratitude and Grudge
第二十回   　情孽修整
September 16, 2008, the seventeenth day of the eighth lunar month (Tuesday) in the year of Wuzi.
第六回　    不昧因果
The Great Way of Nankai benefits all beings;  
The supreme virtue is attained by those who come.
The Great Sun Tathagata manifests in seven cycles,  
Cause and effect never obscure the truth of all beings.
Seventeenth Chapter: The Debt of Resentment Between Husband and Wife
第廿一回　   善德夫妻
September 19, 2008, the twentieth day of the eighth lunar month in the year of Wuzi (Friday)
第七回　    因果不昧
The Law of Unfailing Cause and Effect
Sentient beings do not fully comprehend the infallible law of cause and effect, and some religions do not even believe in the concept of "cause and effect." Regarding the principle of "karmic cause, condition, and retribution" as it pertains to sentient beings living in the human realm—how is the "latent cause" formed? What was the initial cause? And how does the process of manifestation unfold?
How does future karma come into being? How do our present actions influence it? Why is it that we cannot foresee our own future fortunes and misfortunes? In the human world, cause and effect operate through karma; each person's actions affect their subsequent outcomes. This gives rise to the principle of "cause and effect." We must understand: What were the causes? And what will be the consequences?
In judging all affairs shaped by the human world, how should one assess the karmic retribution to be received in the future? Ordinary people only vaguely understand that cause and effect generally lead to unfavorable or undesirable outcomes. If we distinguish between "the accumulation of blessings and fortunate affinities" and "the pursuit of grievances by creditors from past enmities" based on the law of cause and effect, can sentient beings truly comprehend how these two operate?
Even those who have ascended beyond deities, Buddhas, saints, celestial bodhisattvas, and exalted beings must abide by the impartial framework of "karma's unerring law," which makes no distinction of level, realm, or spiritual attainment—all are encompassed within it. Why then must even realized sages, divine beings, celestial Buddhas, bodhisattvas, and exalted beings submit to the inexorable pursuit of karma?
Transcending the Unerring Law of Cause and Effect
Regardless of any particular time, space, or circumstance, all living beings existing in this realm, irrespective of their level or rank, are subject to the law of karma, which manifests differently according to each being's state and attainment. However, some beings neither understand nor believe in the principle that "karma never fails," nor do they affirm the tenets of the law of cause and effect.
Believe it or not! Yet, in every moment and circumstance, the principle of "karma never fails" follows as closely as a shadow. How, then, can one rise above the constraints of cause and effect? It is essential to understand that although the laws of karma may be complex, one must abide by them in accordance with the "principles and precepts."
Furthermore, is there any obstacle to not overstepping? No! Sentient beings, regardless of religion or the circumstances of time and space, all endure the mutual interactions of the Earthly Star. How, then, can one attain the absolute? It is through human actions and conduct that "principles and precepts" are implemented, adhering to the law of cause and effect in following these "principles and precepts."
Furthermore, do any "principles, precepts, or norms" pose any hindrance to you? Not at all! They serve as essential provisions for upholding the principle of "karma's unerring law," elevating it into a higher, transcendent rule to be followed. Moreover, regardless of all religious sects and lineages in the human world, you and others alike must equally abide by the discipline of the law of karma.
The Principles of Unerring Cause and Effect
If one says: If someone does not believe in the law of cause and effect, will they not be governed by it? Not so! It is merely that each person’s perspective differs; it is absolutely not the case that whether you believe or disbelieve, you are unaffected by cause and effect. Every sentient being equally bears the consequences of karma and retribution. Otherwise, how could the fundamental framework of Heaven be promulgated and implemented?
One must be able to clearly understand and deeply grasp the intrinsic meaning of cause, condition, effect, and retribution in actions and behaviors. How can one transcend the laws of cause and effect through human effort, free from their constraints, and bear the principle of "karma never fails"? It is precisely by surpassing the law of "karma never fails" that one enters the ranks of the superior.
It is all the same regardless of distinctions such as "the Lesser Vehicle, the Middle Vehicle, the Great Vehicle, the Bodhisattva Vehicle, or the Buddha Vehicle." Sentient beings differ in their levels, states, and attainments, and the various precepts and disciplines are as numerous as the hairs on an ox. If viewed from this perspective, how can one transcend and then elevate beyond these differing levels, states, and attainments?
It pertains to human actions and behaviors, which must adhere to the principle of "karma is never obscured." These principles are clear and evident, providing the greatest elevation for those who genuinely seek transcendence. However, in the course of human actions, some aspects are inevitably subject to interference. For those parts affected by interference, one must follow the established guidelines and systems to cultivate and make necessary changes.
The Law of Unerring Cause and Effect
In the human realm, it is possible to truly elevate oneself, reaching a state where one's own energy can achieve a "self-illuminating" energy body. This allows sentient beings to experience greater growth and benefit for themselves. It is about becoming the master of one's own life, rather than remaining a slave to oneself within the human world.
This is the most difficult obstacle for sentient beings to overcome in their upward progression, and it stands in contrast to the principle of "not obscuring cause and effect." The two differ in that "cause and effect never err" follows every action and behavior of all beings, tracking each movement in their daily lives, which is then recorded in the eight consciousness fields of each individual.
"Unfailing Cause and Effect" means that all sentient beings in the vast universe are governed by the law of cause and effect, without the slightest omission. All their actions, whether good or evil, will in the future bring about corresponding blessings or misfortunes as retribution. Ordinary beings, after entering the human world, often believe that they have no opportunity for ascension or transcendence in this lifetime.
This is the delusion that plagues humanity. Why is this so? Sentient beings are unable to steadfastly uphold the clarity of the scriptures in their respective faiths, as they are all burdened by the obscuring thoughts of religious ignorance, often misinterpreting the original meanings of the classics. Moreover, people today find it exceedingly difficult to grasp the meanings of classical literary language from the past.
Not to obscure cause and effect, and cause and effect will not be obscure.
Although the present era employs vernacular language, the thoughts, concepts, and levels of understanding differ for each believer. Those who merely claim a religious affiliation in name as practitioners cannot take responsibility for themselves; they can only refine their practice through life after life. It is exceedingly difficult for them to comprehend how the scriptures were produced under the circumstances and karmic conditions of past times.
Whether one can remain steadfast and unwavering over the long term is a considerable test for genuine practitioners. However, genuine practitioners are also easily confined by the "obstacles of religion and doctrine." Few are able to undergo significant shifts in their thinking and perspectives, or to dissolve all their own obscurations of ignorance, thereby achieving elevation and transcendence.
This leads to constraints imposed by human factors, making it difficult to clearly comprehend and grasp the essence of the classics within the confines of past doctrinal obstacles. In this regard, the dialectical classics of Tibetan Tantric Buddhism are more likely to achieve greater advancement. Compared to the religious ideologies of the descendants of Yan and Huang in the Central Plains, a clearer understanding within the scriptures will foster a broader system of thought.
Why do the dialectical classics of Tibet far surpass the rigid conservatism of the Central Plains? Moreover, they remain unchanging and fail to understand that religious scriptures should be applied flexibly; one should skillfully utilize all the advantages of religious scriptures to achieve greater self-improvement. Yet, you now have such a rare and opportune moment to immerse yourselves in firsthand materials for cultivation.
The Verification of the Unerring Law of Cause and Effect
When religious texts are insufficient, they should be seen as opportunities for upward learning and growth. Within the various lineages of Tibetan classical literature and contemporary vernacular writings in China, there should be a deeper and broader framework of thought. Although the human world holds great reverence for all religious scriptures, it is essential to understand the differences in time, space, and causal conditions.
The perspectives and ideologies of the leaders of each religious sect and the thinkers of the past have shaped the current era, leading to many limitations and misunderstandings regarding religious scriptures. Moreover, a lack of understanding of the "law of cause and effect" results in its principles remaining unclear, creating even greater obstacles. This is precisely why contemporary thought often leans toward "Buddhist" philosophy.
To carry forward and perfect future education and moral cultivation, we take the Confucian principles of the Three Bonds, Five Constants, Four Anchors, and Eight Virtues as the standard, incorporating the Christian spirit of universal love to implement all virtuous causes in the human world. Within this framework, we also apply the Daoist concepts of the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams to discern when sentient beings may encounter calamities and when they may enter into blessings.
All of these are interconnected and governed by a certain order. Ultimately, after all sentient beings have undergone the baptism of various religions, it is time for them to return home. Moreover, "returning home" means returning to the original essence of "Qingzhen" (purity and truth). Regarding the essence of "Qingzhen," it is emphasized that in the human world, regardless of the religion one believes in, there should be no distinction made based on the religious practices or actions of one's faith.
Karma is inexorable, yet it can be transcended.
The most important resource for returning home is that sentient beings, regardless of their affiliation with any religious sect or lineage, should learn how to absorb the essence of the five major teachings: Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. It is essential to comprehend the core principles and profound meanings of each religion. This is not about adhering to a single faith alone, as doing so would prevent one from understanding the shortcomings of their own religion.
How can we evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of each religion? If one merely admires one's own faith in isolation, it will create obstacles that hinder future reconciliation and prevent genuine transcendence and elevation. Moreover, it becomes impossible to dissolve the "barrier of scriptural texts" within the religion one believes in. This is among the most difficult obstacles to overcome within the "barriers of doctrine and religion."
Moreover, the greatest limitation that religious faith cannot overcome is precisely this! One must understand the fundamental nature of "not being ignorant of cause and effect." If one merely believes in religion without comprehending the distinctions of karmic cause and effect, they can only be called a "religious believer" and will find it fundamentally difficult to elevate and transcend beyond this state.
In the current era, the global human population is no less than approximately 6.5 billion. Among them, more than half have been exposed to the influence of religious beliefs. However, a majority of these believers fundamentally fail to comprehend the function and operation of 'cause, condition, and effect.' Moreover, due to differences in faith, the processes of spiritual cultivation they undergo vary, leading to divergent experiences.
All sentient beings are not ignorant of cause and effect.
Among the faithful in the world, there are far too many beings who merely bear the name of religious belief and practice. Why is this so? One must understand the habitual tendencies and capacities of beings: they simply follow others in reverence and admiration. Wherever crowds gather and sensations are felt, they flock there in pursuit of faith—all of it is blind worship.
If one lacks any personal insight and struggles to maintain the motivation behind their faith, how can they truly grasp the essence of religious teachings? This inevitably leads to confusion regarding religious scriptures and doctrines. If the initial education and methods of guidance in faith are misguided from the start, how can one later develop a correct faith capable of bringing about transformation?
Moreover, having already erred initially, it is fundamentally impossible to later seek to amend or change, as it has long been deeply ingrained and difficult to shake. Such believers constitute the vast majority. In the compassionate grace of Heaven, the shortcomings and deficiencies of each religion are to be rectified and improved, while their strengths and virtues are to be further promoted and expanded.
Every religion has its shortcomings and inadequacies. Through the works of the "Dadao Series Celestial Books," these deficiencies, shortcomings, and errors are compensated for, corrected, and transformed. Only in this way can genuine practitioners achieve greater elevation and transcendence in their cultivation. The original intention behind the works of the "Yichong Xinzong Lineage—Dadao Series Celestial Books" is to establish a framework for accomplishment based on this guiding principle.
The Merits, Shortcomings, and Distinctive Excellences of the Doctrines in the Five Religions' Classics
Moreover, there is a rare and extraordinary opportunity of profound insight, offered to the general public for reference, enabling greater elevation and transcendence. This opportunity is available to all, regardless of religious sect or lineage. It also requires one to cultivate a broader, more inclusive mindset, to develop a vision that reaches beyond the ordinary, and even to embrace new ways of thinking and concepts, free from the constraints of one's own beliefs.
It is entirely correct to believe that by delving deeply into one's own religion, one can return to the source. However, this is not necessarily always the case. It must be judged by whether each individual applies sincere and diligent effort. Whether one can greatly benefit in the future depends on the correctness of the beliefs and actions within one's own religion.
If one can genuinely uphold the strengths of the "scriptures and doctrines" of their own religion and remedy its shortcomings, then they will understand why the Supreme Deity has authored the "Dadao Series of Celestial Books" and grasp all their intended meanings. You are truly fortunate to encounter such a divine opportunity and auspicious gathering, and to rejoice in this convergence of time and destiny.
To truly attain the most precious firsthand resources in the human world, through the nourishment and growth of the sources of sustenance, will allow you to gain a deeper understanding of how the grace and compassion of Heaven manifest. It is precisely through the cultivation of all virtuous causes and conditions that one can transcend and elevate oneself in this lifetime, ultimately achieving genuine return, benefiting all.
Not forgetting cause and effect as the foundation,  
Cause and effect are unfailing and mutually aligned.
Without distinction of levels or realms, the attainment of fruition truly transcends expectations.
Religions of the human world,  
Their merits and flaws are mutually scrutinized.
The Dadao series serves as a remedy,  
Enabling all beings to leap back to their origin.
This verse is shared to encourage all sentient beings. By striving through human effort, one can achieve greater growth and benefits, and will surely realize that all humanity can progress upward in this very lifetime. It enables the sincere rectification of all past shortcomings, deficiencies, and mistakes. Thank you for accompanying this work. Farewell!
Wuji Daozhen Tianzun
The cause and condition of the Wuji are truly sublime,
The Dao and the True Celestial Worthy mutually complete each other.
The fundamental cause and effect of the Great Dao, elevating beyond to return to the true essence.
All Saints, Buddhas, and virtuous beings, as well as the fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, the Buddhism's Namo Mahavairocana Buddha has personally descended to continue the seventh chapter of "The Great Dao Cause and Effect" for Chongxin's writings. Building upon the previous theme of "Cause and Effect Is Never Obscured," this chapter addresses the shortcomings and deficiencies of sentient beings in relation to "Not Obscuring Cause and Effect," aiming to mutually complement and support one another. It offers everyone greater growth and benefits, and by carefully contemplating its essence, one will gain boundless rewards!
2015, March 8, 19:52 ◎ OK;
Chapter 18: Husband and Wife, Bitter Foes
第廿二回 　  夫妻善改
September 26, 2008, the twenty-seventh day of the seventh lunar month in the year of Wuzi (Friday)
第七回　    因果不昧
Namo Bhaisajyaguru Tathagata, the great path of karma descends to manifest.
A sublime cause and condition unfolds in grandeur,  
Where latent causes stir to form a structure.
Episode 19: The Sin of Extramarital Affair
第廿三回　  父母兒女
September 30, 2008, the second day of the ninth month in the wuzi year (Tuesday)
第八回　   含因起動
The cause and condition for the arising of activity
All actions and behaviors of sentient beings in the human world must first arise from "causes embedded within" before they can enter into "contact with conditions for continuation." Without such contact with conditions, it is difficult to achieve the resulting outcomes. Even after outcomes are realized, there remains room for adjustment and change. Human beings often mistakenly believe that once an outcome is reached, the mutual retribution or consequence can no longer be altered.
It is precisely the most difficult thing for sentient beings to comprehend: the four stages of "containing causes, encountering conditions, achieving results, and repaying karma." Through the activation of containing causes in accordance with true nature, and the necessity formed by human factors, one can recognize this process, thereby gaining growth in knowledge and wisdom, and clarifying mutual interactions within the human world.
Why do all actions and behaviors of sentient beings result in the retribution of cause and effect? This is because the law of karma is integrated into the human world, without distinguishing between good and bad outcomes. It impartially repays human actions as they truly are, thereby bringing about the full cycle of cause and effect for humanity, with all karmic consequences ultimately reclaimed from human beings.
Within the cycle of cause and effect, there exists a corresponding and authentic supporting action. This involves the accumulation of latent causes, allowing conditions to trigger the fruition of karmic retribution. Every sentient being is subject to this process, and likewise, every revered entity—be it saint, deity, immortal, Buddha, Bodhisattva, or exalted truth—is no exception. It makes no difference whether one follows a religion or not; the principle remains the same.
The Fundamental Framework of Causes and Conditions
Since beings on the Earthly Nether Star are born as humans, their every action and movement enters the cycle of cause and effect. This process establishes a framework within their inherent nature, whereby the past deeds of sentient beings manifest as present outcomes, forming a reciprocal relationship of retribution. Most human beings follow this pattern.
The human world exists precisely within such a framework of time, space, and causality. Every sentient being, regardless of the specific circumstances of time and space they enter, is subject to the interplay of karmic retribution. Moreover, regardless of the temporal or spatial conditions, human actions invariably give rise to corresponding consequences, each distinct in its recompense. Thus, through the workings of cause and effect, humanity becomes entangled in the cycle of karma.
It is essential to understand that the initiation of the cycle of cause and effect is based on the inherent nature of causes, which are embedded in the actions and behaviors of all sentient beings. Each individual must first be capable of transforming their own shortcomings, deficiencies, and errors before they can undertake corrective actions. Such corrections precisely serve to elevate all causal actions, addressing one's own inadequacies and mistakes.
Furthermore, for any given time and circumstance, it will generate the fundamental framework for all actions and behaviors, implanted within this present life. Every sentient being is shaped by the karmic actions carried over from past lives, which give rise to this current existence. What, then, is the purpose of being born into this human world in this life and this era? One must understand that in this present life, all accumulated causes from the past will inevitably lead to corresponding actions.
The Role of the Subject in the Cycle of Cause and Effect
Every action from past lives, whether good or bad, yields numerous consequences in the present life. Yet, one no longer remembers the deeds of past lives, finding them difficult to recall, or even lacking any impression at all. If one can calmly reflect on such memories and impressions in the present moment...
There must be traces of memory; if all the processes of past lives could be transplanted into the present world's future video transmissions, memories would be reborn. How then could one understand the karmic causes and effects of every being's past lives? In the "Mirror of the Heavenly Heart, Mirror of the Earthly Heart, Mirror of the Conscience," there have long been far too many identical affinities.
Moreover, it has long been extended throughout the entire universe, allowing this future technological civilization to be displayed in your visual perception through your electronic video transmissions. Furthermore, why is it possible to clearly understand and mutually verify all past actions by re-revealing the memories of previous lives within the content of IC microchips?
At this moment, human beings would no longer persistently argue, "I am a good person and certainly not this kind of person; I have never engaged in such actions or behaviors." Yet, when faced with the revelation of the "Mirror of the Heavenly Heart, the Mirror of the Earthly Heart, and the Mirror of the Conscience," what reflections would arise? Sentient beings often believe themselves to be highly capable, adhering to their own standards of conduct and principles in the human world.
The Foundation of Inherent Nature
Everyone believes they possess great capabilities, but it must be understood that without the blessings accumulated from past lives merging into the present moment, it is likely that many obstacles will arise to one’s current fortune and favorable opportunities. This is the infusion of favorable karma into one’s daily life and actions, and it is especially evident in those with greater blessings, manifesting as a higher quality of life.
To be free from worries about "clothing, food, shelter, transportation, education, and entertainment" is precisely the result of having accumulated ample blessings and merits through generosity in past lives. In this present life, great and abundant fortune and blessings will be added to your current existence. Since the acts of giving from past lives are unseen by oneself, how can one say: "This is also you?"
If one claims that acts of charity and sacrifice in past lives can bring rewards, that would be too arbitrary; most people would likely think, "I have done such things! I am like this!" Adding blessings and fortune to one's own life—such as food, clothing, shelter, education, and leisure—brings greater comfort and convenience, resulting in various forms of added "blessings, sustenance, clothing, shelter, and enjoyment."
All the wealth and blessings that enter into your present life in this world, if enjoyed for too long, will give rise to a rather arrogant state of mind. One will inevitably come to believe that these are the results of one's own abilities and efforts. In such circumstances, many people with deep blessings and abundant fortune hold this perception and mindset.
The function inherent in the fundamental nature
If they were to encounter calamities and misfortunes, they would not harbor such arrogance in their mindset, beliefs, and actions. This is the way of Heaven, which has always been employed, regardless of whether it brings blessings or misfortunes, good or evil, to mutually fulfill sentient beings. How can sentient beings comprehend the "initiation of causes"? It is profoundly difficult to understand.
Every sentient being is subject to the activation of causes. If there is no prior manifestation before the activation of causes, how can it be activated? Thus, the activation of causes, which inherently contains the essence of causation, is precisely the possession of original nature within "emptiness." Yet, what follows after containing these causes? Human beings fundamentally fail to comprehend this!
Before any living being acts, they must first have their own thoughts and ideas, which then give rise to distinctions between good and bad, virtue and evil. Sentient beings, when dealing with human factors, often start with their own thoughts and ideas. However, if these thoughts and ideas are correct, it can greatly reduce the chances of committing evil deeds and suffering from calamities and negative consequences.
If one's own thoughts and perspectives are incorrect and one becomes overly fixated, then suffering will inevitably follow. Such rigid thinking is difficult to change, and all the actions and behaviors of sentient beings will inevitably influence the outcomes shaped by human factors. Can one then possess correct thoughts and perspectives, as well as correct actions and behaviors?
All origins are formed by causes.
The decision to adopt or discard something is made in an instant. Such momentary impulses often arise when karmic cause and effect merge with one's own thoughts, thereby prompting intentions and actions that would not have otherwise occurred. If one can recognize the incorrectness in their thoughts and perspectives, it becomes possible to carefully examine their own experiential process and make necessary adjustments.
Often, it is possible to alter the original cause and effect of retribution, thereby reducing the suffering and torment in the future caused by past actions, evils, and calamities, through the refinement of one's accumulated experiential principles. If one is fully aware of having erred yet remains unable to change, it inevitably leads to the conscious anticipation of the next ordeal and disaster.
What will happen then? Coupled with the mindset of being unable to back down and the forced concern for face and reputation? Such individuals, in the cycle of cause and effect, already deeply understand that it is wrong, yet find it difficult to change. Thus, trapped by their own stubbornness and unwillingness to lose face, they insist on preserving their dignity at all costs, ultimately sowing the seeds of karmic consequences and calamities.
Desiring change is exceedingly difficult, making it hard to eliminate all adversities, and inevitably, all calamities and misfortunes will follow one after another. This serves as a warning to all sentient beings in the vast universe, urging them to bring about change and transformation before karma takes shape, so that they may avoid creating evil calamities and karmic consequences, and instead take action to resolve them.
It is formed by the accumulation of causes and conditions converging through contact.
If one insists on preserving face at all costs, the ensuing actions will inevitably bring about bitter consequences and trials, one after another. By then, it will be too late for regret and suffering. I believe you are wise enough to understand this! Among all sentient beings in this vast world, the most difficult thing to comprehend is why accumulated causes converge through the interplay of conditions and actions.
To clearly understand that causes are predetermined, they have already formed within the void. Does this mean they are incomplete within the void? Not at all! They have long been formed within the void, merely awaiting the convergence of time, space, and conditions to be realized, which then interact with human actions. Moreover, such human behavior must be driven by thoughts and concepts to manifest as actions.
Can you carefully consider whether this is indeed the case? Without thoughts and ideas, how could there be actions and behaviors? That is impossible! It is only after thoughts and ideas arise that they can give rise to actions and behaviors; yet the establishment of thoughts and ideas occurs even before any actions or behaviors take place.
It is simply a matter of awaiting the right time and conditions for future maturation. Sentient beings cannot comprehend why, before any action manifests, a continuum of causal connections arises. This is precisely the process of awaiting the opportunity for future karmic fruition, which makes no distinction between good and bad—both carry their respective rewards and retributions, blessings and misfortunes. This is an eternal, unchanging principle of humanity, serving as a perfectly truthful basis for the future recompense of life’s virtues and vices, merits and faults, fortunes and calamities, without the slightest omission.
In this life, one strives to be human,  
For actions through lifetimes shape the fate that's spun.
Often cast into the mortal realm by karmic retribution,  
Reforming one's thoughts to dissolve deep-seated obstacles.
Causes from past lives continue to the present,  
Awaiting your encounter through destined affinities.
Distinguish the fruits of good and evil,  
The time of recompense for fortune and misfortune, good and bad.
This verse! It is to mutually encourage all sentient beings! By sharing the first part of "Karmic Seeds," we hope that all deities, Buddhas, and students of the Chongxin lineage can support and fulfill one another. May the works of "The Great Dao's Cause and Effect" enable sentient beings to understand the distinctions between "the initiation of karmic seeds, the continuation through triggering conditions, the judgment of outcomes, and the quality of retribution."
It is precisely by integrating all thoughts and concepts regarding one's own actions and behaviors into this! This forms the distinction between "rewarding blessings and retributive misfortunes" in the future, thereby shaping the existence of blessings, misfortunes, rewards, and retributions for all sentient beings. I appreciate your companionship in this work and apologize for the disturbance during our time together in the Chongxin lineage. Farewell, everyone!
The Celestial Worthy of Limitless Wealth and Prosperity
The decree of the Wuji descends upon Chongxin,  
Drawing all to seek prosperity and wealth.
The Heavenly Lord arrives today to take his turn on duty,  
The Great Dao's cause and effect are recorded in the scriptures.
All Saints, Buddhas, virtuous beings, fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Tao Academy, and esteemed students, good evening! Today, we are honored by the sacred descent of one of Buddhism's Five Great Venerable Teachers—Namo Medicine Buddha of the East—who has bestowed upon us the eighth chapter of "The Celestial Book of Great Tao Causality," titled "The Activation of Latent Causes." This will further enable Chongxin to propagate the teachings in the future, allowing this "Celestial Book of Great Tao Causality" to achieve even greater fulfillment and elevation. We extend our heartfelt gratitude for your diligent efforts. May all be auspicious. Farewell for now!
2015, March 8, 1953 ◎＃※ OK;
Episode 20: The Cultivation of Passionate Karma
第廿四回　  兄弟姐妹
October 3, 2008, the fifth day of the ninth month in the Wuzi year (Friday)
第八回　   含因起動
Homage to the Buddha of Boundless Light,  
Whose teachings from the Lapis Lazuli World are recorded.
Episode Twenty-One: The Virtuous Couple
第廿五回　   手足親人
October 7, 2008, the ninth day of the ninth month in the Wuzi year (Tuesday)
第九回  　  觸緣接續
Life in this world is born from the accumulation of causes.
All sentient beings in their growth enter into the "activation of latent causes" through mutual conditions. Without the "condition of contact," it would be impossible to manifest the fruits of karmic retribution. This has been a continuous function and effect spanning millions of years. Within this vast universe, it constitutes the most fundamental principle of existence for all human beings.
Regardless of any nation or religious sect, it is within the human world that the process of "contact conditions" unfolds continuously. By integrating the "fundamental causes" into the "initiation of contact conditions," differences in "resultant outcomes" arise, and thus one bears the "continuous retribution of consequences." This is due to human factors in the human world, which are essential to daily life and routines.
It is precisely due to this circumstance that one never departs from the cycle of cause and effect, where all things mutually revolve. Why then is there the condition of contact, which allows for the continuation of the inherent nature of latent causes? That is, within the realm of seed causes, the inherent nature of latent causes is inevitably activated—this is the fundamental function of seed causes, which enables sentient beings to depend upon and continue their existence.
Sentient beings, in every time and space, share identical functions and roles. Only after the "inherent cause" is activated and "triggering conditions" are connected can "results manifest." This applies universally, without distinction between good and bad, virtue and vice, fortune and misfortune. Such is the condition within the process of "inherent cause being activated and triggering conditions being linked."
The Function of Contact and Continuation
Only through ability can achievements be manifested, and this cannot be separated from the interdependent function of cause and effect. Sentient human beings often believe that the human world is governed solely by karmic retribution. In reality, after the "activation of latent causes," one enters the realm of "contact conditions." Therefore, "contact conditions" serve as the fundamental principle underlying all actions and behaviors.
In any environment or moment, without "contact conditions," there can be no outcome. If viewed through the lens of "contact conditions," these conditions serve as the secondary source that connects all resources and provisions, while the inherent cause is the primary and fundamental essence. Both are formless and intangible, yet they exist as they truly are—merely beyond the direct perception of the human eye.
Thus, secondary resources are also quite important, serving as an indispensable primary cause and condition—precisely what you refer to as the "contact condition" that leads to fruition, that is, the medium. This medium, within the human realm, regardless of whether it may lead to greater growth or benefit in the future, inevitably follows along with every individual's actions and conduct.
In other words, it is the medium of contact. Without such a medium, how could you fully attain the third level in the future and manifest a "result"? This medium can be described as a lubricant, whose role is essential before the achievement of a result. Without the harmonizing effect of this lubricant, there would be no result at all.
The primary merit lies in the continuous connection of causal conditions.
This can be observed through the function of survival orientation; the human survival orientation relies on the necessity of temporal and spatial causes and conditions, as well as environmental shaping. Even when these temporal and spatial causes, conditions, and environmental shaping are fully present, if there is a lack of the lubricant of integration, it becomes impossible to effectively harness functional benefits, thereby making it difficult to achieve fruitful outcomes.
If we observe a tree: even when time, space, conditions, and the growing environment are all in place, it still requires air, sunlight, water, and fertilizer (fertile soil) to have the potential for growth. However, if during its growth it encounters external forces that cause damage, it may wither and fail to develop at all.
Just as a fire, a typhoon, or other factors and human forces can destroy it, causing it to wither prematurely and fail to grow smoothly, this process is quite significant for a small tree. However, for a medium or large tree, human strength is utterly incapable of shaking it, even when the timing, conditions, and environment are all in place.
However, if the process of growth proceeds smoothly, encountering occasional wildfires and typhoon assaults can temper an indestructible, diamond-like resilience. The growth journey of human beings is much the same. Such conditions, after coming into contact with circumstances, apply to the experiential process of every endeavor, revealing that humans and trees are fundamentally alike.
There will inevitably be opportunities in the world to connect and continue.
Human beings apply knowledge, experience, and wisdom to confront all aspects of their living environment. This must first be grounded in thought and concepts—that is, the "initiation of inherent causes" within a person. Only then, through "contact with conditions and continuation," do actions and behaviors arise, forming chains of affairs. Before these chains of affairs can be assembled, there must first be "contact with conditions and continuation."
Whether mutual fulfillment can manifest achievements must be clearly understood: only after "contact and continuation of conditions" can achievements be manifested. Without "contact," there are no achievements. Observe that humans and trees are the same in this regard—only human actions can move about and thus make choices regarding contact, deciding what to accept and what to reject.
However, trees cannot choose what to accept or reject; they must endure the ravages of fires and typhoons, yet they can develop an indestructible resilience. Similarly, human beings must also undergo life’s trials to stand firm and at ease in the world. Through these experiences, they accumulate wisdom and maturity, enabling them to live without want.
Yet they are unable to attain the indestructible diamond body. This is precisely the discernment in the engagement with causal conditions, where humans differ from other sentient beings. The actions and behaviors of all people in the vast world are indeed initiated by the inherent causes within humanity, which come into contact through causal conditions. Such causal conditions serve as the medium. Taking trees as an example: throughout their growth process, they endure the assaults of wind, frost, rain, and snow.
The function of contacting the conditioned nature
Only a sapling has the potential to grow into a great tree. Yet, when observing a flower, its frailty makes it incomparable to a tree, and its lifespan is relatively short. When a batch of flower seeds is planted in the soil, sharing the same time, conditions, and environment, their growth period is comparatively swift.
Through the entire cycle of "spring, summer, autumn, and winter," a flower must sometimes undergo pollination to bloom and bear fruit. It requires the aid of a medium for transmission, as well as pollen to serve as an intermediary to the petals. Additionally, water and sunlight must be regulated appropriately to ensure the necessary conditions. Only then can it swiftly bloom and bear fruit in the future, flourishing into vibrant and radiant beauty.
Furthermore, if the regulation of water is not properly balanced, it becomes difficult to foresee future blossoming and fruiting. The same principle applies to human actions and conduct. Humans receive the essence of their father and the blood of their mother, and after conception, they undergo ten months of gestation before being born into the world. If, during this period, the parents face too many unavoidable hardships, the seed of opportunity for conception and pregnancy may be affected.
It is also difficult to be born as a human after ten months of pregnancy, forming an infant spirit (child) that perishes prematurely before being reborn, without bearing fruit. From the perspective of the human world, it is impossible to fully comprehend the gravity of this matter, and it is challenging to provide the conditions for a balanced birth for such infant (child) spirits. In the present era, the number of such infant spirits (children) who die prematurely is indeed far too great.
Contact Conditions as Medium and Seed Causes
When a baby is born, even if fortunate enough to arrive safely and smoothly, one must also consider the quality of the environment in which they will grow. This relates to the seed cause, as after birth, the infant must have a food chain for sustenance. If the supply in the food chain is insufficient, and both parents have passed away with no one else to offer support, what then will become of them?
This child will face considerable hardship and difficulty in growing to adulthood. The fundamental function of the latent seeds of karma enters the process of "contact-conditioned continuation," where such "contact" serves as the medium. Lacking parental care in life's orientation, and without the support of elders or relatives, the conditions for a comfortable and stable upbringing are sorely lacking.
This is due to the conditions of the medium, which prevent the establishment of a stable and comfortable family life, making it difficult to grow up smoothly and resulting in numerous obstacles to survival. When human beings lack such conditions, what can be done? Often, the seeds of potential are either deliberately destroyed or left to fend for themselves, which is truly pitiable.
However, in the boundless mercy and grace of Heaven, the great virtue of cherishing life should be understood. For all living beings, the food chain provides sustenance, which may transform into other "causal mediums," transferring the responsibility of care to others. Whether the seed cause can yield greater benefits remains unknown, as it inevitably depends on the space available for growth.
The Genesis of Contact and Medium
It is precisely the presence of a "catalyst" as a medium, and this "medium" serves as the starting point of all causes and conditions, that enables sentient beings to derive greater benefits in their daily lives. This is because it stems from the compassion of the Heavenly Sovereign toward all actions within the vast universe. It is rightly said that "Heaven possesses the virtue of nurturing life, Earth possesses the virtue of sustaining life, and humanity possesses the virtue of liberating life."
Human beings possess the virtue of liberating and protecting other sentient beings. By practicing these three principles, we can reduce the killing within the food chain, allowing life orientations to achieve mutual comfort. This means that through the provisions of the food chain, there will be no shortage, enabling a comfortable living environment that benefits all sentient beings.
All sentient beings in the vast universe, after encountering "contact conditions," form diverse environments and spatiotemporal contexts, progressing toward the mutual realization of future virtuous outcomes. Such "contact conditions" also give rise to distinctions between all that is "good and bad, virtuous and evil, fortunate and calamitous." Human factors can further differentiate how these are manifested through people's actions and conduct.
It is the distinction between "good and bad, good and evil, fortune and misfortune." How are all actions and behaviors in the sentient world differentiated and repaid in future time and space through causes and conditions? Human beings often act according to their own deeds, yet differ from the thoughts they themselves hold; thus, what kind of future causes and conditions are formed in the "continuation of contact with conditions"?
The function of the seed cause in contact with conditions
How can one come to understand the future outcomes and their continuity? In human life, is it truly impossible to comprehend the nature of one’s own seeds of cause? Not so! Through one’s actions and conduct, one can elevate and transform these seeds of cause. The necessity of learning and growing upward will then give rise to wholesome conditions that foster growth and bring benefit.
Just as all of you virtuous students, in this temporal and circumstantial environment, have experienced the arrival and writings of many immortal and enlightened teachers, accumulating knowledge and experience that fosters wisdom for future application, such a rare and profound opportunity—difficult to encounter even across countless lifetimes—is something you have already attained and fully embraced in the present moment.
In this situation, how much effort have you individually devoted? How much diligence have you applied? To what extent have you utilized your knowledge? Including how much you have personally advanced? What is the extent of each student's gains and benefits? Precisely because there are differences in levels and grades; you have been able to sacrifice this evening's precious time to absorb the works of the immortal Buddhas and teachers!
By having firsthand mutual understanding and resonance, one can also enhance knowledge and accumulate experiences, which are the exceptional conditions manifested by wisdom. If we observe the future from the present moment, whether greater gains and benefits can be achieved depends on the efforts and improvements we make now. Only through such genuine efforts can you truly benefit and reap rewards in the present moment.
Contact arises from the convergence of conditions;  
Media serve as the bridge for mutual dependence.
Human actions, when encountering conditions, give rise to future outcomes in due time.
All aspects of life are guided by direction,  
Human factors serve to make them evident.
Across all nations and lands of the world,  
The voyage of cause and effect remains the same.
This verse! May it serve as mutual encouragement among all sentient beings! Taking the "contact and continuation of conditions" after the "activation of inherent causes" as a medium leads to greater growth and benefit—this is the true nature of reality! Today marks my first descent to the sacred grounds of the Chongxin lineage, though I have visited Chongxin many times before, yet never had the opportunity to join you all on stage for mutual study! May you all be auspicious. Farewell!
The Celestial Worthy of Infinite Blessings
The Supreme Celestial of Boundless Blessings arrives,
The Chongxin Taoist Sanctuary is divinely ordained.
All esteemed sages and great masters are safe and well;  
May fortune, happiness, wealth, and virtue flourish.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and the fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Tao Academy, good evening! Today, Namo Medicine Buddha has descended for the first time to continue the composition of the ninth chapter of "The Great Tao of Cause and Effect." Following the previous chapter on "The Activation of Latent Causes," this second installment, "The Continuation Through Encountering Conditions," will provide an interconnected exposition aimed at nurturing your thoughts and perspectives.
To ascend to a higher level and deeply comprehend the truth of the universe’s evolution, it is precisely the celestial immortals and buddhas who tirelessly descend to compose these works, offering you broader perspectives and concepts. Next time, we will continue with the completeness of "Fruit and Retribution" following "Causes Touching Conditions," which will be even more truthful! For today, we conclude here. Everyone has worked hard. May all be auspicious, and may blessings be gathered! Farewell!
2015, March 8, 1954. #※ OK;
Ancient Buddha of the Southern Sea
Episode 22: The Virtuous Couple's Reformation
第廿六回　   至親關係
October 10, 2008, the twelfth day of the ninth lunar month in the Wuzi year (Friday)
第九回  　  觸緣接續
The Guardian of the South Sea Protects All Spirits;  
The Ancient Buddha Descends to Reveal the Causes and Effects.
The Great Dao series unveils the cosmos,  
Where achievements and conclusions guide the creation of karma.
Episode 23: Parents and Children
第廿七回　   親戚朋友
October 14, 2008, the 16th day of the ninth month in the wuzi year (Tuesday)
第十回　   成果定論
Sentient beings as the fruit of cultivation.
After humanity came into existence in this world, it has always been subject to the mutual reckoning of cause and effect for all actions taken. Amid this cycle of retribution and repayment, human beings ought to understand the fundamental role of the "essence of inherent causes." Furthermore, they should discern what conditions ought to arise in each specific time and circumstance through causal connections.
To clearly understand survival in the human world, one must recognize the cyclical interplay of "containing causes, encountering conditions, yielding results, and receiving retribution." Thus, the profound truth of Buddhism lies in comprehending the concept of "karmic retribution" essential for sentient beings. Moreover, by understanding the reciprocity of giving kindness and repaying gratitude, virtuous growth can be fostered and transcended.
If the conditions of the vast world and heavens are shaped by human actions, then indeed it is so! Once causes are sown and conditions align, the fundamental effects take form, resulting in good or bad karmic retribution that must be personally endured. This constitutes the cyclical interplay inherent to the human world, distinguishing between good and evil, benefit and harm, fortune and misfortune.
In the human world, after the retribution of cause, condition, and effect is received, how does the "inherent nature of causes" function? It must be understood that in the human world, beyond the cycle of cause and effect and all its compensations, there also exist the environment of "suffering upon suffering," as well as the time and space of "decay and suffering," which are integrated into the action of "impermanence and suffering."
How is the final outcome determined?
Many among them fail to understand how the three types of suffering—the suffering of suffering, the suffering of change, and the suffering of conditioned existence—actually torment people. When it comes to the suffering of suffering, it is difficult to alter the environment; the question is whether human efforts can eliminate the circumstances of such suffering. The adverse conditions of the suffering of suffering are precisely caused by human factors. Why is this so?
One must gain thorough understanding within the human realm: Why do bitter and trying circumstances arise in this very life and this very world? That is to say, what were one’s own actions in past lives? Why can others live with such ease, peace, and comfort? Why is it that one cannot attain such conditions for a comfortable and peaceful life? Thus, each person’s fortune and misfortune differ!
This is the most difficult for sentient beings to comprehend: why are all the hardships of this life connected to the good and bad karma from past lives? It is necessary to cultivate and transform the environment of suffering—this is the true nature of reality! Moreover, one must strive to improve and change the inadequacies in one’s own living conditions.
To transform oneself amidst the suffering of suffering, to eliminate the obstacles of ignorance and the karmic retribution from past lives—this requires immense determination and perseverance within such harsh circumstances. Only then can the inadequacies of a life filled with suffering be rectified. In the human realm, the existence of "the suffering of decay" remains incomprehensible to many beings, who fail to grasp how humanity endures from birth to old age and death.
How to adjust the cultivation of suffering through the lens of definitive results.
At every age, the cycle of renewal and decay is quite evident. Each sentient being begins with the innocence of infancy, followed by the purity of childhood, and then enters society and school to learn about the surrounding world and its conditions. How does this relate to the suffering of impermanence? They then progress through adolescence, youth, early adulthood, middle age, and finally old age.
This is the process of the lingering summer heat at dusk, which illustrates that in the twilight of life, one must understand that no being can possess an unchanging body. From birth to old age and death, the human world remains bound to the same physical form, yet why does suffering and decay arise? The same principle applies to every moment in time and space, following the cyclical pattern of spring’s birth, summer’s growth, autumn’s harvest, and winter’s storage.
In the cyclical motion of each of these links, one can understand the process of a plant's life—how it unfolds and how it transforms with each passing year and season. If we observe through the growth of trees, we can come to realize that the human world operates similarly. Moreover, how does the suffering of decay manifest in the human realm? This suffering of decay ravages all aspects of human existence.
It is merely the cycle of various metabolic processes. Can the human world remain eternal and imperishable? No! It is only the transient journey of a traveler through time and space. If one fails to comprehend the alternation of decay and suffering, it is precisely because one has dwelled too long in this life—amidst the environment, houses, clothes, shoes, vehicles… all of which are but too many.
The achievements of each individual in the world are judged by their results.
I ask you, sentient beings, from your birth until this very moment, how many objects of survival have you already replaced? How much time and space can each object endure, and how long can it remain unbroken and unchanged? It is only that human lifespan, compared to the lifespan of objects, is relatively precious, allowing one to deeply realize that both humans and all things are merely passing travelers through time and space.
To understand the human world, it is precisely a cycle of all renewal and replacement—who can avoid the torment of suffering from decay? None can! And what actions can one rely on? This will inevitably bring the suffering of impermanence into daily life. In the human world, there are some who are born with abundant wealth, sustenance, and various other endowments.
This is a relatively small portion of people; the majority lead rather arduous and busy lives, going through the process of experiencing the good and bad of this present life. Most sentient beings must undergo the process of suffering in action before they can achieve a more comfortable and stable daily life. Incorporating their own perceived notions, they often lack certain blessings due to human factors.
This will give rise to numerous sufferings of conditioned existence due to one's own shortcomings, mistakes, and deficiencies. For those of you who aspire to achieve attainment in this very lifetime, such suffering is particularly profound. When viewed from the perspective of sentient beings, the trials of conditioned suffering represent yet another level of spiritual elevation. Without the suffering of conditioned existence, how could there be the joy of benefiting from it?
How does one endure the suffering of deeds?
Concerning the suffering of practice, one should adopt a mindset that allows for clear understanding of matters, and discern whether one has created psychological barriers oneself. If so, it is essential to be able to let go and see things openly. Each instance of suffering in practice contributes to one’s growth in experience, thus there is no need for a painful examination process. This mindset is one of already having let go, and even being able to break through many obstacles.
When one commits to self-improvement and growth, the suffering of life's journey ceases to exist. How, then, can knowledge and wisdom be applied to establish the three types of suffering in the human world—the suffering of pain, the suffering of change, and the suffering of conditioned existence? One should transform past inadequacies by reframing conclusions about outcomes. As Buddhism teaches: "What is destined to be yours will come in time; what is not meant to be should not be forced."
This is a warning to sentient beings: do not greedily pursue material possessions that are not destined for you, lest you bring disaster upon yourself through unforeseen calamities. For most people, as long as their hopes and desires are not too difficult to fulfill, they should be able to attain them by transforming their mindset and making diligent efforts through action. This can change what was once deemed unattainable in one's destiny.
If this can be achieved, it will truly embody the principle upheld by the Chongxin Sect: "When fate offers no opportunity, create it." This serves as a warning to all disciples to transform the deterministic views of past karma. In the Chongxin Sect, such fatalism is not accepted—it must be changed. When fate offers no opportunity, create it. This principle of creation is about altering the predetermined outcomes of past karma.
Achievement as the Definitive Conclusion
This is a refinement of the "suffering of life, the impermanence of processes, and the inherent instability of existence," aimed at transcending the predetermined outcomes of karma. It enables one to rise above and surpass the cycle of cause and effect, offering a genuine path for those who truly aspire to ascend and transcend. In this way, they can achieve fulfillment without falling into the adverse consequences of predetermined karmic retribution.
It is indeed true that by altering human actions through human factors, sentient beings in this time and space can achieve greater benefits and rewards, as well as attain greater elevation. The transformation of the inherent nature of causes through human behavior and actions, in turn, involves a process where the original essence of causes is refined and adjusted through human conduct.
Thus, if the cause remains unchanged and only the conditions of contact are favorable or adverse, how does this ultimately determine the future outcome? The final outcome must inevitably enter into the realm of retribution, resulting in either good or bad conclusions, and one must personally experience the consequences of cause and effect. This is because the final outcome is altered and adjusted through human factors, a notion that ordinary sentient beings find difficult to believe.
Variations in the Outcome of Settled Situations
It is possible to undertake cultivation and transformation before the results manifest. However, when retribution is judged into distinctions of good and evil, fortune and misfortune, the human world often fails to appreciate with heartfelt understanding the profound care of Heaven and the enlightened teachers. Ordinary thoughts and concepts cannot grasp this; yet, even after the accumulation of human factors leads to karmic consequences, there remains room for redemption.
Judging fortune and misfortune should be based on human factors; it is correct to rectify by eliminating past negative errors. In the past, ignorance inevitably led to mistakes. Now that knowledge, experience, and wisdom have all been elevated, if one still applies learned knowledge as in the past, it would be of no use.
One must understand the cautionary principle that "Bodhisattvas fear causes, while ordinary beings fear effects." Bodhisattvas sever negative cycles at the stage of causes, whereas ordinary beings attempt to sever them at the stage of effects. Yet, even after dealing with effects, retribution continues to follow. If one still fails to break free from negative karma at the stage of effects, it is inevitable that one will fall into the realm of evil consequences and retribution.
Bodhisattvas fear the cause and sever it at the root,  
While ordinary beings fear the consequence and sever it at the fruit.
Compensation standards may be difficult to change immediately, but mindsets and attitudes must transform.
The inception of karma and retribution,  
After retribution, return to the origin of cause.
Cause contains effect, effect contains cause,
Such is the world of human affairs.
This verse! Let us encourage one another, all sentient beings! To truly transform the "certainty of karmic retribution," and to reduce the essence of underlying causes, so that all outcomes after encountering conditions are determined, distinguishing the difference between good and bad in the future, providing sentient beings with a reference to encourage one another. Thank you all for your hard work, and for troubling the Chongxin lineage for a while. Farewell!
The Celestial Worthy of the Supreme Ultimate and Perfect Dao
Profound and deep are the causes and conditions of the Wuji;  
Upon the completion of the Dao, the platform ascends to elucidate its structure.
The Celestial Venerable gathered with the divine and human beings,  
Where the discourse on karma and destiny was determined.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and fellow students of the Wuji Great Tao Academy, good evening! Today, the presiding immortal Buddha of the Great Tao series, the Ancient Buddha of the South Sea, has once again descended to compose the tenth chapter of "The Cause and Effect of the Great Tao." This chapter elevates the analysis of "the finality of outcomes" to a greater depth, with the hope that all divine beings and individuals may understand the importance of cultivation, rectification, and transformation before outcomes are irrevocably determined.
Can one distinguish the outcomes as good or bad, virtuous or evil, fortunate or disastrous? The optimal approach for human factors to determine causes lies in the outcomes themselves. Yet, in the human world, it is often difficult to grasp the intricacies of how this works. Consequently, one may fall into the cycle of unfavorable karmic retribution. So, how can one transform their mindset, perspectives, and responses? This is the most crucial factor in altering the outcomes.
2015, March 8, 1954 ◎＃※ OK;
Ancient Buddha Nanping Daoji
Episode Twenty-Four: Brothers and Sisters
第廿八回　   同儕朋友
October 17, 2008, the nineteenth day of the ninth month in the Wuzi year (Friday)
第十回　   成果定論
Truly a rare sight in the mortal realm,  
The Chongxin Dharma Assembly bestows grace upon all.
A perfect success in guiding the primordial spirits across, celebrating the manifestation of the Great Way in its sixth phase.
Chapter 11: Puhua Fulfills a Destiny (Judgment and Retribution)
How should the debt of karma from universal transformation be repaid?
After sentient beings enter the world of human life, they often develop a mindset that recognizes only the concept of "cause and effect," yet fails to comprehend the intricate details within this framework. They find it even more difficult to clearly understand the transformation of karma and the settlement of retribution, often encountering numerous obstacles born of ignorance.
Moreover, one creates difficulties for oneself that hinder progress. Once the retribution determined by karma has solidified into outcomes, how can one then alter the obstacles and issues within oneself through these very outcomes? This is the hardest aspect for sentient beings to comprehend: why, even after entering the realm of karmic retribution, is it still possible to effect change and find room for adjustment? It seems almost impossible!
It is precisely that sentient beings in the present age are unable to comprehend the root of their afflictions. Most people only recognize the term "cause and effect" when it comes to the cyclical interplay of causes, conditions, and retributions, yet they fundamentally fail to understand how the process shaped by these causes and conditions actually transforms. All they know is that human beings are subject to "cause and effect."
Without a fundamental understanding of the inner details and processes, it becomes exceedingly difficult to alter the course of all problems. Consequently, one may sink into repeated cycles of downfall. This is precisely why sentient beings find it hardest to break free from limitations and obstacles. Moreover, these limitations and obstacles act as an invisible, destructive force upon sentient beings.
Clarifying the Origins and Consequences of Retribution
How many can truly penetrate and transcend within the cycle of cause and effect? This is the wisdom possessed by the great enlightened ones. And how is retribution determined? Once caught in the cycle of karmic repayment, the human world finds it difficult to rise above the issue of retribution. Often, it is mistakenly believed that the human realm is merely a place where creditors and debtors settle scores.
However, many are unaware that throughout countless lifetimes, all sentient beings experience the cyclical interplay of cause and effect. Often, many blessings are added to their lives. How, then, are such blessings for the welfare of humanity increased? They are based on evidence from past actions; such blessings do not arise without reason. If they appear without cause, they are only fleeting.
This is to increase the fortune and wealth of sentient beings. However, when their blessings are abundant, human beings often believe that their achievements are the result of their own efforts and good fortune. They may think themselves exceptionally capable, frequently committing evil deeds amidst their blessings and accumulating karmic debts while enjoying prosperity.
To have the enduring causes and conditions for lasting happiness, the favorable circumstances may be greatly diminished. Why is it that sentient beings often receive such blessings? This stems from the accumulation of virtuous causes and conditions over countless lifetimes. Can one truly comprehend this? Not necessarily! Yet, it is often through the cultivation of a practitioner that such blessings are augmented.
The Fundamental Conditions for Universal Transformation
They will thus be more measured, and will carefully guard their actions, better able to cherish their blessings. However, when ordinary beings view such blessings, they often take them for granted as something they inherently deserve. Those with great good fortune may become arrogant and look down on others, believing their blessings to be exceptionally profound.
If one abuses power and creates many karmic obstacles, and moreover fails to cherish their blessings, suffering may soon follow to torment them. When living beings in the present moment believe their fortune and retribution to be profound, they must cherish it all the more, for such rare and extraordinary affinities accumulated over countless lifetimes are truly hard to come by.
Granting blessings to oneself can ensure these fortunes are sustained for a longer term. The profound principle of karma in the human world should be kept in mind, and one must cautiously cherish the grace bestowed by Heaven or the divine beings. This is the conduct of you all in the mortal realm, and it relates to the karmic retribution from your past lives, accumulated over many lifetimes, as well as the causes and effects in your present existence.
Integrating into one's own life, it is through human actions that a universal and transformative educational curriculum is established. In response to your diligent dedication, selflessness, and non-action, such conduct adds to your sacrifices and contributions, as well as the selfless and non-action efforts you have made. Thus, educational and cultural courses emerge to caution and awaken all sentient beings.
Universal education is a precious treasure.
It is essential to cherish every moment and opportunity bestowed by Heaven and safeguarded by the divine beings, as they bring greater efficacy and benefits. Through one's actions and conduct, one can transform the accumulated negative karma from the past, which is an undeniable truth.
Such universal salvation, universal giving, and universal transformation through education benefit both the realms of yin and yang, and can increase one's hidden virtues. Can you understand that the Heavens and the immortal Buddhas and teachers have repeatedly granted you opportunities to perform meritorious deeds and fulfill your vows? This is regarded by the Heavens as the most fundamental and essential course, as well as a means of education and transformation for elevation.
Ordinary people often believe that in the human world, aside from the retribution from karmic creditors, there is essentially no additional fortune or blessings to be gained. This is the common perception. However, through such educational and universal teachings, it is possible for you to reform the negative karmic seeds from the past. For you, the present moment represents a tremendous opportunity bestowed by Heaven.
Without such a divine opportunity and favorable conditions, how could you swiftly accumulate the true rewards of fulfilling your vows through meritorious deeds? This is precisely a "cycle of goodness"—an educational and transformative process that enables greater growth and elevation. Without such growth, you would merely be counted among those who claim to practice genuine cultivation within religious scriptures.
Retribution, Judgment, and Distinction
How does one perceive one's own knowledge and beliefs? From the perspective of immortals and Buddhas, aspiring to attain the fruit of Buddhahood in a single lifetime is likely more difficult than ascending to the heavens. Whether you seek to achieve this in one lifetime or over many lifetimes depends on your mindset, beliefs, and actions, which will determine the extent of your growth and elevation.
Yet in the past, there was no such divine opportunity or auspicious affinity. One had to wait through life after life before being reborn as a human again, and it was rare to encounter such an extraordinary and profound cause. Regarding your present actions and conduct, it is imperative to reform and transform your own thoughts and concepts. It can be said now: such behaviors, actions, and ideologies must be reflected upon.
The celestial and Buddha teachers have repeatedly emphasized their demands. You have gradually come to understand the profound care and dedication behind their intentions, allowing them to carry out their teachings with peace of mind. This has been achieved through twelve years of diligent effort within the Chongxin lineage. Whether this will result in a favorable or unfavorable outcome in terms of retribution is yet to be determined. Do you hope for a benevolent retribution in the future? Or not?
As long as there is a glimmer of hope, one must strive diligently, remain earnest, and hold firm in resolve—only then can success be possible. Within this process, there will be numerous trials and tests, enabling one to pass the trials of heaven time and again, proving the genuine cultivation and effort among you. Through each successive trial, one ascends step by step toward elevation.
The voyage of the heart's devotion is now set to sail.
However, for some of you, if a slight examination or test were to be applied, I fear that a portion might find it difficult to accept, and would likely say, "We won't come anymore!" Are there such people? Yes, there are! In fact, they may even constitute a significant majority. In all your efforts, if you can strengthen your resolve and perseverance, and deepen your determination, you will be able to achieve the mission through action.
May your efforts earn the recognition and fulfill the expectations of Heaven and the enlightened teachers of immortals and Buddhas. Together, let us board the "Chongxin Dharma Vessel" to return and transcend to the Wuji Heavenly Realm, ultimately arriving at the pure land of the Void Treasure World. Do you wish for this? Yes! But do not answer too hastily—this requires unwavering determination and a lifetime of dedicated effort.
Moreover, achieving this requires immense determination, perseverance, and arduous effort. Do not complain or grumble at the slightest test or trial—how could one possibly ascend and transcend that way? It is impossible! One must hold firm with unwavering resolve, even gritting one's teeth, and dedicate a lifetime to sacrifice, service to the masses, and selfless, unattached devotion.
I wonder if you are able to view and transcend all material enjoyments and possessions in the human world. If you cannot let go of these attachments, and when the time comes for you to return, you still cling tightly to these material things, wouldn't it be too heavy for the immortal and buddha teachers to guide you back? If the immortals and buddhas cannot pull you along, do such beings exist?
The Retribution Hall determines what is taken and what is forsaken.
Not entirely! Do you still wish to return to the heavenly home? Is that possible? Through one's own efforts in conduct and actions, one must discard the strange habits and peculiar temperaments. Therefore, you must strive to amend your own undesirable habits, tendencies, inherent nature, and foul character. At times, the Heavens and the immortal Buddhas, as teachers, must examine how the students' achievements measure up.
With just a slight test, a bit of hardship, or a challenge to assess the students' cultivation and performance, the results become clear. There will inevitably be some who consider themselves students, yet when others show even a hint of displeasure toward them, or unintentionally say something that inadvertently wounds them, their true nature is revealed.
It is just as the Taiwanese saying goes—"When one's mood is low, they become temperamental," meaning "to act on one's temper—to throw a tantrum," and then bid farewell to the immortal and buddha teachers, saying, "I'm not coming back anymore!" This is caused by human factors; the immortals and buddhas do not intervene but merely observe from the sidelines. From this, one can understand that each person's habits, inertia, personality, and innate nature are quite flawed.
Such individuals, referred to as religious practitioners and students, are truly like rotten wood that cannot be carved—they have abandoned an opportunity for achievement and return, which is truly unacceptable! They cannot withstand even the slightest test or examination. How can one know each person's results? Are you passing? This is something that can be understood by examining all of humanity at once.
Rewards and judgments are self-determined,  
Whether one strives or not, all is fitting.
The interplay of cause, condition, and effect must be clearly understood,  
For merely knowing cause and effect is difficult to fully comprehend.
The beginning of the process of containing causes  
Requires mutual nourishment through the condition of contact.
The outcome has now come to distinguish,  
Reward and retribution judge good and bad to the end.
This verse! It offers all sentient beings a broader perspective and greater concepts. Through your own efforts, you can inspire one another among all humanity, leading to greater benefits. Today, your teacher has returned once more! How do you wish to receive blessings? An increase in wisdom, a touch more good fortune—would you like them? Bring them forth quickly!
A little more will suffice—add some energy, then some wisdom, and then some fortune. How do you feel? Later, there will be drinks as well! Do not envy! Today's universal offering ceremony has been quite successful. Everyone has been very dedicated and hardworking, which is truly commendable. Later, the Chairman will present rewards. Farewell!
Chairman of Chongxin, Emperor Wengheng
On the auspicious day of the eighth day of the eighth month, the Wuzi year brings forth a compassionate heart for universal giving.
Together we celebrate the great auspiciousness of all sentient beings, offering congratulations on the occasion of Father's Day.
Good evening to all the saints, Buddhas, virtuous beings, the practitioners of the Wuji Great Tao Academy, and the academy's scholars! Today, the principal guiding immortal of the Great Tao series, the Ancient Buddha of Nanping Daoji, has once again descended to compose the eleventh chapter of "The Cause and Effect of the Great Tao," titled "Universal Transformation into Karmic Connections—The Judgment of Retribution." This brings immense joy, as the Chongxin lineage is currently conducting a universal Dharma assembly in the year of Wuzi.
All students have worked tirelessly and diligently for over a week or two without rest. We appreciate your cooperation. The Chongxin lineage requires everyone to strive together to promote and expand the dissemination of the "Dadao Series Celestial Books," as well as to guide more virtuous connections to return and contribute earnestly. Thank you all for your hard work. May everything be auspicious. Farewell!
2015, March 8, 19:55 ◎＃※ OK;
Episode 25: Kin of Flesh and Blood
第廿九回  　 福氣貴人
October 21, 2008, the twenty-third day of the ninth lunar month in the year of Wuzi (Tuesday)
第十回　   成果定論
Namo to the boundless transmigration of all beings,  
The supreme virtue of the highest sage descends to speak.
The Ancient Buddha of Humanity and Heaven writes of cause and effect,  
Clearly distinguishing the rewards and retributions of good and evil.
Episode 26: The Bond of Kin
第三十回　  小人惡禍
October 24, 2008, the twenty-sixth day of the ninth month in the year of Wuzi (Friday)
第十二回 　  好壞報償
Rewards and retributions are meted out according to good and evil.
When sentient beings enter the human world, many of their experiences are shaped by human actions, leading to distinctions between good and bad. Particularly among people, it often happens that a single word or event, due to differing perspectives, turns into mutual enmity. Such conditions of cause and effect remain unchanged, whether in the present era or the past.
Yet in today's age, this is even more pronounced, for a single incident or a single unpleasant remark can lead to mutual discontent, resulting in irreparable flaws and wounds. Under such circumstances, if one fails to reflect upon and transform their own thoughts and temperament, it is likely that many originally virtuous connections will turn into numerous adversaries.
Often, a single incident or a displeasing remark can lead one to look down on others as utterly worthless. In such cases, it is essential to reflect on why human beings have such emotional reactions. One must work on tempering their own peculiar and irritable disposition, and address their own faults, shortcomings, and deficiencies to correct them. Only then can close friends avoid becoming strangers.
Can one reflect in this way on one's own erroneous, harmful thoughts and temper? Observing such human beings, it often happens in life that when encountering even the slightest unpleasantness or displeasure, they turn originally good affinities into enmity. Such situations are all too common nowadays, and people fail to cherish these rare and precious wholesome connections.
Rewards and Retributions for Good and Evil
It is essential to possess genuine magnanimity. When encountering any situation or statement that does not align appropriately, one must correct the mistakes, deficiencies, and shortcomings—this is the right path. Sentient beings often believe they have done nothing wrong or made no mistakes, wondering why they should take a step back to accommodate others. They think, "All of this is the other party's fault, which is why I acted this way."
For sentient beings in the current era, viewed through the lens of this time and space: it is common to commit unwholesome actions, often forming negative connections with others. Through their own mistaken deeds, they instead believe themselves to be faultless and without error, considering themselves truly good people, yet they are tormented by their own unwholesome temperaments.
However, such good people often make mistakes, especially when they find something or a statement disagreeable and both parties hold conflicting attitudes. This can lead to a state of emotional discomfort. In such situations, what exactly constitutes emotional discomfort? Human beings frequently experience many forms of emotional discomfort.
That is to say, when one is in a state of displeasure, what about one's own habits, inertia, innate nature, and personality? If observed from the perspective of time, space, causes, and conditions, what happens when one experiences extreme emotional discomfort? It becomes a rather significant destructive force. This profound emotional discomfort is, in fact, the fundamental disposition that has existed within humanity since ancient times.
Reflections of Human Emotions
Among human factor errors, it is common for individuals to adhere to their own perspectives and believe that they are absolutely correct, while attributing all faults and mistakes to others, which often leads to situations spiraling out of control. Why do humans exhibit such emotional reactions? This stems from the discomfort within human emotions, creating distinctions between positive and negative emotional states.
When feeling emotionally uncomfortable, why does the distinction between good and bad arise? This often stems from whether something said or done is pleasant or unpleasant to hear, which influences the judgment of what is good or bad in a situation. The attitude of moderation also plays a significant role. If the other party’s attitude is poor and their words are sharp, this further complicates matters.
It is believed that every sentient being would feel quite displeased and even more so, resentful, thus leading to confrontations. Everyone has their own personality and temper, so how should one manage their own discomfort? How can one address the root of the problem? Why is it that in the human world, matters are often distinguished as good or bad amidst such emotional discomfort?
This often arises in the following manner: emotional reactions can diverge into two extremes, and human factors frequently introduce personal biases. When favorable conditions are present, such emotional responses may align with many virtuous causes. However, if one mixes in peculiar temperaments and odd dispositions, the outcome may not necessarily be favorable. Why is this so?
Sentient beings differentiate through emotions.
All human beings perceive and act based on their own emotional reactions. Every principle of conduct involves applying previously formed concepts to the handling of affairs. If, in this process, negative karma arises, it may lead to enmity and even violent confrontation, resulting in mutual harm. This, in turn, can give rise to adverse consequences in the future or in the next life.
In such circumstances, how should humanity resolve such matters? If one acts based on personal convictions and resorts to retaliation through violence, no favorable outcome can be expected. This only perpetuates an endless cycle of vengeance, all while stubbornly insisting that one bears no fault whatsoever.
It was precisely because the other party had gone too far, provoking with harsh words and displaying an arrogant, even domineering and unreasonable attitude. If neither side was willing to back down, and their anger remained unabated, leading to even greater loss of life, such grievances and debts would continue to accumulate. How could this be resolved? Indeed, it was a most vexing problem.
From the perspective of human factors, why does such a situation arise? One must examine the karmic causes and effects from past lives. Moreover, sentient beings often respond to the distinctions between good and bad in the present moment, which frequently leads to situations that become difficult to resolve. Additionally, the necessity of behavioral standards in the human world is underscored, as humans often engage in improper actions.
All functions are rewarded with good or bad accordingly.
Thus, all past thoughts and concepts merge into present actions and behaviors; this is the accumulation of experience that leads to the unfolding of events. Every sentient being exists in this life due to all the good and bad, virtuous and unwholesome causes and conditions from past lives. After birth, each person receives different teachings and education, which in turn shapes varying perspectives and interpretations of events.
In the course of life, every human being must interact with their family and the outside world. No individual can live in complete isolation, especially in our current era, which is characterized by collective and communal living. While contributing to the sustenance and well-being of the community, each person fulfills distinct functional roles and brings unique benefits.
Sentient beings, after entering the human realm, contribute their own strength to society or the nation. Each being is like "a blade of grass with a drop of dew"—none can truly escape communal life. The only exceptions are those with exceptional abilities, abundant wealth, or dedicated practitioners.
Without relying on others for the food chain or the chain of affairs, such individuals detach themselves from the communal life of humanity and are able to survive in solitude. This reduces the many necessities of human life, such as the food chain and the chain of affairs, thereby diminishing numerous conditions for sustenance. Consequently, in terms of "clothing, food, shelter, transportation, education, and recreation," convenience, comfort, and accessibility are significantly reduced.
Humanity's Pursuit of a Comfortable Life
Such individuals also reduce many demands within the chain of affairs and the food chain, which were originally fulfilled in the aspects of "clothing, food, shelter, transportation, education, and entertainment." From this perspective, it can be observed that sentient beings are capable of living in solitude; however, without broader needs and desires, they often experience a sense of loneliness that is difficult to dispel. Such people lack the mutual interdependence inherent in communal living.
What do you think of this? Among some religious practitioners who are inclined toward genuine cultivation and practice, those who aspire to transcend life and death in this regard tend to reduce their involvement in the food chain and the chain of worldly affairs. They set their sights on greater goals and also diminish opportunities for both good and bad retributions. When favorable or adverse conditions arise, they discern and respond through their own knowledge and perspectives, judging their actions accordingly.
How does one delineate the beginning and end of a process? This process is distinguished by human factors, and what concepts and methods should be applied? For each matter, it is not distinguished by whether it is a good cause, good conditions, leading to good results and good retribution, or a bad cause, bad conditions, leading to bad results and bad retribution.
It is essential for both parties to maintain a sincere attitude, as well as to express themselves with kind words rather than harsh ones. The combination of good words and good speech versus bad words and bad speech results in a clear distinction between good and bad outcomes. Human beings are quite sensitive to matters, but whether they can observe and perceive with greater subtlety is not necessarily guaranteed.
The Interdependent Causes and Conditions of Good and Bad Retribution
It is also common to judge by appearances rather than by substance. When forming an understanding of any matter, relying solely on outward appearances can easily lead to irreparable flaws, as well as numerous misfortunes and losses. Moreover, since human factors often play a decisive role, how should one observe the full context of an event? That is to say, how should one perceive the inner essence it contains?
This is the most difficult issue for human beings to comprehend, a subtle matter of observation that requires keen discernment. It is also essential to strengthen this virtuous attitude and capacity for communication to make distinctions. How should one apply virtuous attitude and communication as a foundation? This will determine the outcomes of all future retributions, whether good or bad.
People often believe that their own perspective is quite correct, always placing themselves at the center. If something is based on their own beliefs, it is deemed right. However, it is essential to understand why the ideas they hold often lead to many irreparable flaws. Why is it necessary to support one's views with careful observation and sound judgment?
Can you possess such energy? Not necessarily! In the process of adhering to one's own convictions, one often creates obstacles that hinder self-improvement and fails to realize that the human world is precisely the realm of reality for cultivation and transformation. If every being is solely preoccupied with the five activities of "eating, drinking, excreting, miscellaneous affairs, and sleeping," what else can be achieved?
The Distinction Between Retribution and Recompense
If one can truly integrate their "body, spirit, and inner self," sentient beings may believe their own perspectives to be entirely correct, but this is not necessarily so. The karmic connections from past lives and the current living environment, combined with knowledge, experience, wisdom, attitudes, and beliefs, give rise to a wide variety of behaviors.
Why do human beings differentiate into many levels, states, and levels of cultivation? How is it to be achieved according to the desires of human beings? Only then can one demand of oneself: how is it to be done? Whether one can attain all the processes one desires depends on the orientation of your life, which becomes the dividing point in whether future goals can be achieved.
Sentient beings often possess grand aspirations, immense strength, and clear direction. However, as time and circumstances change, they may not diligently pursue the great vows they have set for themselves. Their efforts often result in strong aspirations but insufficient execution, lacking the unwavering determination, perseverance, and enduring strength necessary to fulfill their grand vows.
It is precisely because of significant shortcomings and inadequacies that such grand aspirations are not in any way wrong or mistaken; they are merely misled by insufficient understanding and effort on our part. It is truly regrettable that people often act this way! Making a vow yet struggling to fulfill it—if one could receive good rewards, it would be the most delightful thing for humanity, a wish that brings joy and satisfaction.
The distinction between good and evil retribution.
In such circumstances, humans often lose themselves in the pursuit of desires. When faced with the consequences of their negative actions, they frequently wear bitter expressions and appear deeply displeased—as the saying goes in the human world, as if everyone owes them something. This bitterness and sour countenance reflect their inner state, simultaneously manifesting on their faces.
In the human world, there is no distinction: "good and bad, bad and good, kindness and evil, evil and kindness, fortune and misfortune, misfortune and fortune"—all are merely transient manifestations of causes and conditions in time and space. How can one skillfully apply knowledge and experience to bring about transformation and change? This is the essence of elevating wisdom. Why do sentient beings encounter a series of unfavorable circumstances and misfortunes to endure?
One must first reflect on where one's own shortcomings, deficiencies, and mistakes lie. By understanding the causes and consequences, one can reform and transform these misfortunes and dissatisfactions. This is the true way to dissolve the retribution of bad luck and unpleasant events. Through such reflection and examination, many otherwise insurmountable obstacles can be reduced.
The human world fundamentally revolves around "emotions and reason, morality and righteousness." When faced with inadequacies in wealth or relationships, the true path lies in overcoming obstacles by addressing one's own shortcomings, deficiencies, and mistakes through personal effort. Only by striving to transform and attain what is needed can one secure a stable and comfortable existence—this is the rightful way.
Good and bad karma are but a process;  
Fortune and misfortune have long since been born.
Human actions are distinguished as good or evil,  
Reward and retribution are meted out accordingly.
The bond between parents and children arises from such causes,  
and the good union of husband and wife is also thus formed.
Brothers and sisters are all alike;  
Future descendants will be even more true to this nature.
This verse is shared with all sentient beings for mutual encouragement! May we distinguish between good and bad retributions, and in the future, receive the rewards of good fortune and virtuous karma, rather than the retribution of misfortune and evil. I hope that everyone may attain auspicious blessings and avoid calamities and disasters. Thank you all, and I appreciate your companionship in this endeavor. Farewell!
The Heavenly Lord of the Boundless Good Path
Venerable Supreme Virtue Ancient Buddha, the True Presiding Master of the Chongxin Dao Lineage
The book of cause and effect descends,  
Recording retribution for good and evil in due time.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous students, and fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Tao Academy, good evening! Today, the Great Tao Karma Master, the True Presiding Master of the Immortal-Buddha Lineage—the Ancient Buddha of the Virtuous Human Heaven in the Void, also known as the Void Master—has descended to compose the twelfth chapter of "Great Tao Karma." This chapter further distinguishes the differences between good and bad retributions, offering a more detailed analysis to provide everyone with a deeper understanding of virtuous realization.
The treatise on the great path of cause and effect has been completed. We will now gradually delve into the essence of exemplary cases, where everyone can listen to the process of the immortals and buddhas' writings, which will bring you even greater gains. This is analyzed in the third monumental volume of the "Great Path Series Celestial Books" by the Chongxin Sect—the twenty-fifth volume—offering you boundless benefits. Thank you all for your hard work. May everything be auspicious. Farewell!
2015, March 8, 1957 ◎＃※  OK;
Chapter Twenty-Seven: Relatives and Friends
第三十回　  小人惡禍
October 7, 2008, the ninth day of the ninth lunar month in the wuzi year (Tuesday)
第十二回 　  好壞報償
Homage to the supreme spirits of all beings,  
The Lamp-Lighting Heart Dharma is newly kindled.
The Ancient Buddha descended to compose thirteen chapters,  
On the karma and grace of parental bonds and affection.
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Friends and Companions
第三十回　  小人惡禍
November 4, 2008, the seventh day of the tenth month in the wuzi year (Tuesday)
第十三回  　 父母因緣
How Sentient Beings Choose Their Own Parents
Since one cannot fully comprehend the karmic conditions that lead to the choice of one's parents, how can one then become their descendants? If there were no karmic connections from past or accumulated lifetimes with the parents, it would be difficult to become their offspring and continue the family lineage. Therefore, in the human realm, the distinction between virtuous and malevolent karmic conditions determines whether one's relationship with descendants is founded on benevolent virtue or harmful misfortune.
Some come to repay kindness, others to settle debts, and still others share a peaceful and harmonious bond. Why do human beings live together with their parents through this connection, experiencing daily life and growth while continuing the family lineage? And why does it come to pass that in the future, distinctions arise between good and evil, fortune and misfortune?
It often manifests that the retribution for good and evil is experienced and repaid in daily life, as a consequence of the blessings and misfortunes from past lives. Sentient beings, after entering the human world, grow up under the nurture and education of their parents. This upbringing carries the habitual influences of the parents, which frequently affect all aspects of the lifestyle of their descendants.
It is precisely the influence of "leading by example and teaching through words" on the living environment that is also crucial to "discipline and guidance." The humanistic approach to survival is based on the premise that when both parents possess excellent DNA, their descendants will also be outstanding. This genetic essence is what modern people refer to as the "DNA" of genes.
The Fundamental Framework of Parental Causality
Different growth environments lead to varied future achievements. If parents possess relatively stable DNA, they tend to produce stable offspring. Conversely, if parents have less favorable DNA, their descendants may be influenced by the parents' upbringing and education. This reflects the ancient saying: "Like father, like son."
Even when produced from the same mold, parents give rise to distinct individuals—yet all share common traits. As the ancient saying goes, "Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and the children of mice are born to dig holes." This worldly proverb reflects a truth: the habitual actions of parents inevitably shape every habitual action of their children.
The physical and verbal teachings, as well as the behaviors and actions of parents, all influence the learning and imitation of their descendants. Moreover, the differential effects of the environment also shape the future dispositions and distinctions of children. If parents possess commendable habits, ingrained tendencies, inherent nature, and character, the offspring they produce will inevitably be similarly commendable.
If parents possess mediocre dispositions, their descendants will likely be similar. Should the parents' habits be particularly poor and remain unchangeable, it is fundamentally impossible to expect fine descendants; genetic mutations that bring improvement are exceedingly rare. Only through the accumulation of "significant hidden virtue" could such a transformation become possible.
The bond between parents and children is a fate not easily chosen.
Only with such a genetic mutation is it possible. As for parents: their habits, inertia, personality, and innate nature—what they are, so will their descendants be. It is precisely like products made from the same mold, and also the crystallization of a couple, forming two individuals, male and female, each with a fifty percent chance of inheriting traits from either parent. This is precisely the outcome of the union between male and female, between heaven and earth.
When there is the union of yin and yang, offspring are born from the father's essence and the mother's blood, which relates to the essence of one's own genetic makeup. Human actions and behaviors come into play when individuals are matched in marriage to become husband and wife. The nature of these spouses—their habits, tendencies, inherent qualities, and personalities—determines the kind of descendants that will be produced.
How is the process of parents' creation distinguished? It can be categorized into three types of karmic conditions: "virtuous, ordinary (compliant), and wicked." Within these three types, there are further distinctions of no less than thirty varieties, each with over twelve subtypes. In total, it can be roughly divided in this manner, with these three alone encompassing more than thirty-six distinctions.
If, in the course of living, one accumulates a greater share of virtuous karma, it gives rise to what is commonly described as "a fine shoot sprouting from a poor bamboo"—that is, a child surpassing their parents. The inherent nature of parental genes may also improve through mutation. Even if the blessings and favorable conditions of the parents are modest and not abundant, the ability to produce ordinary yet stable descendants is already quite commendable.
The quality of one's parents is shaped by the interplay of causes and conditions.
If the parents have committed many wrongdoings and fail to change their ways, creating a cycle of grievances and retribution, some of those who have been wronged may, in the future, be reborn as karmic creditors within their own families—as descendants. They will inevitably bring great suffering and torment to repay the karmic debts owed from past lives.
Regarding whether one can choose the goodness or baseness of their past-life karma, or select their own descendants—no, it is not possible! Or perhaps choose parents who are relatively wealthy and virtuous? That is also impossible! It is precisely based on one’s own past-life karma that one may be reborn into your family in this life, and it must be with those with whom you shared either favorable or unfavorable karma in past lives.
Only when one is born into your family as a descendant will they inherit their parents' profession and all their lifestyle habits. Coupled with each individual's predispositions and tendencies from past lives, these elements collectively shape every person's habits and temperament in this life and this world—that is, the genetic inheritance, which is absolutely impossible to change in an instant!
Furthermore, whether parents can transform and refine themselves, thereby influencing the descendants through altering and transforming negative genetic predispositions into virtuous and moral ones, requires significant opportunities and conditions. This also depends on the parents' own willingness to undertake and improve, as well as the accumulation of substantial hidden merits and virtuous karma, which are essential for achieving such a goal.
How to Have Good Descendants
Generally, people are less aware that their future descendants, before they are even conceived, can have their genetic essence altered! It is essential to first cultivate "virtue and hidden merits" through accumulation and dedication. Regardless of what kind of descendants may arise in the future, this practice should significantly reduce harm and mitigate the heavy karmic debts that might otherwise be incurred, averting all forms of misfortune and calamity.
It is relatively easier for such individuals to produce excellent descendants, but the greatest fear is not knowing at all the karmic causes and consequences of their past lives. How, then, can they aspire to have good offspring? Moreover, after a couple is matched, they must first have methods to improve their descendants to apply, and they must also incorporate virtuous merits.
If parents frequently engage in virtuous deeds such as "giving alms, sponsoring the printing of scriptures, aiding the poor, building bridges, and paving roads," the birth of an ill-favored or unfortunate child originally destined to be born may be delayed or even averted. For those who truly possess hidden virtue and accumulated merit, upon evaluation by Heaven, the unfavorable circumstances destined for their descendants may be redirected or transformed.
Through partial accumulation of hidden virtue and meritorious deeds, it is possible to redirect the mutual entanglements caused by malevolent and flawed karmic connections. Human efforts can alter the intense seeds of misfortune generated by such causes, enabling the transformation of parents' adverse karmic ties into greater fulfillment. This not only changes the potential for producing unfavorable descendants in the future by transforming negative genetic predispositions but also redirects the retribution of karmic consequences.
The karma of parents, the karma of good and evil.
If sentient beings wish to have virtuous and kind parents, they must cultivate wholesome causes and conditions in this very life. Why is it that such wholesome causes and conditions require sentient beings to mutually support, assist, and perform various virtuous deeds for one another in past lives? Because having already established virtuous causes and conditions in this life, they are more likely to manifest virtuous affinities in future lives or across many lifetimes.
When one cultivates virtuous causes, there will be mutual recompense in return; if one is unwilling to perform all virtuous and good deeds, it is likely that in the next life, the conditions for having good parents and children may not be fully met. Moreover, if there are debts incurred from all evil and unwholesome causes in past lives, you will have to repay such debts in your next existence.
Not a single detail will ever be omitted. Based on your conduct in past lives, corresponding karma will arise in this life, categorized into: virtuous, ordinary, and malevolent distinctions. Sentient beings who wish to "have good descendants must first accumulate virtue"; if one desires only ordinary descendants, there is no need to devote effort to accumulating virtue.
If in this lifetime you create enmity with many people, in future lives you may find many adversaries and creditors reborn into your household as your parents, spouses, siblings, children, nephews, grandchildren, relatives, and more. They may even be reborn as animals that you deeply cherish and dote upon.
Enemies from a past life cherished like pets in this one.
Willingly caring for it, you repay your pet throughout your life; yet it may also be reborn as your most beloved and cherished family member. Regardless of any hardship or cost, there will be no complaints, nor will any toil be spared. With single-minded devotion, you strive to provide the finest material comforts, repaying the debt owed from a past life.
In this life, being born into your family as a most beloved relative, I willingly take on the role of an ox or a horse to repay and make amends for the debts incurred in my past life. Moreover, can parents choose their own children? No! It is all arranged according to each individual's actions in their previous life, determining who becomes part of your family in this present existence.
At first, it will bring you great joy, and you will embrace it wholeheartedly, delighting in the work and willingly accepting the burden, finding immense pleasure in it! When others advise you not to toil so hard or exhaust yourself, you may even rebuke them, while you willingly labor like an ox or a horse to care for it. Yet, it is in the future, across time and space, that the true reward for all your efforts will come.
It will leave you overwhelmed and with an indelible impression, only then will you realize the dread of heaven's justice and the cycle of cause and effect. In today's era, this has become all too common. Even the descendants born to parents, whether good or bad, will receive their due rewards and retributions. In this world, many kind-hearted parents do not know how to first cultivate "blessings, virtue, and hidden merits."
How Should Parents Make Their Choice
There must be an accumulation of goodness, adding to the causes and conditions for virtuous deeds in the future. In today's media, which can be described as "reporting only gossip and neglecting stories of kindness, loyalty, and righteousness," how can we foster a society with ethical integrity and moral justice? This, in turn, reflects the inadequacies, shortcomings, and misguided actions in the education and moral cultivation of our contemporary era.
The decline of human moral values has led to many distortions of truth, even to the point where right and wrong, justice and injustice are no longer distinguished. Do not assume that every action goes without retribution, unseen by any. It is essential to understand that at this moment, each person still retains their accumulated merits. Do not believe that the future consequences of present actions are invisible simply because you are unwilling to face them directly.
It must be clearly understood that in ancient times, the manifestation of "karmic retribution" has now been shortened by sixteenfold. What was once only observable in past lifetimes can now be witnessed in the present, with numerous instances of cause and effect and their corresponding rewards or retributions. If karmic retribution takes the form of punishment for evil deeds, it tends to leave an indelible impression.
If the retribution of karma manifests as an increase in virtuous blessings, which ordinary people often fail to appreciate and which may quickly fade away, then could the media in the human world report more on such virtuous deeds? By doing so, it would add numerous testimonies and warnings to human society.
Chongxin University is certain to be established.
Only then can there be greater opportunities for social education. However, the fundamental purpose for which the Divine has established the Chongxin lineage to found "Chongxin University of Humanities and Technology" also lies in this: how to build upon the foundation of children's education, ensuring that adult education curricula are also rooted in a comprehensive educational foundation, thereby creating the necessity to turn the tide.
Otherwise, in the present era, we would only emphasize practical skills and vocational knowledge for making a living, while neglecting the teaching of personal character, ethical conduct, and moral norms. Under such circumstances, how can the four billion sentient beings and Buddhist disciples, caught in the whirlpool of misguided education, come to understand the fundamental concept of karma and retribution? How can greater purification be achieved?
The establishment of the "Chongxin University of Humanities and Technology" is willed by Heaven not merely for general education, but to cultivate ethical and moral values in humanity, without distinction of any sect or lineage. Together, we shall mutually support one another, promoting the purification of the world through education, thereby uplifting and benefiting all sentient beings.
The karma of parents is difficult to choose;  
One's own blessings depend on good or evil deeds.
Karma from past lives enters this life,  
Being born into a family shapes fortune and virtue.
The bond between husband and wife is predestined from past lives,  
Thus the affection of this life's match is realized.
To seek good descendants, one must practice virtue and accumulate hidden merits.
This verse! Let us encourage one another, all sentient beings! We shall delve deeper into the mutual growth of the karmic bond between parents and children. In the next installment, Namo Lixin Guangming Rulai Buddha will employ spiritual guidance to compose further works. This will bring greater fulfillment to the marital bonds among you in the human world, enabling the creation of harmonious and blissful families.
Next time, we will see how "Master Lixin Chan" applies fifteen years of time to fully guide the other half and achieve greater elevation. This will serve as a commendable example by the Heavens for everyone to reference, demonstrating how all the good karmic conditions between a couple can come together to build a wonderful family! Thank you all for your hard work, and may everything be auspicious. Until we meet again!
Wuji Mande Xiangu
The cause and condition of the Wuji are truly sublime;  
Man De ascends the platform to elucidate the truth.
The Immortal Maiden takes her turn on duty today, gathering with the devoted and virtuous students.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Tao Academy, good evening! Today, the Great Patriarch of our lineage, the Ancient Buddha Namas Dipamkara, has descended once more to preside over the celestial and buddhic revelation in the thirteenth chapter of "The Great Tao of Cause and Effect." This chapter analyzes the "karmic connections of parents" within the human world, clarifying that all codes of conduct in human society are shaped by human factors, which distinguish future teachings and growth. You are the firsthand witnesses, mutually fulfilling one another in this endeavor.
2015, March 8, 1958 ◎＃※ OK;
Chapter Twenty-Nine  The Blessed and Noble
第三十回　  小人惡禍
November 7, 2008, the tenth day of the tenth month in the Wuzi year (Friday)
第十三回  　 父母因緣
Namo, the light of the heart-mind comes forth,  
Thus come, thus gone, the true reality abides.
The Fourteenth Chapter of the Great Dao Cause and Effect: The Principles of Marital Affection and Duty Explained.
第三十回　  小人惡禍
November 11, 2008, the fourteenth day of the tenth lunar month in the year of Wuzi (Tuesday)
Episode 30: The Villain's Evil Brings Misfortune
第十四回     夫妻情義
The Love and Duty Between Husband and Wife Among Sentient Beings
In the mortal world, human beings engage in marriage and union, which serves the function of procreation and education. This constitutes the fundamental principle of human ethics and virtue, as well as the primary basis for the continuity of human relationships. The nurturing grace of parents is passed down through their children, necessitating the bond of affection between husband and wife. The love and companionship between spouses form the essential cause and condition for mutual fulfillment.
The fundamental function of human relationships and inheritance lies precisely in this. The reason why human beings need the bond of marriage, and why in the human world they must live together, is rooted in the primary cause and condition of matrimony. It serves to upwardly receive the nurturing and growth bestowed by parents, and downwardly pass on education and heritage to future generations. This is an essential necessity for humanity.
Every sentient being is nurtured and protected through the care and education provided by their parents, who pass down life to them and then to future generations of children. Each individual, having been brought up and educated by their parents, carries on this lineage to their own descendants, thus fulfilling the role of continuing the family line.
The fundamental role of human ethics and morality is exercised within the human world. To ensure that these principles are passed down and foster virtuous descendants, it is essential to understand that one's own children and future generations take the words and actions of their parents as models, learning and imitating them. They also base their development on the exemplary conduct and virtuous teachings provided by their parents and elders.
The union of husband and wife is a fundamental principle of human relations.
Regarding the importance of speech and teaching in managing affairs, this constitutes the fundamental framework of human ethics and great virtue. It is also what, after being nurtured and educated by parents, extends into the future as one grows into adulthood, enters into marriage, and begins to pass on to subsequent generations. Moreover, for every being in the universe, none can avoid the mutual fulfillment that marriage brings.
After the bond of matrimony is formed through the fundamental gestures of affection between husband and wife, they begin to learn the art of marital coexistence. Originally accustomed to living alone, they now have a companion by their side. It is at this point that the two start to understand the ways of married life, which also involves living alongside their respective relatives. Thus, they embark on a journey of learning and growing together.
From two distinct family backgrounds, having lived for twenty to thirty years, there emerges a difference of two to three decades in upbringing. These two beings of heaven and earth, shaped by their separate environments, unite as husband and wife to learn how to be a husband and a wife. This marks only the beginning of the great path of human relations.
The union of husband and wife is a grand ceremony ordained by heaven, the harmonious joining of the cosmic forces of yin and yang. Having grown up in different families, the two individuals, as husband and wife, come together only after reaching adulthood. Such a rare and precious bond, one that cannot be found again even with a lantern in hand, is truly worthy of admiration and celebration!
The fundamental basis of marital affection and duty.
The institution of marriage in China has evolved significantly over time. From the ancient rites established during the Zhou dynasty to the diverse marital practices of the present Republican era, the system has undergone continuous transformation. In ancient dynasties, it was permissible for a man to take multiple wives and concubines, a practice that was notably unfair to women. In contrast, today's society upholds the principle of monogamy, where one man marries one woman, and one woman is paired with one man. This present outcome is the result of gradual changes across different historical periods.
If it were permissible today for one woman to marry multiple husbands, it would not only contradict the ancient rites and clear teachings that have long guided the descendants of Yan and Huang in the Central Plains, but also run counter to the global trend, which now widely favors monogamous marriage for women. Moreover, this contemporary trend aligns with the principle of gender equality—an undeniable and fundamental tenet that has been championed by the advancement of women's rights, liberating them from the constraints of outdated and harmful traditions.
Gradually eliminating the outdated concept of one man having multiple wives, this is the moral code of human relationships established by Heaven for sentient beings, and it is precisely the way of "one husband, one wife" in marital affection. The fundamental principle set by Heaven brings together a husband and wife from different environments to live as one, uniting two individuals from different backgrounds to form a single family.
This grand principle of human relations, established by Heaven and passed down to future generations, manifests in the human world through the union of husband and wife in marriage. Through the rituals of bowing to heaven and earth, then to the parents, and finally to each other, the couple is ushered into the bridal chamber—a great joy in life, celebrated and inherited by descendants. It is within this atmosphere of joy that outstanding future generations can be nurtured.
The Affection and Loyalty Between Husband and Wife
This is precisely the atmosphere of joy and relaxation that fosters harmonious union. When the passion between husband and wife is directed towards the DNA of their descendants, it is bound to produce excellent offspring. This aligns with what modern science has proven: if the atmosphere is unfavorable or filled with fear, it may instead give rise to descendants with comparatively abnormal psychological traits.
To have outstanding descendants, it is difficult to achieve without the creation of excellent DNA. This union of husband and wife is precisely formed by combining the father's essence and the mother's blood, which contributes to the genetic makeup of future generations. In terms of the great principles of human relationships and the bond between spouses, this also relates to whether the entire family can achieve harmony and prosperity.
How deeply moving it is to reflect upon and give thanks for the compassion of Heaven, which enables the creation and inheritance of excellent descendants. This is shaped by both favorable and unfavorable circumstances, which in turn influence the transmission of good or poor qualities in future generations. The affection between husband and wife affects the entire family structure, fostering a legacy of prosperity and virtuous influence. This is something that can be verified by today's technological and civilized advancements.
Both parties recognize the need for two-way communication between the couple. After the initial stages of married life, differences in habits, temperaments, personalities, and personal perspectives often emerge, inevitably leading to some degree of misalignment. In such cases, it is essential to strengthen mutual understanding and communication.
Husband and wife support each other with affection and loyalty.
This form of communication is crucial. Regardless of the perspectives and understandings of both parties, the key lies in how to communicate in a way that allows each side to acknowledge the other's viewpoint and approach. Otherwise, disputes may arise, unless one party can demonstrate greater persuasiveness or make concessions, enabling mutual recognition of each other's perspectives.
If the perspectives of both parties are difficult to balance, it becomes challenging to live together harmoniously. Should one side become overly assertive and fail to gain the other's acceptance, conflicts may arise. In today's era, the circumstances and conditions have changed, and with both sides holding differing viewpoints that are hard to reconcile, the moral standards of the past can no longer be applied.
In the modern era, sentient beings must have a new set of moral standards to serve as a model. The cultivation and fulfillment of human ethics and moral principles are now shaped by the conditions of a different time and space. Reflecting on the past fifty years, the women of the Chinese descendants of Yan and Huang once adhered to the traditional feminine virtues of "three obediences and four virtues" as their guiding principles.
Once a woman enters her husband's household in this life, she should prioritize her husband, with all her conduct guided by his honor. A woman's fate is like that of a rapeseed, which is distinguished as "virtuous or flawed" depending on the quality of her husband. If the husband cherishes his wife, she will find a good home and have more leisure to care for the family.
The marital bond is the foundation of human ethics and morality.
If a husband is lazy and refuses to work to support the family, indulging instead in eating, drinking, womanizing, and gambling, his wife will suffer greatly. Worse still, if he frequently resorts to verbal abuse, hostile expressions, and physical violence such as hitting and kicking, it becomes impossible to maintain harmony and affection between the couple. Such behavior is utterly detrimental to the daily life and well-being of ordinary people.
According to the ancient teachings and disciplinary codes of the Sage's School, "the bond between husband and wife must not allow for a second color." This principle of "no second color" means that the husband must avoid indulgence in prostitution and gambling, as well as gluttony and idleness, while the wife must be diligent and frugal in managing the household, and must not stray from the marriage. In contemporary terms, this is expressed as "no cheating." Any violation of this principle constitutes a grave transgression against the teachings of the Sage's School.
Within the framework of the sacred teachings, it is precisely such precepts—and indeed, the major religions of the world today uphold similar principles—that guide how husband and wife should unite in mutual affection, elevating human virtues and establishing ethical and moral norms. Only when two individuals with different lives and all their good habits come together to form a family can this be considered the right path.
In this context, both husband and wife must understand how to show filial piety toward the husband's parents, setting a good example for future generations. From the husband's perspective: the wife's parents have nurtured their beloved daughter for twenty to thirty years. Now that she has married into your family, her daily habits and routines are no longer the same as before.
The Foundation of Marital Affection
At the beginning, a husband ought to guide his wife, helping her integrate more quickly into the life of the entire family; this is the proper way for a husband to act. As for a son-in-law toward his parents-in-law: he should treat them as he would his own parents, with the same filial respect and understanding, especially since they have entrusted their beloved daughter to his family.
To understand the principles of human relationships and righteousness, "if one loves another's daughter as a wife, one must be filial to her parents"; similarly, "if one loves another's son as a husband, one must dutifully serve and respect his parents." This is the way of human ethics. It is precisely why the Chongxin lineage upholds this as a fundamental guiding principle, serving as a model for practice in the human world.
To one's own parents, they are parents, but are the parents of one's spouse not also parents? It is necessary to change the notion that filial piety is owed only to one's own parents, as this is not a correct way of thinking. When one can equally honor, respect, and care for both one's own parents and one's parents-in-law with the same devotion and filial duty, one's spouse and children will likewise follow this example of filial piety. This is the way of filial devotion, where every drop of kindness returns to its source.
The human realm is one where human actions are integrated into the interplay of cause and effect. Regardless of whether past connections were rooted in good or bad karma, once two people have become husband and wife, they should no longer dwell on the flaws and shortcomings of the past. No one is perfect; everyone inevitably possesses both strengths and weaknesses.
How to Practice Affection and Loyalty in Marriage
1. How to tolerate the other's shortcomings;  
2. How to kindly understand the other's inadequacies;  
3. How to be grateful for the other's efforts;  
4. How to be content with all that one currently possesses;  
5. How to care for the feelings of both parties;  
6. How to engage in two-way communication when disagreements arise.  

If all six of these points can be achieved, good and virtuous connections are sure to follow.
It is believed that in order to maintain the good karma of marital union and create lasting family happiness, the negative karma between spouses should be transformed. By renewing their vows before heaven and earth, readjusting, and changing the undesirable shortcomings and peculiar temperaments between husband and wife, all present negative karma can be rectified and transformed into virtuous and favorable karma.
When blessed with a harmonious and virtuous bond, both partners should strive to maintain it, as it is everyone's hope to cherish each other and build a happy family together. Should unfavorable or challenging circumstances arise, both should continue to hold affection for one another, focusing more on each other's strengths rather than dwelling on shortcomings. Calmly reflect and communicate to identify the root of any issues.
To resolve differences between both parties, mutual "contentment, gratitude, tolerance, understanding, care, and communication" can bring an end to the cold war between them, which is truly the path to happiness in a marital relationship. In fact, if one wishes to foster harmony between husband and wife, when one speaks loudly, the other should lower their voice—avoiding a head-on clash in such moments—and this too can transform the situation.
The Primary Causes for Couples Practicing Together
I recall that in the past, when the Venerable Teacher, Immortal Ma Gu of the Primordial Sovereign of the Infinite, was about to assume the position of Vice President of Chongxin Hall, the Supreme Sovereign Mother of the Infinite specifically instructed that after Vice President Immortal Ma Gu descended to the mortal realm, she must diligently practice "couples cultivating together, family harmony, and blessings for future generations" at Chongxin. Since then, the Chongxin lineage has consistently upheld this clear instruction.
The Supreme Mother of the Wuji has personally entrusted the implementation of this guiding framework, which also sincerely demands all disciples of the Chongxin lineage to carry out these principles accordingly. It is essential to ensure that every student of the Chongxin lineage integrates the framework of "couples cultivating together, harmonious families, and blessings for future generations" into every household within the entire system of the Chongxin lineage.
It is in response to the boundless compassion and grace of the Supreme Venerable Mother of the Primordial Beginning bestowed upon Chongxin, that this auspicious message is disseminated to all students of Chongxin, enabling greater fulfillment for themselves and their loved ones. The Chongxin lineage thus implements the fundamental framework of the Heavenly Will as its primary function, embodying its essential spirit to allow individuals to cultivate themselves, transform their destinies, and embrace divine opportunities.
Do not forget to allow your own relatives and friends to also share in the virtuous benefits and fundamental principles of "couples cultivating together." This is precisely the compassionate grace bestowed by the Supreme Empress Mother and the revered teacher, Ma Xiangu. Moreover, among the over six billion people in the world, only one can accompany you throughout your lifetime, offering mutual care for an entire existence.
A wife dedicates her entire life without seeking anything in return.
It may be said: To search with a lantern, one could not find a second like this. Can there be a greater sense of gratitude, to thank you, sir, and your wife? Especially as the husband, who serves as the great pillar supporting the entire household, and the wife, who manages all affairs great and small for the whole family. Husband and wife together bring prosperity to the entire household.
The entire household, both inside and out, is managed by the wife. To put it in contemporary terms, a wife is often described as "a lifelong unpaid housekeeper, without receiving a salary from you." If she were to be paid, how much would you owe her? While the monthly amount might not seem large, when calculated over a long period, it adds up to a significant sum.
If we calculate based on a monthly salary of 25,000 yuan, that amounts to 300,000 yuan per year over twelve months. Over ten years, this totals 3 million yuan; over twenty years, 6 million; and over thirty years, 9 million. This does not even include year-end bonuses, additional incentives, or inflation. When all factors are considered, the sum is truly substantial, easily exceeding tens of millions.
Have you, as a husband, ever considered this: throughout your entire life, your wife, who entered your home young and beautiful, has followed you in frugality and hardship. She has diligently managed every aspect of the household, served your parents, maintained harmony with in-laws, raised your children, and handled all the social and ceremonial interactions with relatives—all these responsibilities she has shouldered.
The Fundamental Principles of Marital Affection and Duty
They swallow all bitterness and hardship, and some even begrudge spending money on clothing, so that over the years they become "yellow-faced women," no longer youthful or beautiful. Moreover, after years of marriage, they no longer groom or dress up. From the outside, that once young, beautiful, gentle, and graceful wife is long gone.
It fails to stir any emotion, and may even drive one to retreat. From youth to old age, all those years of hardship endured together, the shared joys and sorrows, the sacrifice of a lifetime's youthful days—in the end, some may find themselves mistreated, abandoned in old age. Men no longer value their wives at home; having lost their freshness and become "yellow-faced," they begin to stray outside.
One after another, they abandon each other after a fleeting affair, yet still hope the next man or woman will be better? This is impossible! Many of them are perpetually unsatisfied; with just a little money or silver at hand, they think of casting aside their faithful wives (divorcing them). Such fickle and heartless men will certainly meet with no good end.
You must realize that others are only interested in your money at this moment. When your wealth is exhausted, and you have neither money nor people by your side, will you regret it? Will you feel resentment? Will you lament? If you had known this would happen, why did you abandon your family and children in the first place? The next woman will not last long either. As for a wife, she must not be fickle or unfaithful, falling for someone new at every turn.
The Bond of Marital Affection and the Ties of Friendship
Playing with fire leads to self-destruction, and you have also bought a green hat to put on your husband. Do not become addicted to the whirlpool of the thrill of infidelity. If you do not believe it, just wait until the novelty fades—you will soon be abandoned. For the sake of momentary excitement and novelty, you may bring lifelong regret and disgrace. By the time you wish to turn back, it will already be too late.
In today's age, such cases of infidelity are far too common, and both men and women alike end up with no good outcome. By the time you look back, a lifetime has already passed, and regret will come too late. You must firmly believe that your husband or wife is "the best person under heaven, unmatched even with a lantern in hand."
Some may retort, how could such conditions be possible, when there are countless others a thousand times better? Those who hold such a view must first examine whether they themselves possess such blessings and merit. It is like what worldly people often say: Do you have such good fortune? If not, one must first weigh one's own worth.
How much talent do you possess, how handsome are you, or how wealthy are you? And do you truly have such capabilities? If not, then do not be overly critical or dissatisfied. You simply lack the qualifications and abilities, so do not assume that the next man or woman will be better. Moreover, you yourself harbor desires and longings for possession and fulfillment.
Husband and wife are like lighting a lantern to find there is no second one.
There are many sentient beings who hold this kind of mindset. As the old saying goes, "When the new has not yet arrived, one does not know how to cherish the old." This reflects a lack of contentment, gratitude, and appreciation, as well as a failure to cherish and care for one’s own family. It is essential to understand the good karma one has cultivated and accumulated from past lives, which is manifested solely in the bond between husband and wife.
If one wishes to receive more affection, it is essential to cherish the present moment and devote greater love and care to the lovely wife and respectable husband by one's side. Where there is deficiency, it must be mended and improved. By sincerely fulfilling all affection and treasuring the opportunity to give a little more, a good and kind outcome will surely follow.
Believe that you will gain much and very tangible rewards right now. Do not place your hopes on a distant future; instead, recall how the passion of your love once unfolded! Do you wish to relive the sweetness of the past and create it anew? Have the courage to express your love loudly to your other half.
Expressing a long-held desire from the heart, one must speak sweet and grateful words sincerely and without pretense, also giving thanks for all the various efforts the other has made on your behalf over these many years. By conveying this with genuine sincerity, allowing the other to feel your true heart and honest intentions, believe that happiness lies firmly within your grasp.
Couples should bravely express their love for each other.
Humans are emotional beings. If you can give a little more, care a little more, love a little more, and often share a few more sweet embraces and kisses—these are the fruits of our modern era. Do not assume that keeping your feelings to yourself is a virtue, nor believe that what the other person gives is simply their duty or what should be expected. If you think so, you may well be mistaken.
If one has already attempted such efforts, only to find them ineffective, met with disdain and mockery, and then dares not muster the courage again to invigorate a happy life, it is likely that from then on, one will pass through life in silence. Marital affection must be pursued with relentless perseverance, and expressed with bravery and sincerity.
To experience a touch of happiness, one must strive to create it oneself—this is the ultimate achievement for the emotional bond between husband and wife. If you doubt it, try it and see! This is the way of heaven in guiding the relationship between loving couples in their shared life, imparting all life experiences as a fundamental benefit to be passed down to future generations.
Furthermore, what kind of sweet marital life one desires to have, as well as the aspiration for excellent offspring and descendants, depends entirely on the parents’ own actions and conduct, which serve as the model for their children and future generations to learn and grow. This is absolutely true! It is also a fundamental lesson in teaching by example and by words. In guiding all sentient beings, we draw upon the virtuous admonitions of the human world:
May all lovers under heaven be united in marriage; may all marriages under heaven be founded on true love.
Filial piety toward one's parents forms the foundation; Respecting one's parents-in-law leads to maturity.
Excellent offspring rely on themselves,  
Imitating and learning during the growth period.
Husband and wife respect and love each other, setting an example for their descendants to follow.
Good and bad are allocated by oneself; thus, genuine virtue opens the source of wealth.
This verse is shared to mutually encourage all sentient beings! It is also shared to mutually encourage all students of the Chongxin system, in the hope that each of your family lives will be happy and harmonious. I also extend my gratitude for everyone's hard work, wishing you all auspiciousness. Thank you all, the immortal and buddha teachers, as well as the companions from the Wuji Da Dao Yuan and its cultivating scholars, for accompanying this work. Farewell, everyone!
The Immortal Maiden of the Boundless Good Path
The predestined connection with the Wuji is profoundly auspicious;  
The virtuous Immortal Maiden ascends the stage with sincerity.
The great Dao, authored by cause and effect,  
Genuine is the affection between loving couples.
All Saints, Buddhas, and virtuous beings, as well as the practitioners and scholars of the Wuji Great Tao Academy, good evening! Today, this lineage’s Namo Li Xin Guang Ming Rulai Buddha has imparted this work through spiritual inspiration, further expounding within it the fourteenth chapter of "The Causality of the Great Tao," titled "The Affection and Duty Between Husband and Wife." It contains many principles that couples in the human world ought to carefully uphold.
Here are many more admonitions and methods for loving couples. It is hoped that one can apply them with sincere contemplation to grasp the mysteries and key techniques within. By trying them out, one is sure to gain much benefit and reward, thereby cultivating favorable conditions and good karma for a more fulfilling and harmonious life. Wishing everyone happiness and fulfillment!
Note: This article is from the perspective of the Buddha of Lixin Guangming (Radiant Mind Buddha), interpreted from a human standpoint to elucidate the way of husband and wife. Although it is somewhat lengthy, it offers valuable insights for couples in their interactions and is provided here for reference.
2015, March 8, 20:00 ◎＃※ OK;
Namo Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva
第三十回　  小人惡禍
November 14, 2008, the seventeenth day of the tenth lunar month (Friday) in the year of Wuzi.
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
Postscript      I
◆ Main Text ◆
第十四回     夫妻情義
Homage to Guanyin descending from the heavens, the Bodhisattva ascends the platform to gather the virtuous.
The Fifteenth Cycle of the Great Dao's Cause and Effect:  
Marital Affection Unlocks the Family's Fortune
第三十回　  小人惡禍
November 18, 2008, Tuesday, the 21st day of the 10th lunar month in the year of Wuzi.
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
The Void, Limitless, Imperial Mother Personally Descends to Write a Preface
◆ Main Text ◆
第十五回   　夫妻恩情
The Matrimony of Sentient Beings
After the establishment of human society, the union of men and women through marriage became fundamental for the continuation of future generations. Through the marriage of two individuals of different genders, affection and loyalty between them develop into a loving bond as husband and wife. This mutual elevation serves to prosper the lineage of descendants. The traditional division of roles, with the husband managing external affairs and the wife overseeing domestic matters, has been a long-standing practice.
Now that this behavior and mindset have already changed, following the rise of women's rights in Western nations, the descendants of Yan and Huang in China have also begun to emulate and learn from these countries. With the introduction of women's rights into China, there has begun a shift in perspective and a balancing of rights between men and women across the vast world.
This also had a significant impact on gender equality in China. In the past, marriages in China were often arranged through matchmakers, where men and women were paired according to traditional gender roles. Through the words of the matchmaker, two individuals who originally had no acquaintance whatsoever would, with the consent of both parents, form a family. At that time, unlike today, it was also very rare for them to have met beforehand.
Before marriage, they had never met, and they had no idea what the other looked like. The thought of meeting would make their hearts flutter with "shyness"! It was also difficult for them to look directly at each other. In the earlier agricultural society, some couples even kept their eyes closed after entering the bridal chamber, not daring to look at each other directly.
The Affection Between Husband and Wife After Marriage
One must leave for work before dawn, often not seeing the true face of one's husband or wife until ten days, half a month, or even longer has passed. Regardless of whether they are good or bad, beautiful or plain, one accepts it willingly. This situation, which arises after marriage, is where the bond of affection between husband and wife begins to develop. Most people tend to accept their fate and do so with a contented heart.
I have come to cherish this rare marriage and have begun to maintain everything within the family. It was arranged by a matchmaker, and we were complete strangers before becoming members of the same household. As the ancients said: a woman’s fate is like that of a rapeseed, drifting with the wind—her life is shaped by the man she follows, be he good or bad. In today’s era, such a notion seems like nothing more than a fanciful tale.
If a man is capable of taking responsibility for supporting the family, the wife is more likely to enjoy a stable and peaceful life, willingly dedicating all her youth to the household. Regarding the traditional marital arrangements between men and women in ancient times, they differ significantly from modern perspectives. In the past, cases of marital separation were virtually unheard of, whereas contemporary thinking has evolved in a different direction.
In the context of this harmonious marital relationship, which is sustained by both parties, it is indeed fitting when viewed from the perspective of heaven and the divine beings: the man takes charge of external affairs, while the woman manages the household. In this arrangement, the man holds a position of greater authority. Consequently, the woman bears the responsibility of raising children at home, and the entire burden of family life falls upon her shoulders.
The Deeds of Marital Affection
Well then! When a husband returns home, he only knows to reach out for his tea and open his mouth for his meal, completely unaware of the toils a woman endures at home. It can be said: it is difficult to agree, let alone consider this as something that should be taken for granted. As a wife, in order to provide a more comfortable living space for this family, a woman thus dedicates her entire youth and years of her life.
All for the sake of the family's daily life and well-being, she willingly toils like an ox or a horse, sacrificing a lifetime of personal joys and pleasures, all for the sake of her children. If her husband is loving and caring, the wife may find some comfort and reward in return. But if the husband is lazy, indulgent, and makes no effort, the woman will suffer greatly.
Regarding the cycle of good and bad karma from each person's past lives, it can be said: a woman's fate in this life is like a seed she sows herself, determined by her own choices. Once she marries into her husband's family, whether her life turns out good or bad, it is the destiny she has chosen for herself. Through the union of two strangers forming a family, in times when thoughts were more conservative, people would accept the outcomes of marriage, whether favorable or not, with willing resignation.
The ability to tolerate and adapt to each other's peculiar temperaments, where the wife honors her husband as her superior, is a concept deeply rooted among the descendants of Yan and Huang in China. In contrast, the practices in European and American countries differ significantly. There, individuals have the freedom to choose their own marriage partners throughout their lives. It can be said that European and American societies possess many advantages, which could be integrated into the traditional concepts recognized in China.
The affection and love between husband and wife.
The perception of such marital unions differs greatly in one's own mindset and beliefs. If the foundation is built upon the affection and bond between husband and wife, there should be no notion of separation. Instead, couples will inevitably engage in "mutual communication" to achieve true harmony and unity within the family. This is the strength of marriage in Western countries.
In all marital unions in this world, the belief that each partner is irreplaceable—that even with a lantern in hand, one could not find another—has long been at odds with contemporary thought. In the past, such marriages were entered into willingly, with the shared aspiration of building a harmonious and joyful family. Both husband and wife bore mutual responsibility for maintaining the family’s prosperity and fulfillment.
This is truly a realistic understanding that both husband and wife have their respective responsibilities, rights, and obligations to nurture this small family, which is essential for the affection and bond between them. It is necessary to recognize that "the husband treasures the wife as a jewel, and the wife honors the husband as her dignity"—a mutual care and affection that is as natural and rightful as the order of heaven and earth.
If we liken the husband to the staves and lid of a rice bucket, and the wife to the bottom and hoops; this is based on the human world of the past, where a bucket was necessary to hold cooked rice—hence the term "rice bucket." Without the staves and lid, a pot of cooked rice would cool more quickly, thus requiring a rice bucket to retain its warmth.
Staves, base, lid, and hoops together form a perfect circle.
Ancient Rice Bucket: In the agricultural era, it was quite important. A rice bucket was assembled from several components, including a round-shaped bucket bottom, which was an essential item and object. With the bucket boards and lid, along with the bucket bottom and hoops, it could be assembled into a complete "rice bucket" set, each part being indispensable.
Thus, the ancients used a metaphor: the wife is likened to the bottom and the hoop of a rice bucket, while the husband is likened to the staves and the lid of the rice bucket. Only when combined can they form a complete "rice bucket" capable of holding rice. This is of great importance and is a natural and rightful arrangement. By using the "rice bucket" as a metaphor for the formation of a family, it expresses the hope for future prosperity and creation.
Food is the paramount necessity of the people. In the human world, life cannot be separated from the actions of eating and drinking, and for eating, a rice bucket is necessary to hold the food. This is likened to a husband and wife forming a family—a rice bucket. In today's era, electric rice cookers have replaced the traditional rice bucket. In the past, the rice bucket was supported by surrounding wooden planks, and to assemble a rice bucket, one must first have the bucket base.
If the bottom of the bucket is in place, next comes the need for the staves. With the staves ready, hoops are also required to assemble the entire rice bucket. A lid is essential as well, for only then can the rice bucket be considered fully and perfectly assembled. In today’s world, can humanity and sentient beings imagine what kind of rice might have been cooked in such a bucket in ancient times?
Responsibilities and Obligations of Both Spouses
Compared to the rice cooked in modern aluminum pots or electric rice cookers, the rice prepared this way would be exceptionally fragrant—this is an analogy of "ancient methods compared to the present." The composition of a married couple within a family is so delicate, much like "the barrel inseparable from the hoop, the hoop inseparable from the barrel." If either one is missing, the entire family ceases to feel like a family.
This would lead to numerous situations of families torn apart, husbands ruined and wives lost—have you encountered such painful circumstances? As the ancient saying goes, "One should not abandon the wife who shared one’s hardships." Do you understand that in this world, there is only one person truly suited to match you, and it is exceedingly rare to find two or more? When it comes to marriage, it is by no means a trivial matter; mutual tolerance is essential for peace.
If a couple never argues or quarrels, it is truly rare! Even more uncommon! Such couples deserve commendation; on the journey of life, as they accompany each other through a lifetime, the trivial matters they face are numerous. The effort, sweat, bitterness, and hardships that each couple invests in their family are truly beyond words.
Maintaining a harmonious and prosperous family is no easy task. It requires husband and wife to remain steadfastly devoted and loyal to each other, ensuring that both spouses and their children can enjoy a more comfortable and stable home life. This demands greater sacrifice and effort from both sides to sustain the family's well-being and tranquility.
The affection and devotion between husband and wife.
I wonder if you can establish such a concept? Not necessarily! But you can try! It is essential to be able to love and cherish each other for a lifetime, even to deeply adore one another without being fickle. Among all beings, there is only one person destined to become your spouse—the companion who will accompany you throughout this life.
No matter how harsh the environment, enduring and overcoming all difficulties, there must also be the affection of mutual care. Deeply loving each other, reaping the rewards of a lifetime of hard work together—such marital bonds can grow ever stronger with time. In this way, "the husband treasures his wife as a jewel, and the wife honors her husband as her pride," forever united in heart, with mutual respect and love enduring for all eternity.
Do not love every new person you meet, lest in the end you have not even one to grow old with you—how sorrowful that would be! And as for the evil karma you create, the debts of sin, the bitter fruits—who else can be blamed? It is all the retribution of your own actions, exacted upon you in this life, and it will be the same in the next! Will you not heed this?
By then, regret will last a lifetime and be difficult to change—how lamentable it is to spend a lifetime in remorse! When a couple is poor and humble, all things bring sorrow. Do you, as a loving couple in this world, desire such a situation? Surely not! In this lifetime, it is essential to earnestly strive to transform your circumstances, providing both partners with a direction for their efforts, and to build a happy and harmonious family.
The Preservation of Marital Affection
If a couple often quarrels, they should not hastily consider divorce. First, calm down and observe each other's strengths. Can you be grateful for your wife's hard work, for all the youthful years she has dedicated without complaint or regret, sacrificing herself for the sake of the family? Also, look at your husband, who toils diligently day after day for the well-being of the household.
They toil diligently and strive to earn money, wholeheartedly wishing for the family to prosper and to be free from worries. They also reflect on all the virtues of their spouse. Can you be grateful? During the low points in life, how should one endure and persevere? If at such times you can use a heart of gratitude to appreciate each other, I believe the two of you will never make the mistake of parting ways.
It also allows both parties to address and communicate about each other's shortcomings, making fundamental improvements. At this point, husband and wife are sincere and genuinely cherish their marital bond and commitment. When they further consider their children and the like, how would their lives be if the couple were to separate? As the ancients said: Even the mouth and tongue, no matter how well-matched, may sometimes accidentally bite each other.
By that time, your children may end up calling someone else father or mother. How would you feel about that? Could you truly accept it? After any quarrel, argument, dispute, or disagreement, there must be a willingness to mend and improve together. It is essential to genuinely love each other, and not to dwell solely on the other's faults and mistakes.
Improving Marital Disputes and Resolving Differences of Opinion
In this world, there are no perfect individuals without flaws; everyone has their shortcomings. We should be more tolerant of each other's imperfections and strive for improvement, while also frequently expressing gratitude and keeping the word "love" on our lips. Even if the other person often says, "That's old-fashioned, I've heard it too many times—try something new!" do not lose heart or become discouraged after being rejected a few times.
It is essential to move forward courageously and sincerely express to your partner so that they may understand the importance they hold in your heart. When both husband and wife maintain enduring sincerity and genuine affection, and express their love from the heart, it is certain that over time, the bond of love and affection between them will grow significantly. True sincerity will undoubtedly touch both hearts.
It is through one's own thoughts, beliefs, and actions that a humble couple can be inspired to work diligently and earnestly to improve their livelihood. This effort will lead to the prosperity of the family, elevating their status and enhancing their living environment, while also strengthening the bond of loyalty and affection between husband and wife. Are you aware of this? Can you apply it? Can you change? Can you cherish it? I believe you can achieve it!
Affection and loyalty weigh as heavy as a mountain,  
The bond between husband and wife is for each to cherish.
Mutual affection begets future generations,  
Poverty may transform into a shore of wealth.
The husband treasures his wife as a precious jewel,  
And through her husband, the wife attains honor and prosperity.
A loving and devoted couple,  
Prosperous and harmonious, blessed with fortune and virtue.
This verse! Let us encourage one another, fellow sentient beings, by analyzing and expounding upon the affection and gratitude within marital bonds as a model for practice in contemporary society. It is hoped that couples throughout the world may inspire each other, thereby creating happy families. Thank you all for your efforts and for dedicating your time to the Chongxin lineage. Farewell, everyone!
The Immortal Maiden Who Transmits the Dao from the Wuji
Wuji descends to the mortal realm,  
Spreading the Dao, dispelling doubts, and unraveling confusion.
The Immortal Maiden takes her turn in duty today,  
In the chapter of the Heavenly Book on the Great Dao's cause and effect.
Holy Buddhas, virtuous students, and all fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Tao Academy, good evening! Today, the venerable Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara has descended to continue the fifteenth chapter of "The Great Tao and Karmic Retribution," following the previous chapter "Marital Affection and Duty." It is hoped that this will offer mutual encouragement to all couples lacking in love and harmony.
In recent times, this lineage has initiated the resolution of karmic debts between spouses across lifetimes, achieving mutual fulfillment. This is what the Wuji Huangmu (Primordial Mother) has long hoped for: that all marital unions in the human world may be perfected through human effort and the blessings of immortals and Buddhas. Couples will surely reunite with reverence and sincerity, beginning anew from the heart, thereby reducing the many separations and resentments between spouses.
If we do not understand, tomorrow we will petition the immortals and Buddhas together, seeking greater revelations and insights. As for the grievances and debts between husband and wife, children, parents, and siblings, these too will be perfectly resolved. Very well, we shall conclude here for today. Thank you all for your efforts. May all be auspicious. Farewell for now!
2015, 0308, 2000◎＃※   OK;
Namo Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
The Lady arrives a second time to offer congratulations, marking the completion of the great Dao's cycle of cause and effect.
虛空無極瑤池金母娘娘　親降跋三於
November 21, 2008, the twenty-fourth day of the tenth month in the wuzi year (Friday)
◆ Main Text ◆
第十五回   　夫妻恩情
Namo to the love of all sentient beings,  
Mahasthamaprapta comes to arrange and compose.
The Bodhisattva descends to inscribe the Book of Cause and Effect;  
A couple bound by gratitude and grievance must reform their virtue.
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
Postscript   Two
◆ Main Text ◆
第十六回  　 恩怨夫妻
A Couple Bound by Love and Resentment Part Ways
After two individuals in the human world become husband and wife, three types of relationships may emerge: a loving and affectionate partnership, a harmonious and stable union, or a relationship marked by both affection and resentment. These three conditions, shaped by the distinct life circumstances of each partner, inevitably give rise to varied perspectives and differing interpretations from each person's unique standpoint.
From the perspective of the human world, all newlywed couples begin with a mutual process of adaptation and learning, developing a tacit understanding. Among the billions of people in the world, only one is destined by fate to become your spouse. Moreover, the prevailing trend and legal system of the contemporary world universally advocate monogamy.
If one departs from this framework, there is no formal status as "husband and wife," and the fundamental principles of marriage are abandoned. This is because the heavens, based on the structure of human ethics, deem the monogamous system more aligned with the principles of heaven and earth, male and female, thereby enabling fair and equal mutual treatment. Why, then, do such resentments and grievances arise between spouses?
From the perspective of two distinct upbringings and life backgrounds, a woman enters her husband's family and learns and grows through human interactions. Initially unaware of the family's customs, she gradually adapts by mastering the daily routines and trivial matters. These everyday tasks become integral to her learning and growth, as she immerses herself in all aspects of the husband's family's way of life.
All the Lessons of Love and Resentment Between Husband and Wife
For a wife, she bears all the living habits of the entire family and gradually learns and grows through managing the household routines. When a woman enters her husband's family, she must go through a period of time to become accustomed to and adapt to adjustments. Additionally, she harmonizes all human-influenced lifestyle habits through a process of blending.
Integrating one's past living habits into the husband's family, adjusting and transforming one's previous lifestyle, greatly contributes to the harmony of the entire household's daily life. Initially, it is inevitable to experience discomfort and frequent mistakes, as this involves a learning process. By incorporating these changes into daily life, gradually, one becomes more adept and at ease.
When a woman enters her husband's family, she has the potential to foster the wholesome growth of the entire household. Between husband and wife, there must be genuine mutual fulfillment and mutual elevation. The husband must provide guidance so that the wife can smoothly and quickly adapt to her new role. Following the initial sweetness of marriage, this foundation enables the couple to bring forth descendants and carry on the family lineage.
Upon entering her husband's household, the hardships and bittersweet experiences a woman endures are often beyond her husband's full comprehension. Through marital affection, many intimate bonds and mutual growth arise. Yet why do numerous points of disharmony emerge, along with differing perspectives and values? How do the inherent habits, routines, personalities, and dispositions of both spouses shape this dynamic?
The Journey of a Couple Bound by Love and Resentment
When a woman enters her husband's family, there is much to learn and understand about managing the household and fostering its growth. Guided by the principles of human conduct, the couple must determine whether their union will be one of affection or discord. Both husband and wife must be willing to devote themselves to learning, while the entire family should also allow time and space for adaptation.
Objective conditions are essential, and these conditions differentiate between harmonious couples and contentious couples based on the fulfillment of family life. The distinction lies between intimate lovers and bitter adversaries. Over a prolonged period, how would these two types of couples—harmonious and contentious—manifest differently?
Thus, a state of no longer being fresh may form, perhaps where the couple no longer argues or quarrels, gradually settling into a smooth and steady rhythm. Within this, the distinctions between "couples bound by gratitude and resentment," "couples bound by deep affection," and "couples living in smooth harmony" gradually blur, with the latter two becoming akin to "couples living in smooth harmony." There is no need to dwell on couples bound by deep affection, as couples living in smooth harmony similarly pass through life following the ordinary course.
Regarding whether couples bound by grievances can change each other, the question is whether they can mutually elevate one another or remain trapped in a cycle of resentment. Over time, such couples often find themselves in constant conflict. It is essential for these partners to recognize where their own perspectives and values lie. Only through mutual communication can they resolve differences in viewpoints and understanding.
Understanding Between Husband and Wife Through Gratitude and Resentment
When a couple comes together in marriage, this union is something that many people admire. Why is it that others can effortlessly become a loving couple, while one's own partner seems incapable of understanding their hardships, often nagging incessantly? Moreover, every family has its own difficulties to bear, and yet, some frequently use these troubles to lecture their spouse, as if reciting a sutra for their salvation.
For both parties, this situation is akin to "every family having its own hard-to-read scripture." For couples bound by grudges, it is precisely a karmic seed of ill fate from past lives, sown into the present human world. Originally, there should have been loving couples and harmonious families, yet reality has turned out contrary to expectations. Over such a long stretch of time, there have been hardships and joys, bitterness and sweetness—all interwoven together.
It is inevitable for couples to have disagreements and arguments. As the ancient saying goes, "Quarrels at the head of the bed are reconciled at its foot." This reminds the world that communication between spouses is essential, especially during conflicts and disputes. Both parties must be willing to step back to achieve harmony and resolution. The adage "Quarrels at the head of the bed are reconciled at its foot" serves as a means to elevate sentient beings in their relationships.
To transform a resentful couple into a loving one has been, since ancient times, the true path from the perspective of both spouses, where mutual harmony and fulfillment for both parties are achieved. Before a couple becomes resentful, they were originally meant to be affectionate and caring partners. Why, then, do they turn into a pair filled with resentment? It is essential for both to reflect upon this.
A Couple of Gratitude and Grudges Mending Their Bond
When it comes to differences in ideology, emotional connection, and lifestyle habits between partners, it is essential to propose joint solutions and methods of communication. For couples in conflict, it is particularly necessary to identify the core issues and engage in two-way communication and integration, as this is recognized as a crucial approach to resolving their problems.
Otherwise, what would a pair of resentful partners think? Sentient beings often say: it’s always the other’s fault and wrongdoing; what eccentric or strange temper do I have? It’s just that the other never understands me. In such a situation, there is simply no common ground between the two parties, let alone any room for self-reflection and communication! If such a couple does not become resentful partners, that would truly be strange!
Nor do they understand where their strange habits and peculiar temperaments lie. Couples among sentient beings with affection are likely to know each other better than outsiders do, as they witness each other's daily habits and odd quirks. Is this not so? For troubled couples, reflecting on these strange habits and peculiar temperaments, and engaging in two-way communication on how to adjust and change, is the inevitable path to resolving issues.
Such unhappy couples, no matter how much they communicate or reflect, sometimes find it all in vain! Human factors that can be altered must be addressed through mutual communication and introspection, which can reduce the emergence of many resentful pairs and transform them into loving spouses and partners. Yet, at times, the grudges and karmic ties formed in past and accumulated lifetimes are transplanted into the present circumstances of cause and effect.
A couple, bound in mutual resentment, forms a union.
This resentment from past lives, implanted into the present life, often begins with a period of affectionate harmony and honeymoon-like bliss, lasting anywhere from three to five years. However, as time and circumstances evolve, differences in individual perspectives emerge, leading to opposing viewpoints between the two parties. If these cannot be resolved, it becomes necessary to readjust both sides' mindsets, values, perceptions, and habits of life.
If the disputes between both parties become too severe and irreconcilable, this situation offers a method for improvement: it is necessary to "renew the vows before heaven and earth and reaffirm the union." For such issues, the conditions of both sides must first be fully understood before adjustments can be made, as these are the fundamental prerequisites.
It is essential that both parties deeply love each other and remain steadfast, without being fickle or, worse yet, straying from the relationship—in modern terms: do not cheat. Such situations are often difficult to resolve and leave little room for reconciliation. In the realm of human emotions, should one allow the opportunity for a third party to intervene and disrupt the harmony of a family or marriage?
Whether there is room for reconciliation is a question that must be anticipated and prepared for in advance; otherwise, the other party may not always act out of their own will, but often driven by a retaliatory mindset—why can men do it, but women cannot? Under the influence of timing and circumstances, this often leads to many instances of infidelity.
How to Mend a Marriage of Love and Resentment
It is precisely this unchecked progression that often culminates in separation. In the union of husband and wife within the human realm, it is essential to clearly understand what actions are permissible and what are not, as well as what constitutes stumbling blocks in marriage and family life. Unhappy couples are often the result of your own negligence in vigilance, allowing the other party opportunities to exploit.
Often it is not your intention, but circumstances and timing allow a third party to intervene, creating an entanglement that becomes a stumbling block in marriage. Unless both parties have strayed to an irreparable extent, it is essential to heed the accumulated experiences of those who came before as a warning. Moreover, one must remember that this serves as an example of how human factors can be adjusted and changed, turning a loving couple into a resentful one.
It is essential to remember not to neglect vigilance, lest it lead to lifelong regret, burden society with costs, and cause you to lose a happy family. All virtuous habits of human beings often stem from the good and evil karma formed in past lives, which, combined with the present course of life, influence the harmony and affection between both spouses in their family life.
How Should Incompatible Couples Resolve Their Differences
At this point, the grievances between the couple become entrenched, and over time and space, they entangle their marital life, further straining the relationship between husband and wife. As time passes, resentment deepens continuously. How can this be resolved? The following points are offered for reference:
1. It is essential for both spouses to calm down and sit together for communication.
II. Both parties shall review their shortcomings, inadequacies, and deficiencies, and changes are also necessary.
III. Both parties hold their own perspectives and values, which must be mutually coordinated.
IV. The financial responsibilities of household life must be jointly undertaken by both parties.
5. The traditional notion of men managing external affairs and women managing domestic ones no longer aligns with today's social conditions. Both men and women share the responsibility to jointly undertake and be accountable for all matters within the household.
Six. In the matter of children's education, it is essential for both parents to play different roles—one acting as the "good cop" and the other as the "bad cop." This approach prevents children from becoming overly dependent and offers hope for raising them to achieve excellence. At the very least, it helps ensure they do not go astray.
Seven. Be filial to parents, live in harmony with brothers, sisters, and sisters-in-law, and cherish one another. This is akin to the importance of "the barrel and the hoop," serving a truly practical function.
8. Each family has a different background. Achieving family harmony requires the joint efforts of both partners—"the wife as the hoop" and "the husband as the barrel-maker"—with women often bringing particular flexibility to this endeavor.
9. Beyond your own family, there are also the families of your siblings. Do not let others think that you only care about your own household and refuse to participate in anything else. If you do, you will lose your place as a member of the extended family. Being too self-centered is also a sign of incompleteness.
Ten. A competent couple is one where both partners can: communicate with each other, reflect on themselves together, cherish each other, care for each other, complement each other, integrate with each other, support each other, create together, and build a happier family.
Eleven. Both sets of parents must be served with reverence and filial piety, personally attending to their well-being through warm greetings and thoughtful inquiries. Since their daughter has been given to you as your wife, it is only proper and in accordance with the great moral principles of humanity to extend filial devotion to your parents-in-law as well. Do not assume that once she is married into your family, the duty of filial care toward her parents should cease.
Twelve: It is even more essential to be filial to one's parents. Whether or not one lives with them, one is born of one's parents and must show them filial piety—this is a matter of natural and unchangeable principle. No one may ever erase the virtue of filial devotion. "Filial children beget filial offspring; the disobedient will bear disobedient sons." This is a bond of filial transmission that has endured through the ages and cannot be severed.
Husbands and wives in this world share love and affection—  
Why then do we fail to cultivate it within ourselves?
A mismatched couple is bound by a past-life fate;  
Understanding how to resolve it is crucial.
A loving couple cultivates true affection,  
Full communication thrives through reflection.
With sincere efforts from both sides to mend the situation, the next encounter shall bring a resolution.
This verse! Let us encourage one another, all sentient beings! To bring a loving couple to mutual fulfillment, and to resolve the entangled grievances of a discordant pair accumulated over lifetimes—these will be further analyzed in the next work. Thank you all for your efforts. May all be auspicious. Having lingered awhile at the Chongxin lineage, farewell for now!
Immortal Maiden of the Limitless Principle and Law
The interplay of the Wuji and karma unfolds,  
As the principles and Dharma descend upon Chongxin.
The Immortal Maiden takes her turn on duty today,  
The great path of karma bears the husband and wife.
All Saints, Buddhas, and virtuous beings, as well as the practitioners and scholars of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, the original venerable Bodhisattva Mahasthamaprapta has descended to compose the sixteenth installment of "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect," analyzing a pair of loving couples and a pair of resentful couples. The reasons why affectionate beings in marital relationships may separate will be further elucidated in the next installment. Thank you all for your hard work. May all be auspicious. Farewell!
2015, 0308, 2001 ◎＃※ OK;
Namo Manjushri Bodhisattva
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
The Supreme Mother of the Void and Boundless Earth Personally Descends to Write the Second Postscript
◆ Main Text ◆
第十六回  　 恩怨夫妻
Namo, all spirits are accomplished, Manjusri's virtue nourishes and protects all living beings.
The Bodhisattva Descends to Compose the Seventeenth Chapter: Resentful Debts Between Husband and Wife Must Be Settled
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
The Third Postscript to the Treatise on the Great Dao's Cause and Effect: Spreading Its Teachings to Transform the World
◆ Main Text ◆
第十七回　   怨債夫妻
The Necessity of Marital Inheritance
It is precisely through human factors that all marriages in the world are formed, serving as the foundation for the continuation of generations. This is an unalterable principle, universally applicable across all nations. Moreover, this continuation of generations is of utmost necessity, for without the union of husband and wife, how could future generations be brought forth?
Sentient beings rely on human relationships for their livelihood and growth, which inevitably involves three kinds of karmic connections: the virtuous bond between a couple, harmonious affinities, and karmic debts. The conduct and actions within the great path of human relations are essential for continuity. The transmission of humanity from person to person, this mutual interplay of karmic connections, has formed the foundation of all virtuous norms since ancient times.
The virtue and grace of grandparents and parents in nurturing their descendants should be promoted and upheld. This is achieved through the cultivation of human ethics and morality. The lineage passed down by ancestors is essential for ensuring the continuous flourishing and prosperous advancement of the human world, thereby fostering the emergence of outstanding future generations.
To all couples in the world who come to observe: it is truly like searching with a lantern, yet finding no second match. In the vast universe, all human marriages aim to carry on the lineage. Among these, many couples unite as one, caring for each other. It can be said that, apart from the bond between parents and children, no other relationship compares to the mutual fulfillment found in the partnership of husband and wife.
Why Do Spouses Incur Karmic Debts?
What factor among human beings surpasses even the bond of siblings to bring about such fulfillment? And why is it that the intimate relationship between husband and wife, which should originally be rooted in virtuous causes, loses its freshness over time? Moreover, why do both parties begin to find fault with each other, leading to numerous disagreements in thoughts, beliefs, and actions?
Ancient virtues of womanhood can serve as a reference for modern marriage. Only by embracing shared ideals can couples—whether harmonious or contentious—evolve into intimate lovers. While it is said that "all couples under heaven are bound by affection," the question remains: after lovers unite, can all couples under heaven truly live a life of mutual love and devotion?
How do contemporary humans view "lovers"? They are often seen as merely providing a sense of novelty for a limited period. If little changes over an extended time, that freshness fades. What society calls the "seven-year itch" often strikes long before seven years have passed, sometimes even leading to infidelity or divorce.
In relationships where both parties seek novelty, can such factors ensure that their deep affection for each other remains unwavering over time? Originally, the person one loves is also the one chosen by oneself. It is believed that through mutual recognition, the bond of marriage should be nurtured and enriched, fostering a closer relationship, which in turn can lay the foundation for passing on the legacy to future generations.
A husband and wife bound by resentment and debt are never content.
Once an intimate couple, why do they end up seeing each other as a nuisance, constantly nagging over trivial matters? Moreover, every expense in life requires the use of money; if income falls short of expenditures, it often leads to frequent quarrels between husband and wife over finances, as well as rifts and misunderstandings arising from various family matters.
If one is fortunate, such issues may be mitigated. However, after the birth of children, the pressures of raising, educating, and managing daily life can create significant rifts between a once-loving couple. These family dynamics often lead to differing perspectives and understandings, widening the gap between them.
Furthermore, when all matters fail to go as desired, resentment arises, leading to greater dissatisfaction between both spouses. Particularly, if either partner fails to manage their emotions appropriately, it can provoke quarrels, further fueling anger on both sides. In such situations, neither is willing to yield, and neither can take a step back or humble themselves to resolve the issue.
Adding to this, their temper flared to the boiling point, and their words grew even more unbearable. The more they looked at the other, the more contempt they felt, even resorting to throwing things to vent their anger. Without a second thought, fists would fly toward the other, causing great resentment on both sides. Especially when the fiery temper escalated further, it would lead to drawing blades, inflicting considerable harm on each other.
How can husband and wife resolve conflicts when they are at odds with each other?
At this moment, if no one intervenes to mediate, both parties will react very negatively. Each insists that they are not at fault, blaming the other entirely: "It's all your fault! It's all your fault! You're the one who's wrong! That's why I'm angry." Neither is willing to take a step back. How could a once-loving couple end up in such a situation?
This situation cannot be resolved in a day or two; there will inevitably be a period of cold war. If both sides cannot calm down and reexamine their anger, the conflict will persist. Only after they have fought and argued, and each feels deeply remorseful toward the other, will there be room for reconciliation.
If one always believes that the other party is too cruel and that one is entirely blameless, the problem will lead to more serious consequences. As both sides still need to strengthen their mutual adjustment, they must work through it repeatedly. After several rounds, when both have cooled down, it becomes easier to reconcile—"fighting at the head of the bed, making up at the foot"—and thus achieve harmony and mutual fulfillment.
This is a newly married couple, who will need some time to adjust to each other. Occasionally, arguments and conflicts arise, allowing both parties to vent their grievances, which can make it easier to find room for improvement and reconciliation. Moreover, having originally lived in different environments, they may only maintain their understanding of each other based on the intimate bond of marriage.
Formed by the grievances and debts between husband and wife.
Most people are not inclined to engage in two-way communication or show tolerance toward matters. However, when both parties can communicate and then practice tolerance, and even change undesirable behaviors, there tends to be greater room for reconciliation. If neither side can show tolerance, it is likely that the rift between them will deepen, creating many more gaps.
This applies to both newlyweds and couples married for a long time, and it is often unavoidable. If viewed from the perspective of Heaven: since a couple is married, they ought to love and cherish each other. Yet why does such lack of intimacy arise, with both parties prone to intense anger, and even leading to all manner of disputes like fighting and quarreling?
Once the anger has subsided, if neither party is able to apologize and make amends to the other, it will likely be difficult for the couple to reconcile and restore their relationship. If, on top of this, relatives and friends add fuel to the fire by encouraging or exaggerating the conflict, it can inflict significant damage on a marriage that might otherwise have been mended—as the saying goes, "couples who quarrel at the head of the bed make up at its foot."
At such times, it is best for family members not to intervene. This is how all couples in the world are—sometimes the more they quarrel, the closer they become; sometimes the more they fight, the more they understand and cherish each other. However, this is not always the case. For some, even a slight altercation can lead to serious consequences: "I am as precious as gold—you cannot touch me, let alone hit me. The next moment, we'll meet in court!"
Husbands and wives bound by grievances and debts are tied by predestined causes from past lives.
Then comes the parting of ways, ending in separation! Matters between husband and wife can be trivial or significant; it all depends on whether both parties cherish the "bond of marriage." If it is a couple bound by grievances and debts, the problems can indeed be grave! The next moment, one may file a lawsuit against the other—what your world calls "harm." Alas, what is the point!
When the mouth and tongue are constantly at odds, can one calm down to analyze the cause of the matter and understand the ins and outs of the problem? Often, what starts as a trivial issue escalates because both sides, with their fiery tempers, refuse to yield or admit defeat. In such moments, a spectacle unfolds—but is it truly necessary to let things come to this?
For such couples bound by mutual grievances, what should have been trivial matters often escalate into fierce conflicts. Why do they become so entangled, unleashing fiery tempers in arguments and fights, with neither willing to yield—the stronger striking the weaker, the weaker retaliating in turn, lest they feel they have wronged themselves? In the end, both end up wounded, and a sense of regret inevitably follows. Yet, for couples like these, there is still room for understanding.
Let the couple cool down their tempers. After the incident passes, both parties feel a hint of regret, thinking they shouldn’t have struck so hard. Only upon seeing the bruises do they feel embarrassed. Yet, hindered by pride and the need to save face, neither is willing to admit fault. "So what if I don’t? What are you going to do about it?" At this point, the affection between them has reached such a state.
A couple bound by resentment and debt is a kind of karmic entanglement.
Being able to give oneself an out, admit a mistake, or take a step back often paves the way for a broader and happier marital life in the future. This holds true even for highly educated individuals. Such couples are all too common around us today. What is described here does not yet constitute the actions of a truly troubled marriage; rather, it leaves ample room for both spouses to maneuver and reconcile.
If it is due to karmic debts, generally the woman tends to be more vulnerable while the man is more dominant. For an ordinary couple, it may be that the grievances and karmic debts accumulated from past lives and previous existences have, through the passage of time and transformation of circumstances, evolved into a marital bond in this life. Thus, if you wronged others in a past life, in this life they may be reborn as your family members to repeatedly seek retribution.
Women are generally more vulnerable and thus more susceptible to mistreatment. However, under different circumstances of time and space, there are also cases where men are subjected to severe abuse by women. Such instances, though relatively rare, do exist. In the process of retribution, the roles of the two parties may be reversed, with women becoming men and men becoming women, making it easier to exact retribution.
In your past life, you wronged others too deeply; in this life, you are made to suffer the same wrongs in return. Such cycles of grievance and retribution have given rise to many real-life cases of karmic retribution in the present world. In this process, a situation often arises that is exceedingly difficult to change. If you owed too much to others in your past life, you must repay it in this one—this aligns precisely with the principles of the law of cause and effect.
The grievances and debts between husband and wife are the trials of tempering and adjustment.
Can a contentious marriage find greater room for improvement? This depends on the temperaments of both parties, their perspectives, their responses, and their understanding. Moreover, those who enter into marriage as human beings must possess mutual understanding and awareness. Do you still love him? Or have you already strayed? This may have caused the bond between you and your spouse to plummet to its lowest point.
This situation is a different matter. If it is merely a momentary flare of anger, and there remains deep affection for each other, with frequent recollections of past sweetness and the other’s many virtues, then there is still hope. As long as the couple has not yet divorced, there is ample room for improvement and opportunity for reconciliation.
Regarding the cycle of cause and effect, it essentially involves resolving grievances and debts between both parties, and rekindling the affection and loyalty between husband and wife. However, one should not dwell on the other's virtues only after separation. If the other party remains single, there is still a chance for reconciliation. But if they have remarried, you will have no opportunity at all. The key lies in whether both sides still harbor love for each other.
How to Resolve the Karmic Debts Between Husband and Wife
This is one of the most crucial aspects: if love for the other person has already faded, how can a heart that has grown cold be reignited? At this point, attempting to salvage the relationship becomes exceedingly difficult. However, if both parties allow time to test their feelings, significant changes may yet unfold.
Do not give up on this glimmer of hope. The key to restoring the marital bond lies in reigniting the possibility of reconciliation between husband and wife. This is a promising point of improvement. If there remains even a trace of affection in their mutual understanding, there is hope. Yet the greatest fear is that their hearts have grown cold—how then can the flame be rekindled? If that is the case, it may already be impossible.
Before deciding to separate, think it through carefully. Do not wait until the situation has become quite severe to remember the other person's virtues; do not fail to make efforts to reconcile and resolve conflicts, only to wish for a broken mirror to be made whole again when matters have become irreparable. By then, time and circumstances will have changed, and it will be too late. Regret will follow you persistently thereafter. Sentient beings often act this way. Alas!
A debt of resentment is not beyond redemption;  
Consider well before you part ways.
Strengths and weaknesses of both parties should be re-evaluated and mutually cultivated.
Contentment, tolerance, and care,  
Gratitude, acceptance, and kind understanding.
Communication is a good approach; taking a step back from each other ensures lasting affection.
Regarding the resolution of grievances and debts between spouses, the next installment will feature even more remarkable works. This is the divine will of Heaven, hoping that in this current generation, couples who have separated may find greater reconciliation. Presently, the Chongxin Sect has newly established the "Lamp of Marital Harmony and Bliss" by the celestial beings and Buddhas. For modern individuals contemplating separation in the future, this serves as a timely wake-up call. We extend our apologies for the brief disturbance to the Chongxin Sect. Thank you all for your hard work. Farewell for now!
Bodhisattva of the Western Scripture of Principles
The Great Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss  
Where the Sutra of Principles aids the sincere heart in its ascent.
Today, the Bodhisattva takes up the duty of rotation,  
The great path of cause and effect unfolds its virtuous nature.
All Saints, Buddhas, and virtuous beings, as well as the fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, by the descent of Namo Great Wisdom Manjushri Bodhisattva, the seventeenth chapter of "The Causality of the Great Dao" is composed. The first half of "Resentment-Debt Spouses" will be analyzed here, while the next chapter will address how couples can cultivate and adjust after separation, and whether they can achieve their own wishes.
Or, if the bond of affection has already been severed, how should one seek resolution? By gaining a clearer understanding of the "theory of karma" concerning human beings and couples, greater benefits can be achieved. This can also reduce the distress of marital separation in the world, preventing situations where "pretend play turns into reality" and regret becomes unavoidable. It is hoped that everyone can learn and grow together. Thank you all for your efforts. Until we meet again!
2015, 0308, 2002 ◎＃※ OK;
Namo Samantabhadra Bodhisattva
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
Postscript      Three
◆ Main Text ◆
第十七回　   怨債夫妻
Homage to the descent of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva,  
The Great Path of cause and effect heralds auspicious fortune.
Due to the supreme conditions, teachings are imparted;  
Husband and wife, as karmic adversaries, are not the same.
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
The Void, Limitless, Jasper Lake, Golden Mother Empress Descends in Person to Pen the Third Preface
◆ Main Text ◆
第十八回  　夫妻冤家
How Couples Turn into Adversaries
When sentient beings enter the human world, they form marital unions, and through these unions, the combination of male and female, of yin and yang, comes into being. In such unions, husband and wife are originally meant to be a sweet and harmonious pairing. Yet, after a period of time, with the arrival of offspring, differences in theories and perspectives on nurturing and education arise, each viewed from the distinct angles of both parties.
Sometimes, the husband believes one thing is right while the wife disagrees, leading to a lack of consensus between them. Over time, this can affect the intimacy and bond of the couple. Additionally, daily expenses such as "firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea," along with various social obligations, often influence the couple's perceptions and understanding of each other.
Furthermore, financial strain can create a disconnect between spouses, making it difficult for both parties to bear the pressure of monetary burdens. As the Taiwanese proverb goes, it becomes a "battle of words"—an opportunity for friction and conflict. If either or both partners can take a step back, the marital relationship is more likely to remain sweet and harmonious. However, if the gap in understanding between them grows too wide, the chasm gradually deepens.
Such matters can affect a once sweet and loving couple, reducing them to a relationship of mere grudges and grievances. If the gap in understanding between the two is too wide, and they are unable to communicate with each other, their marital affection may gradually be pushed into the cold. Although they still live under the same roof, they may end up in a state of cold war.
Enemy Couples and Couple Enemies
However, not sharing the same room leads to living separately, causing affection to gradually fade. The opportunities for quarrels between husband and wife increase, and over time, they may stop speaking altogether upon meeting. Sometimes, they may even find each other quite detestable. At this point, the once-loving couple has turned into a resentful pair.
Just as the Taiwanese saying goes, "Enemies, enemies—without enmity, there is no home; without conflict, no marriage can be formed." Such situations are widespread today. Originally, it was believed that one could search with a lantern and never find a second person—"if not you, I won’t marry; if not you, I won’t wed"—a perfect partner. This holds true whether the marriage was arranged by a matchmaker or formed through one’s own courtship.
Thus it can be said: that once pure and fresh feeling of the past has long since vanished, no one knows where it has gone. Perhaps the more one looks at the other, the more displeasing they become. At times, after quarrels and provocations in speech, one even feels the urge to strike them, harboring deep-seated resentment. Why has all the affection and camaraderie that once existed between the loving couple disappeared without a trace?
Why does a loving couple reach the point of severing their bond, where both partners find fault with each other? At such times, it is necessary to readjust their steps and direction. If the feeling of discontent persists, it may help to calm the heart and reflect on why the once-beloved person no longer appears as beautiful or handsome as before.
The perspectives held by husband and wife differ.
In those bygone days, where has that person gone—the one you vowed to marry and who vowed to marry none but you? And how will a pair of "adversarial spouses, or spouses as adversaries" fare in their life together? In such a marriage, quarrels are inevitable: friction, bickering, and verbal sparring are common occurrences, and a little of it now and then does no harm.
However, for couples who have become adversaries, it is necessary to reexamine the situation. The initial spark between the two has long since faded, and such circumstances may well befall you! Do you also feel numb—no longer applying makeup, no longer grooming your appearance, no longer loving the other, no longer expressing affection, merely drifting through each day in a bland and uneventful routine?
When all these issues accumulate, they form numerous factors that create a chasm between the two of you. The handsome man and beautiful woman you once knew have now lost their hair, grown bellies, and thickened waistlines, no longer possessing the same dashing or charming beauty. Consider whether you too have changed in this way, unable to return to the appearance of days gone by.
Why must you resent the shortcomings of your other half, creating even greater turmoil? This only reinforces the insurmountable obstacles that prevent mutual fulfillment. By engaging in the pattern of "spouses as adversaries and adversaries as spouses," such conflicts will only deepen and persist between you, repeatedly turning marital bonds into battlegrounds. What are your thoughts on this dynamic within a marriage?
A couple at odds must have empathy for each other.
Enemies as spouses and spouses as enemies: The issue thus formed is that sentient beings in the human world experience the "seven-year itch." In today's era, the itch sets in long before seven years have passed, and it often arises from being "first to enjoy the moonlight by the waterside pavilion"—that is, infidelity. This makes it extremely difficult for one spouse to understand what the other is doing and why the relationship cannot withstand the test of time.
Willing to abandon one's own happy family and betray a loved one for another, the once-beloved handsome gentleman or beautiful lady from the past has vanished. For sentient beings with emotions, could it be that feelings have faltered or that time and years have accumulated, causing them to no longer be a pair of intimate lovers as husband and wife? Instead, they grow increasingly displeasing to each other's eyes and drift further apart into unfamiliarity.
This situation should be prevented, or one should not turn a blind eye to it. If it is ignored, what may be lost in the end is a happy family. As for your beloved partner, whether you give them the opportunity, or provide them with reasons to stray and excuses for infidelity, there will be plenty of them.
Was it caused by one's own carelessness and indulgence, leading to the destruction of one's own marriage? In the future, there may often be scenes of intense quarrels and conflicts. Is it worth pondering whether this should be allowed? Is it worth it? Is this what one truly desires? How should one weigh and grasp one's own thoughts? The union and dissolution of marital bonds among human beings are both created and controlled by oneself.
How Should Couples Engage in Self-Reflection
If you wish to reconcile or break apart, do not act rashly! Can restoration be achieved? That itself presents a host of major issues. Does the other party have an affair, or has the situation already spiraled beyond control? It is truly helpless! Both spouses must examine where the fault lies—have I been too excessive? Is the other's behavior truly unforgivable?
This kind of issue requires one to calm down and take the time to reflect seriously, avoiding any impulsive actions driven by emotion. In today’s world, people should first examine themselves, considering whether their views on marriage and their actions are appropriate, and whether they risk losing their marriage. If both parties cannot calm down and sit together to communicate properly,
Both parties should carefully reflect on each other's strengths and weaknesses, merits and flaws, and avoid acting willfully. The notion that the next man will be better, or the next woman will be better—what good outcome can such thinking and behavior possibly bring? If one cannot properly cherish and manage the present, how can they expect to do any better with the next? Do not treat marriage as a game!
If children have already been born, all aspects of their upbringing and education require responsibility toward one's own offspring. Have you all not considered these issues, and instead only wish to hastily end this marriage, so that you can like another, love another, and then replace them again? If so, this is what humans often call: it’s just more novel!
The habits and temperaments of husband and wife are not the same.
If one harbors such thoughts and notions, they are more likely to indulge in a broader sense of permissiveness. This leads to the question of why the emotional bonds between human couples often remain trapped in the whirlpool of extramarital affairs, with great difficulty in breaking free. For those who believe the next man or the next woman will be better, unless there is an occurrence of brutal, malicious, or murderous behavior from the man involved.
He is well-versed in indulgence and vice, even to the point of being gluttonous and lazy, treating his wife as worthless. As for women who are fickle, unfaithful, who rage at home, disrespect their husbands, and spend money recklessly while being lazy and gluttonous—such men and women should be admonished as much as possible. If they can be reformed and changed, they will surely be able to rebuild a happy family. This is the right path.
Otherwise, if violence is inflicted upon you, leading to an irreparable situation, have you considered whether all your children's futures can withstand such endurance and bear the burden? If not, you must absolutely not lightly speak of divorce, as it would result in an even more difficult-to-recover outcome. It is by no means certain that the next man or woman will be better, especially if you lacked experience in your first marriage!
Perhaps it is "one's own vision is unclear, and being deceived due to lack of experience," with eyes veiled—now is the time to awaken. One must make a firm resolution: the upbringing and education of children are indeed real issues that must be discussed clearly and thoroughly by both parties. Where, then, do all the problems lie?
The Blind Spots of a Married Couple
If both parties refuse to accept the situation and resort to physical violence, it is likely not a normal, sustainable human marriage, and thus there is legitimate reason for a normal divorce. If a divorce is to be pursued, one must carefully consider all potential issues that may arise, avoiding any lingering emotional attachments that could lead to reuniting, only to face violence again. Do you believe such a path could lead to happiness?
If the broken mirror can be made whole again, with both parties examining and resolving all issues, it is believed that such an outcome would be welcomed, celebrated, and blessed by all. Yet, should one reflect on whether their understanding of each other's life orientations truly aligns? If, after separation, ties remain unbroken and one wishes to return but cannot bring about significant change, the heart will inevitably be filled with hesitation and unrest.
Both parties should sit down and communicate thoroughly once again, clearly acknowledging each other's shortcomings, deficiencies, and mistakes. This will allow the couple to renew their commitment, readjust their relationship, and once again pledge their vows before heaven and earth. This is a manifestation of divine compassion and grace, as some couples are destined to experience multiple marital relationships in their lifetime.
Those destined to have multiple spouses, whether men seeking "three wives and four concubines" or women seeking "three husbands and four partners," can alter their fate. This is affirmed by Heaven. Couples may "renew their vows before heaven and earth" to restore their original marital bond, freeing both from the fear of an unhappy union. By reconciling and starting anew, they can build a blissful marriage.
How would a husband and wife, bound by fate yet at odds, come together again?
Why do couples become adversaries? It is essential to reexamine whether the mutual understanding and values between both parties have lost their freshness, and whether they have grown increasingly displeased with each other, leading to a prolonged reluctance to return to the family. On the husband's part, there may be many reasons and justifications that allow him to stay away from home.
For wives, there are relatively few such reasons or justifications for leaving home, as the responsibilities of raising children largely fall upon women. In the marital relationships of human beings, it is essential for both parties to be grateful for the selfless contributions of each other. As a worldly saying goes: marrying a wife is like bringing home a household laborer—a domestic servant.
Without paying any salary or providing a better living environment, such a woman works as a Taiwanese laborer and maid, toiling all her life only to be constantly criticized by men in the end. This is not the way a husband should treat his wife. If men think women are easy to bully, they should know that today is an era of rising and flourishing women's rights.
In the past, one often heard of mothers-in-law mistreating their daughters-in-law. Now, those daughters-in-law have endured and become mothers-in-law themselves. Modern daughters-in-law have significantly higher levels of education—doctorates, master’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and more. Every woman has her own ideas and ways of doing things. In today’s generation, daughters-in-law are no longer like those of the past who could be mistreated by their mothers-in-law.
Contemporary daughters-in-law have already raised their heads.
In today's times, the situation is reversed; if a mother-in-law manages not to be mistreated by her daughter-in-law, even if she has great blessings, she can consider herself fortunate. The circumstances and conditions of the world have changed from the past, and parents must now be wiser to avoid being secretly scorned by their daughters-in-law. This is a reflection of the changing times and circumstances.
In exploring the fundamental causes of the transmission of filial piety, it is essential to genuinely restore its essence, guided by a broad direction of moral education. The sense of value that each spouse attributes to their own actions and behaviors has long differed from the past. Consequently, why is it increasingly difficult for both parties to integrate their lives together, gradually leading to mutual aversion?
This refers to a phase in a couple's domestic life where prolonged and unreserved exposure to each other leads to the complete loss of intimacy and novelty. Spending too much time together often results in a cooling-off period, which requires the couple—who may sometimes feel like adversaries—to make changes and introduce some variation to rekindle the spark.
In truth, regardless of how a married couple feels toward each other, there are often moments of sweetness, sourness, intimacy, quarrels, disputes, love, resentment, and times when they simply refuse to speak to one another—ignoring you outright. Yet deep down, the heart wonders: Why won’t you take a step back? Why won’t you admit your mistake? Why won’t you give in a little more for me?
How to Resolve Animosity Between Husband and Wife
Why won't you apologize to me? Both sides are stubbornly clinging to their own views, driven by pride and face-saving. I am absolutely not at fault; I am the one who is right; my reasons are justified; I am the one who has sacrificed and given. You simply do not know how to cherish me; you simply do not love me; you have completely lost all sense of romance.
Thus, one becomes indifferent and no longer stirs any affection, even ceasing to care for me and the entire family. How should the difficulties formed between husband and wife be resolved? Men! Can you not yield a little more? Take a step back, and the world will open up before you—there is no need to contend with the wife you love and cherish most.
It is essential to communicate with gentle persuasion and kind words. Sincerely offer your beloved wife more sweet and comforting words, and put in a little extra effort to bring her joy. Believe that what she returns to you will far exceed the "little sweet nothings" you offer—at the very least, it will foster a warm and happy family.
One should be capable of deeply cherishing all sentient beings, for only then can the path to marital happiness be eternally sustained. Are you wise enough to embrace this? A woman is like water—however you shape her, she will adapt; whatever you give her, she will return in kind. Believe that with joy in the heart and willingness in the soul, abundance will follow. Are you willing?
How Should an Incompatible Couple Achieve Harmony
Moreover, there are countless women who, for the sake of your family alone, toil like oxen and horses, sacrificing and dedicating their entire youth. And there are even more things that wives and women contribute. O men, sentient beings with emotions! It is essential to wholeheartedly appreciate the well-intentioned and sincere advice of the immortal and Buddha teachers; one must also be able to clearly recognize the truth that "women are like water."
It can embrace all the flaws and virtues of the other, and one wonders if the husbands of the world, as the embodiment of the masculine principle, are capable of deeply loving their wives. This is a deeper analysis of all the "estranged couples" and "couple adversaries" in the current era, with the hope that you all aspire to and strive for a good marital life, creating a happy family.
It is possible to grow old together in harmony, with mutual affection and deep love, passing on the happiness of the family. Are you willing to achieve this? Not necessarily! I advise you to renew your vows before heaven and earth, to transform past marital difficulties, and to embrace significant learning and growth. The way for a husband and wife to live together lies solely in treating each other with genuine kindness.
Sincerely and deeply loving each other, with unwavering faithfulness throughout this life and beyond, forms the very foundation of a blissful and harmonious family. This is the fundamental driving force that guides all human beings in nurturing the bond between husband and wife. One must first give of oneself wholeheartedly to receive the affection returned by the other. Thus, we earnestly hope: may all lovers unite in marriage, and may all who are united remain ever in love. Strive for this with all your heart!
The couple at odds is oneself;  
Husband and wife, adversaries, deceive each other.
If both parties can alter their reasoning,  
they will calmly engage in mutual reflection.
Do not resort to violence against the body, nor can the time for correcting mistakes be altered.
With sincere love between husband and wife, happiness and affection last until the white-haired end.
This verse is offered to all sentient beings for mutual encouragement! Although:
A harmonious couple is the norm in a household,  
While a bickering pair must change their form.
Able to dissolve past karma,  
The affection of husband and wife is fully manifested.
This is the true vision for married couples to grow old together in harmony, where there is no need to envy others, and one can create a happy and harmonious family filled with warmth and security. This is the very hope of Heaven and the divine beings. Let us not continue to contribute to the high divorce rates in mainland China and Taiwan, as this is not a positive trend!
Do not sign divorce papers in the heat of anger, only to regret it later and bring suffering upon your descendants. It is essential to first cultivate patience and sincerity in communication between both parties, addressing and resolving the issues at hand. The recently established "Lamp of Marital Harmony and Bliss" in the Chongxin lineage aims precisely to dissolve grievances and debts between spouses.
For the first time, igniting and manifesting in the human world can dissolve the karmic debts accumulated over lifetimes between spouses, and recreate a happy, harmonious family. Do you desire this? Through your own efforts, you can attain it. Often, with willingness to strive, situations can turn around. It is essential to cherish the "affection, loyalty, and emotional bond" between husband and wife.
The Bodhisattva Who Transmitted the Scriptures to the West
The Western world descends upon us,  
Spreading the scriptures requires wisdom to unfold.
Today, the Bodhisattva takes the duty shift,  
Arranging the great Dao's karma as desired.
All Saints, Buddhas, virtuous students, and fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Tao Academy, good evening! Today, the revered Samantabhadra Bodhisattva has descended in person to compose the eighteenth chapter of "The Great Tao of Cause and Effect." This chapter addresses how couples and families can mutually resolve karmic conflicts and support one another, as well as how to establish a happy family life, with the hope of achieving greater elevation and understanding.
I wonder if today's divine edicts from the immortals and Buddhas are sufficient to guide and fulfill you all? How do the realizations differ from person to person? And how is it that every household has its own difficult scripture to recite? Each of you can learn and grow through the celestial book of "The Great Dao's Cause and Effect," and thus come to understand everything. Thank you for your hard work. May all be auspicious. Farewell!
2015, 0308, 2003 ◎＃※ OK;
Namo Akashagarbha Bodhisattva
◆ Decree ◆
The Book Completed and the Decree Delivered
◆ Main Text ◆
第十八回  　夫妻冤家
Namo, all beings descend to the mundane world;  
In the void, the truth of karma is concealed.
The Bodhisattva Descends to Compose the Nineteenth Chapter: Extramarital Afflictions Forge the Seeds of Suffering
第十九回　   婚外情孽
The karmic entanglement of extramarital affairs among sentient beings.
In today's era, society has already achieved equality between women and men. Influenced by Western nations, both mainland China and Taiwan have seen women gain opportunities to work outside the home, providing an additional income to support their families. Through the labor, dedication, and time contributed by wives and women, this extra income helps cover household expenses.
However, the era of men as breadwinners and women as homemakers has passed. In today's world, it is difficult to balance all household expenses on a single salary from the husband alone. Without the additional income of a wife to help cover family costs, men in the human world can no longer command the same authority as in the past and must embrace a new era of equality.
For wives who are homemakers, being able to stand as equals with their husbands not only makes them the spiritual pillars of the family and role models for their children, but also reflects a shift in today's world toward gender equality—or even a trend where women surpass men. Originally a phenomenon in Western nations, this concept has evolved as it has taken root in Chinese society.
For working women, contributing to household expenses can supplement their husbands' income, providing dual salaries that help balance the overall family budget and serve as a significant pillar of support. This enables dual-income families to enjoy a more affluent lifestyle. Moreover, women in the workplace must stand on equal footing with men, engaging in multifaceted negotiations and interactions.
Formed from the Sin of Extramarital Affair
In the workplace or other settings, men and women often have frequent opportunities and extended periods of contact. This proximity between the sexes allows for prolonged interaction. Under the influence of such "close proximity breeding familiarity," if one party becomes attracted to the other, especially when coupled with slight dissatisfaction at home, it can lead to further developments.
When both parties come into contact and pour out their grievances to each other, it is easy for mutual affection and pity to arise. Moreover, if one party, whether intentionally or unintentionally, half-heartedly resists, or if colleagues have the chance to travel together to other areas, the romantic ambiance of moonlight and flowers, combined with an elegant atmosphere, can create a significant opportunity for infidelity.
For modern individuals, the so-called "seven-year itch" that once required marriage to manifest, now itches incessantly in this era, with no need to wait even seven years before infidelity—cheating—occurs. In the workplace, closer interpersonal connections, combined with today's increasingly open society, have led to a continuous rise in opportunities for extramarital affairs.
Many such cases have also been created, not limited to extramarital affairs formed solely in the workplace; humans are emotional beings. Originally, such situations only occurred in European and American countries, but after being introduced to mainland China and Taiwan, they have taken on a different form, even becoming more frenzied in committing "the sin of extramarital affairs." This is precisely what modern people refer to as: having an affair and cheating.
Extramarital affairs are a betrayal of family.
This act of infidelity and betrayal feels novel and thrilling to oneself, as if such a joyful experience is happening to you personally, and you wish to give it a try, to experience all the twists and turns of the process. I ask everyone: when you seek pleasure upfront, only to be met with pain and sin later on, do you not feel deeply ashamed?
How should one face their own husband or wife? This is the most intolerable aspect of "the sin of extramarital affairs." Modern people often think that sneaking around is thrilling and novel. If you believe it to be so, what if the affair is exposed and discovered? Can you face your family and live each day with peace of mind? Surely not!
If one believes that their actions can go unnoticed by others, they are mistaken. Do not think that the heavens are high and without eyes or ears; every single action, movement, word, and deed of each person is meticulously recorded by the divine. This record is stored in the IC micro-crystal within each individual, indelible across all lifetimes.
Your deeds are recorded in the mirror of retribution within the underworld's core and within the microchips of both you and the other party; that is, they are imprinted in the eighth consciousness of humanity, marked with the great stain of "infidelity." Like a modern-day video recorder, every action is captured within it, impossible to falsify or slander, with no chance of denial.
The Process of Extramarital Affair Karma
In any matter, do not speak of other beginnings. In this life, you have already become someone's wife or husband, according to the laws and principles of the present era—a monogamous system. If you, tempted by those who are conveniently close, resort to malicious means to draw near and seduce, perhaps you may think yourself remarkable. But if so, you are truly naive.
Next, it will be your family who will face the reckoning and retribution for your actions. Moreover, in your next life, you will be reborn as a woman, toyed with by others and devoid of shame—truly, anyone could be your husband, anyone could be your wife. If you indulge in excessive promiscuity, the prevalent diseases of this era, such as AIDS, will haunt you for the rest of your days.
Moreover, when drug addiction takes hold, leading to festering sores that keep others at a distance, the retribution is not limited to the present moment. It also drags down one's family and brings about evil karma for future lives. Such sins, born of human actions, must be understood truthfully. Cases of such retribution are all too common today, and it is my hope that everyone may take heed.
Among sentient beings, there are some women of the yin path and men of the yang path who truly do not know how to write the word "shame." This must be addressed through education and moral cultivation. Do you think that by toying with another's wife or husband, you will escape unscathed and avoid retribution? This is an even greater ignorance. In the future, a bitter fate will surely await you.
The Pleasure of Extramarital Affairs
Do not think that because you are now handsome, charming, and graceful, and with your silver tongue, generous gestures, and tender care, you can take advantage of these more virtuous married women. Do not believe that in your current pride and high spirits, it will not be long before Heaven first depletes all the blessings of this life that you are owed.
You will squander all your wealth and property, see your family torn apart, and lose every material comfort. In this life, merely for the sake of a flower-gathering bee and a rotten peach blossom—as the saying goes, "obsessed with the flower bush"—you will forfeit all the blessings accumulated over countless lifetimes. Tell me, is it worth it?
I fear that in your next life, you may not be reborn as a human again. Instead, you may be reborn as poultry, as a rooster surrounded by a large flock of hens. Surely, as you wish, you will have many hens to accompany and frolic with you day and night for your entire lifetime! How would you feel then? Would you truly spend your life in such bliss? Is this how you behave now?
If a woman of the Kun (feminine) path uses her appearance to attract attention and flaunt her charm, believing herself to be highly capable at the moment, relying on her youthful beauty to deceive others out of their property and disrupt the happiness of families—such behavior will make it difficult for her to attain true "peace of mind and inner tranquility" in this lifetime. In youth, she may deceive others by relying on her physical appearance.
The Issue of Extramarital Affair Karma
By then, your body will be covered in sores and emit a foul stench, and all men will have long since abandoned you. In your next life, you will be reborn as a sow or a dairy cow, forever burdened with a heavy set of teats, joyfully suckled by piglets and calves (as machines do in this world). You will be reborn life after life as a sow or a dairy cow, forever in bliss.
In this life, if you betray, deceive, cheat, or harm others, do not think there will be no immediate retribution. You must understand that the law of "karmic retribution" has accelerated sixteenfold. In the past, it was difficult to witness the consequences of karma, but now it is hastened, allowing modern people to see and hear such outcomes clearly and truthfully. Yet, many among sentient beings who possess emotions remain utterly unaware of this reality.
Whether willing or not, such issues often arise from a state of half-hearted compliance, bringing with them a sense of novelty and excitement. In the moment, it feels exhilarating, but what follows? Often, it is a fleeting pleasure that leads to lifelong suffering. As for one's own husband or wife, such sensations no longer exist—they have long since grown numb.
Why does such a situation often occur in the outside world or the workplace? Over time, affection develops—you care for the other person, and they care for you. Gradually, feelings grow. In truth, such affection should only be akin to that between siblings. However, if a man becomes deeply involved, some may turn back in time, while others may fall too far, leading to the breakdown of a family.
An extramarital affair is not meant to last.
If a woman falls into such a situation, the majority find it difficult to turn back. Why is this so? It is often because marital life has become rather dull and monotonous, lacking that sense of novelty and excitement. If the man she encounters is merely a "flower-chasing bee"—clinging closely before obtaining what he desires, only to disdain her as "spoiled goods" afterward—the predicament deepens.
It is all too easy to be discarded; once used, one loses novelty, and turning back may seem simple. Yet the greatest fear lies in those who remain deeply entangled, finding it harder than reaching the heavens to achieve a harmonious family in this lifetime. It is precisely the destruction of familial happiness that one brings upon oneself. For the afflictions of extramarital affairs in this present age, we must keep this firmly in mind.
Do not cast a shadow over the husband, wife, or family members. This sense of shame makes one unable to face their own loved ones, and may even invite criticism and gossip from neighbors. In such circumstances, one would feel too ashamed to face you: in-laws, parents, husband, wife, children, relatives, and society at large.
Often, merely for a moment of playful pleasure, one commits acts that are difficult to remedy and bring deep shame. Do you think it is worth it? How to guard against such problems, and how to cultivate the unwavering determination and perseverance to stop and never repeat them—this depends on whether one can exercise self-control, or whether one can rely on religious faith to bring about a transformation. It is about taking responsibility for one’s own life.
End the Affair of Sin
All religions across the world show no sympathy toward such extramarital transgressions, which are often regarded as grave and irreparable sins. This holds true in the present era, regardless of one's affiliation with any established faith, and is particularly emphasized in Confucianism, Daoism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. The orthodox Confucian tradition likewise upholds this principle, treating it as a solemn precept.
It is essential to stop it from the very beginning—giving no opportunity to the other party, nor to oneself, and neither to the husband nor to the wife. If such preventive measures still prove ineffective, one should first enlighten both parties with righteousness. Then, there will be a way to construct contemplation through the "meditation on the skeleton."
At that moment, the woman is beautiful, gentle, considerate, and empathetic, while the man is handsome, charming, witty, and generous. Such allure captivates and intoxicates the heart. If one applies the Buddhist contemplation of "the skeleton meditation" at this time, it would greatly reduce the turmoil. The greatest fear is when one’s own heart is stirred—then the heart flutters like a startled deer, torn between desire and hesitation.
The sin of extramarital affairs lies with oneself.
If the other party flirts or pursues you intensely, can you give them a stern warning and firmly reject them? Under no circumstances should there be any bullying or invasive behavior. If it truly cannot be stopped, you should discuss the matter with your husband or wife, or you may also leave the environment to bring it to an end, thereby avoiding the emergence of further complications.
Human beings are emotional creatures. When people grow close to one another, it is essential to maintain proper boundaries and uphold integrity even in private, so as not to be led astray by momentary vanity or greed, which would bring shame upon one’s family. How could one bear to do such a thing? The foundation of being a person lies in truly and earnestly engraving these principles in one’s heart—this is the right path.
If one harbors even the slightest improper thought and acts upon it, indulging in the fleeting thrill of an extramarital affair—what follows in the very next moment? Pain and regret inevitably catch up, and what can one do then? To endure the criticism of others and the shame of being pointed at and gossiped about—is it truly worth it? Be cautious and guard against this!
The bond between husband and wife in this life is preordained from a previous existence—let there be no deviation.
One husband, one wife, growing old together;  
A harmonious family extends blessings and prosperity.
Harming another's spouse demands retribution,  
A body laden with sin is unbearable to bear.
Brief pleasures ruin a lifetime; future retribution brings bitter karmic obstacles.
This verse! Let it serve as mutual encouragement among all sentient beings! Take the deficiencies, shortcomings, and errors of the human world as warnings to elevate and transcend. Otherwise, do you think elevation and transcendence are possible? Once even slightly tainted, they become impossible to amend—can they be erased? No, they cannot. Reflect deeply upon this! I apologize for troubling everyone within the Chongxin lineage for this time. Farewell!
Western Bodhisattva Daoyan
The Western Paradise of Great Bliss  
The Daoist assembly ascends the platform to gather virtuous talents.
The Bodhisattva takes duty today,  
At the end of the great path's karma array.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and fellow scholars of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, the Buddhist Bodhisattva Namo Xukongzang has descended to compose the nineteenth chapter of "The Great Dao Cause and Effect," titled "The Unwholesome Acts of Extramarital Afflictions." This serves to help everyone understand that the retribution of evil karma will inevitably affect one's future, causing all good fortune and blessings to fade away, while also bringing shame upon one's family.
This is an utterly unacceptable matter, a karmic debt of affection that brings more loss than gain. Everyone should take this as a warning and not squander the rare cultivation opportunities of this present life—only then is it the true path. Moreover, Bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha shares a profound karmic connection with our sect’s lineage, though he rarely descends to impart writings. Very well, we shall conclude here for today. Thank you all for your efforts. Farewell!
2015, 0308, 2004◎＃※ OK;
Namo Ananda Bodhisattva
Namo, thus have I heard,  
Ananda came forth to display his wisdom.
Twenty Cycles of Cause and Effect in the Great Dao  
Passions and Karmic Debts Are Cleansed, Sins Dissipated and Gone
第二十回   　情孽修整
How to Rectify the Karma of Extramarital Affairs
After sentient beings enter the human world, they have consistently relied on the framework of love and desire for support. Humanity is bound together through "affection, passion, karmic ties, and emotions." It is the presence of desires and needs that drives creation and progress. Only by transcending all worldly desires can one attain the superior path of the Bodhisattva who is awakened to sentient beings.
Sentient beings inherently possess the factors of affection, love, gratitude, and resentment, which serve as the emotional bonds that support and sustain human relationships. This involves distinguishing between the emotional and rational aspects of feelings, yet it treats all beings equally without discrimination. This is an undeniably true reflection of human emotions, making no distinction between the love of spouses, the affection of children, the devotion of parents, the bonds of relatives, the camaraderie of siblings, or the closeness of dear friends.
After various elements have integrated into the human world, they are often bound by emotions. As humans are emotional beings who live through the influence of feelings, emotions intertwine with the factors of the human world. In the current era, it can be said that this is a time of extramarital affairs and infidelity. Since these phenomena were introduced from Europe and America into China, they have become even more rampant.
They have not learned any of the good causes, conditions, or customs of others, but instead have absorbed many of their negative customs and influences. This is due to the errors, deficiencies, and shortcomings of sentient beings driven by emotions. It is precisely because of the continuation of emotional bonds that marital unions come into being, and after a couple joins together, a family life begins.
Methods for Resolving Karmic Afflictions
This is the primary karmic entity that Heaven has long awaited, which, under the framework of the monogamous system, governs the behaviors and actions of humanity. It should be said that ancient humans were relatively kind, honest, and virtuous, whereas contemporary men and women are less inclined to uphold the established moral and ethical norms.
One might then believe oneself to be quite charming, possessing both handsome grace and captivating beauty, capable of drawing the attention of others. As the ancients said: "A wicked glance is exchanged and shared." In modern terms, it is like casting a flirtatious look—a spark that must be mutual between two unmarried individuals to stir affection and lead to a union in marriage.
This marks the beginning of a family's creation. There was a time when the openness of Europe and America spread to the Central Plains, bringing with it many customs, favorable circumstances, and positive outcomes from those nations. However, instead of learning their virtues, people introduced the worst vice—infidelity and extramarital affairs—into the heartland of China and Taiwan, thus corrupting the human spirit.
The divorce rate has become one of the highest in the world, causing increasingly negative impacts. This should be regarded as the greatest obstacle to overcome, as it is truly unacceptable to speak of divorce so lightly and frequently. Humans may believe they have abundant external connections, especially with the opposite sex. For unmarried men and women, such romantic factors are indeed necessary.
Resolution and Rectification of Emotional Karma
It is necessary to generate attraction to draw the other party into a union, and after such a union, it is only natural to uphold the responsibility of monogamy and be accountable to each other. Yet, why is it that, driven by one’s own vanity, as well as the advantage of proximity—"the pavilion closest to the water enjoys the moonlight first"—and the mutual care and emotional exchange between both parties, these principles are often compromised?
In a very pleasant atmosphere, both parties strayed, and this brief infidelity is precisely the kind of emotional entanglement that should never have occurred. If it were to persist over time, it would inevitably affect the harmony of both families. It truly should not have happened—under any circumstances. Moreover, such improper conduct will inevitably stir up turmoil within one's own family.
Especially regarding the shame brought upon both families, how can one face the peculiar glances from neighbors? Such behavior invites pointing fingers and criticism behind one's back. For the sake of momentary pleasure, you bring disgrace upon your parents, spouse, children, and family. Do you consider such actions worthwhile?
Some people feel deeply ashamed and remorseful, while others see it as nothing more than a fresh and exciting change. There are also those who remain entirely indifferent, believing that gossip and judgment are your family's affair, with no need to intrude into mine. Yet, the actions and conduct of such individuals are already difficult for the community to accept.
The Karmic Consequences of Extramarital Affairs and Future Outcomes
They are utterly devoid of shame, even persisting in their ways without a trace of repentance, having long forgotten what "shame" means in this human world. In the next life, they are destined to be reborn as roosters or hens, as dairy cows, or as boars and sows, spending each day with a multitude of companions, living out their lives in what they perceive as carefree bliss.
Moreover, having already committed considerable karmic transgressions of passion, is there a way to change them? One must be able to truly repent with a sincere heart and refrain from committing such sins of passion or other evil karmic ties again. Only then is it possible to alter the karmic transgressions of passion that you have currently committed. There is also a type of man or woman who believes themselves to be exceptionally handsome and dashing, or enchantingly beautiful.
To lure others one by one into your grasp and toy with them at will, even believing that a life without such play would be a waste of one's journey into the human world—if you are such a person, you truly deserve congratulations. In your next life, you will get your wish: surrounded by many you fancy and adore, playmates to tease and amuse, and you will be reborn as a four-legged beast.
Then many roosters and hens, dairy cows, boars and sows will come to keep you company. These handsome men and beautiful women will stay by your side, one after another, providing you with many playmates to tease and frolic with, just as you did when you were human. Such people think they are unparalleled: handsome men, beautiful women.
Each person's karma accumulates and affects their descendants.
In this lifetime, when you were given the opportunity to be human, you did not strive to live it well. How then can you hope to rise and transcend? By indulging in deeds worse than those of beasts, in shameful and wicked acts, you have swiftly exhausted the blessings of this very life. As for those who have strayed into distorted roles of lovers or paramours, in the next life they will no longer be lovers or paramours.
On the contrary, among those who remain, there will be a place for you in the ranks of beasts, allowing you to toy with others while others toy with you. Do you think living a carefree and joyful life for all eternity is possible? The problem lies not only in the karmic consequences of emotional entanglements that lead to reincarnation in the next life. These people believe their actions are entirely justified, but within their own families, someone will inevitably come to repay your debts.
As the old saying goes: courtesans and prostitutes are those who toyed with others in past lives, thus born into such circumstances. If you toy with others in this life, others will repay you in kind; this is "giving someone a taste of their own medicine." Among the sentient beings in the human world, would you want your own family to repay your debts for you? Of course not!
Do you think that by simply refusing to acknowledge it, you can avoid consequences? You yourself will be reincarnated as a courtesan in the next life, and your family will bear the retribution for the evil deeds you have committed in this lifetime. The karmic consequences of your misdeeds will also fall upon your wife, children, and future descendants. Moreover, the evil you have created is not borne by you alone—it will also bring suffering to your family.
The Cultivation and Transformation of Karmic Afflictions
Moreover, it will implicate one's wife, children, and descendants in the cycle of cause and effect—a burden that cannot be evaded, and inevitably, someone else will settle the debt on your behalf. As for the sins you have committed, how are they perceived by others? This is the immediate retribution seen in the present age, a consequence that arises from clear origins and spares no time, space, or karmic connection.
This is a true and immediate retribution in this very life; there are far too many social escorts, call girls, hotel hostesses, playmates, and the like nowadays! Most of them emerge from such circumstances. In today's society, where people often ridicule poverty but not prostitution, many assume these individuals lead carefree lives, earning easy money and seeing no harm in it. They fail to realize that money gained this way comes quickly but vanishes just as fast.
Moreover, for those who earn money in such a manner, can there ever be a good outcome? Do not be fooled by the fleeting glamour and splendor before your eyes. Can you truly comprehend the myriad pains and troubles hidden behind it? I implore you: do not sacrifice a lifetime—or even many lifetimes—of suffering for the sake of momentary pleasure. Such karmic retribution will manifest in truth and never fade away. The law of cause and effect is inevitable—it is only a matter of sooner or later.
Every instance of retribution, whether good or bad, follows each person like a shadow, serving as a warning to the world not to persist in wrongdoing. Are you willing to change? Humanity enters this life due to karmic ties from past lives. While making mistakes and creating karma are inevitable, it is essential to understand that "the law of cause and effect is merciless," and no one can bear the consequences in your stead.
How to Understand Karmic Retribution
All these calamities extend to one's wife, children, and descendants, and demand repayment and retribution in your next life. As the ancient teaching states, "If you defile another's wife or daughter, your own wife and daughters will be defiled in return." This is precisely a fair and equal treatment, a truth that has long been passed down and continues to be validated in our present era. Do not think that the heavens are high and without eyes or ears. Every action and deed of humanity is deeply embedded in the memory of one's eighth consciousness.
This refers to what you call the "IC microcrystal." Within it, there is no possibility of falsification or erasure. As long as one inputs their "color, score, password, and energy," they can know everything about their entire lifetime: every action, every deed, every word, and every utterance—all are faithfully recorded in their own eighth consciousness.
If sentient beings are unaware of the retribution of cause and effect, they should not assume that ignorance exempts them from consequences. From beginning to end, every event is imprinted within the IC micro-crystal, recorded from multiple perspectives and documented in detail. Even if one forcefully denies having committed an act, it remains stored in the memory through the ten-directional, three-dimensional space.
Everything will be revealed truthfully, and every thought and intention that arises in your mind will be remembered! All actions, deeds, and spoken words will manifest before you, backed by irrefutable evidence, leaving no room for denial. This is absolute truth. As depicted by the Mirror of the Underworld—the Heart of the Earth—the couplet states: "Before the Mirror of Retribution, no one is without fault."
Karma and retribution complement each other.
It is essential to deeply realize that every fleeting moment of pleasure for sentient beings may be exchanged for countless lifetimes of negative stains, and they must bear the karmic consequences across endless rebirths. Do you believe this is worth it? The human realm is the "realm of life transformation," where sentient beings can make their own choices: to ascend and transcend, or to sink and remain trapped in the cycle of reincarnation.
In this human world, life is essentially a continuous process of emotions and existence. Throughout this journey, many will connect with you through shared feelings and experiences—whether in family life, professional pursuits, religious practice, interpersonal relationships, or all forms of karmic interactions. Yet, among all these connections, only one person will truly share the deepest intimacy of life with you, as if covering themselves with the same quilt.
Moreover, there is no such thing as what you people in the world call "sharing a quilt purely for conversation"—such matters are absolutely impossible and even more unacceptable in the present era. Under the principles of Heaven, when humans commit evil, make mistakes, or create sins, they must reform and improve themselves. While past ignorance may be pardonable, those who knowingly violate these principles will face even greater punishment.
People's mistakes, misdeeds, and transgressions are all the same. The greatest driving force for one's own cultivation and transformation lies in whether they can sincerely repent, genuinely reform, and refrain from committing sins, transgressions, or mistakes in the future. Some people believe that the next man or the next woman will be better. If they cannot seize the opportunity for change in the present moment, how can they expect to do so in the future!
A couple in poverty finds sorrow in all things.
Still hoping the next man or woman will be better? Of course, for some, another man or woman might indeed be better—but such cases are, after all, few. You are not one of those lucky ones! For most people, the next man or woman turns out to be worse. As a Taiwanese proverb goes, "Picking and choosing, only to end up with a longan seller."
To elaborate further: if one cannot even appreciate the present moment, and instead finds fault with everything, the next situation is bound to be even worse. This simply reflects one's limited blessings, lacking the abundance of great fortune needed to attract a truly better partner. So, can one expect the next man or woman to be better? Certainly not! There is no need for such wishful thinking.
The circumstances of one's life are determined by the karmic causes and effects from past lives, which decide what kind of husband a woman will marry or what kind of wife a man will wed in this lifetime. These are all predetermined conditions set by past affinities and karma. There is no need to lament that one's life is inferior to others'; rather, it is essential to understand how much virtue and blessings one has accumulated, as these ultimately determine and fulfill one's destiny.
Ordinary people often grumble incessantly, blaming everything and everyone—complaining about their husbands or wives. They lack blessings, are incapable of managing a household, and fail to care for their families, earning a pitifully small income. Such impoverished and lowly couples find sorrow in all matters. Yet there are those who are content and willing: both husband and wife are earnest, hardworking, and determined to strive, coupled with a modest amount of knowledge and wisdom.
A wife who shared her husband's hard lot must never be cast aside.
One can start from nothing and bring honor to the family, a testament to how refusing to admit defeat can transform an unfavorable living environment. Through the diligent efforts of a virtuous husband and wife, harmony and joy can be achieved with elders and relatives alike. In such an atmosphere and spirit, it is precisely the commitment to "not abandoning the wife who shared hard times" that drives relentless effort for the family.
After marriage, both husband and wife must unite their hearts and efforts, working together through thick and thin. Only by dedicating themselves wholeheartedly to the family can they achieve good outcomes. If they wish for the family to thrive and prosper, the couple and all family members must be diligent, committed, and hardworking. Through persistent effort over the next ten to thirty years, favorable results will surely follow.
However, if one seeks to destroy what has been built, it takes only a moment to erase decades of hard work, leaving it utterly vanished. The good causes and conditions for human kindness and affection are painstaking to cultivate, yet they can be dismantled and dissipated in no time. It is essential to remember: a happy family, once so difficult to establish, must be cherished with care.
Marriage is a bond decreed by fate, where husband and wife share a deep and mutual affection.
With sincere devotion to safeguard,  
A household blessed with bonds so well-guarded.
An extramarital affair is a betrayal of love;  
Time and fate bring the encounter to pass.
Seizing on a pretext to vent one's feelings is fundamentally wrong;  
In the next life, karma will pursue and demand repayment.
This verse! It encourages all sentient beings to mutually inspire one another, to mend the bonds of marital affection and the karmic entanglements of extramarital affairs, and throughout this entire work, to truthfully aid in the mutual fulfillment of the human world, thereby creating opportunities for reform and resolution. The twelfth-anniversary celebration of the Chongxin Sect falls on the day after tomorrow, which also serendipitously coincides with a typhoon, serving to purify and bring matters to completion.
In countering the adverse atmosphere across the Taiwan region, this has been of considerable assistance. Your presence at this grand gathering is not without reason. Through everyone's diligent efforts to purify this Dharma assembly, the future impurities and uncleanness in Taiwan can be transformed into a clear and bright world. Today, we shall remain with the Chongxin lineage until its successful conclusion before returning. Thank you all for your hard work, and farewell.
Bodhisattva of the Western Path's Expansion
A sublime cause brings us together in this auspicious gathering;  
The typhoon day unfolds the boundless power of non-action.
Purify the heavens and earth of Taiwan, and propagate the Great Way for all spirits to return.
All Saints, Buddhas, virtuous beings, fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Tao Academy, and academy students, good evening! Today, the Venerable Namo Ananda Bodhisattva from the Western Heaven Mahayana Academy has personally descended to the Chongxin Sect lineage to compose the twentieth chapter of "The Causality of the Great Tao," offering guidance on "rectifying karmic afflictions of love." This will bring greater fulfillment and elevation to oneself, and it serves as a reminder for all human beings to cherish the virtuous karmic bonds of husband and wife. That concludes today's session. Thank you for your hard work. Farewell.
2015, 0308, 2007◎＃※ OK;
Namo Maitreya Bodhisattva
Namo to all beings, originally Tathagata;  
The Maitreya world shall open in the future.
The Bodhisattva descended to compose the twenty-first chapter, where the virtuous couple is blessed with fortune and prosperity.
第廿一回　   善德夫妻
Human beings, as husbands and wives, are distinguished as such.
All marital lifestyles are categorized into "virtuous couples, mandarin duck couples, affectionate couples, harmonious couples, resentful debt couples, and karmic grievance couples," with various patterns further distinguished among couples. Among these, the virtuous couples serve as a model, characterized by minimal friction in their life orientation and daily routines after marriage.
Thus, there is rarely any quarreling, fighting, or disputes, and there is no mutual disdain, preventing the formation of grudges between both parties. Another scenario involves discomfort in daily life, where both sides hold differing perspectives on values, leading to a cold war between them. Such couples, if they do not separate in the human world, are indeed rare creatures in this earthly realm.
In ancient times, marriages were arranged through matchmakers, with the couple having no prior acquaintance. Yet, why were they able to maintain long-lasting marital harmony after marriage? They learned to accommodate each other, accepting life as it came, setting aside all quarrels without complaint. They willingly sacrificed everything, striving for the prosperity of the entire family.
For a virtuous couple, their union in this life is the result of good karma and virtuous causes accumulated from past and previous lifetimes. Their marriage is thus predestined with inherent virtue. In the union of a man and a woman, they also share considerable blessings and favorable retribution from past lives. Moreover, the seeds of virtue planted over many lifetimes have grown vigorously and borne fruit.
Basic Conditions for a Virtuous Couple
Those who have cultivated virtuous karma in past and successive lifetimes possess stronger seed causes, making it more difficult for them to encounter unworthy husbands or wives. Why is this so? It is precisely because their past and successive lifetimes of charitable sowing and planting have come to fruition more completely and authentically than others, manifesting in the virtuous union and actions of husband and wife in the human world.
It is not only the present life that yields results; even in past and previous lifetimes, the virtuous karma of such individuals is far stronger than that of others. Consequently, the blessings and rewards enjoyed by a virtuous couple are also far greater than those of others. Do you envy this? Before a man and a woman, representing heaven and earth, are married, each has three opportunities to choose.
That is to distinguish between "good, average, and poor" marital matches, and why would this be the case? Generally, among unmarried young men and women, these are precisely the conditions present; in facilitating marriages of all types—good, average, or poor—the karmic blessings of one's own marital fate are also quite strong, making it easier for the favorable connections between both parties to manifest.
If one's own marital destiny is ordinary and common, and the marriage between both parties is also ordinary and common, this is a manifestation of a strong seed cause. If the intertwined marital fate between both parties is relatively unfavorable, it can be understood as an inferior marital destiny, resulting in a marriage that is also relatively unfavorable. This is a matter of choice.
A couple's union is forged by the bonds of destiny.
Furthermore, due to the particularly strong seeds of virtuous karma from past lives, all encounters and chosen marital partners are of exceptionally good matches. For ordinary individuals, marital matches tend to be more common and typical, while those who had poor marital karma in past lives will find any encounter, no matter how favorable, to be less than ideal.
Why is this so! The marital fate between husband and wife is determined by whether one has cultivated good karma in previous lives and across lifetimes. When there is an abundance of good karma, one will encounter more favorable opportunities for marriage and union. This is generally how couples come together in matrimony; conversely, if the marital karma is unfavorable, even after three attempts at choosing a partner, the outcome remains similarly unfortunate.
What is best in you may be worst in others, and what is worst in you may, in the future, come to resemble the Taiwanese saying, "Without grievances and quarrels, a couple cannot become true husband and wife." This is why some couples live their entire lives in deep affection, with few arguments, while one's own marriage seems hardly worth mentioning! Why is this so? Have you ever reflected deeply on it?
Having married or wedded someone who is not a good match, one may find themselves in constant quarrels and endless conflicts every day. Why does this happen? If there were no disputes, arguments, or turmoil, it would indeed be strange. This is because one’s marital fate, whether good or bad, is determined by the choices made in this life or accumulated over past lives. Such outcomes of marital fortune are ultimately the result of one’s own decisions.
Each person's karmic connections from past lives are not the same.
This means that marital fate is predetermined by heaven, and no one should be overly critical or dissatisfied to the point of helplessness. Moreover, without knowing one’s own worth, one cannot be certain and may even think the other person is unworthy. It is essential to weigh one’s own abilities and reflect on what skills and strengths one truly possesses.
Do not marry and bind your hearts in union, yet still harbor thoughts for others outside. Those who lack self-awareness and proceed to bully, humiliate, torment, or inflict violence upon their partner—all such inhumane acts—while claiming that every fault lies with the other, as if they themselves bear no flaws or shortcomings, are indeed overestimating their own worth.
Such individuals fail to reflect upon themselves: In your previous life, you did not sow even a trace of virtuous karma for marriage. In this lifetime, if Heaven grants you a husband or wife, it can be said that Heaven has already treated you generously. Otherwise, you would have been destined to remain alone in this life. Therefore, you should not find fault with your partner in every possible way. That is all!
Nor do they consider how many merits a husband or wife might possess; most would think there are none, not even the slightest commendable quality. Yet do you truly believe the other has no merits at all, only flaws? If so, such a person fundamentally fails to understand that their own merits are few, while their own flaws abound.
The bond between husband and wife, whether good or ill, is all a matter of karma.
To put it plainly: a wife helps you take care of the household, acting as a domestic helper or laborer, yet you have never paid her a monthly salary. She tidies up everything in the home for you morning and night. Do you believe that the efforts of such helpers and laborers are simply not worthy of any compensation? This is the typical flawed mindset of many chauvinistic men.
It is hard to believe that if a couple were to switch perspectives and swap roles—with the wife taking on the external responsibilities of the Kun principle and the husband managing the internal affairs of the Qian principle—and then treat each other in the same way, how would they feel in that moment? One hardly dares to imagine. Since they have become husband and wife in this lifetime, it is essential to love each other forever and always provide a safe and happy home for one another.
Only by having the courage to take responsibility can both parties feel a greater sense of security. If one cannot provide the other with a safe haven or a sense of security, how can either side willingly sacrifice and devote everything for the other? It is possible that the other party has already left you, especially in an era that is no longer like the past.
In the past, couples often had never met each other before their union. If they had met, they might have gained some understanding of the other’s character. Generally, those who were matched through a matchmaker began to build mutual affection and understanding only after marriage. The husband, as the pillar of the household, bore heavier responsibilities, while he willingly fulfilled his duties toward his wife, the gentle support of the home.
Each person's fate is different; do not envy others.
An ancient saying goes: "Marry a chicken, follow the chicken; marry a dog, follow the dog; marry a beggar, carry his sack." This is not a criticism or contempt for humanity, but a metaphor. Whether a couple is wealthy, ordinary, or poor—each person's blessings and karmic rewards from past lives vary in measure. One must first assess one's own capabilities!
If you wish to marry a wealthy young lady from a distinguished family, it would save you thirty years of struggle; or if you hope to wed a son-in-law from a prominent household to enjoy a life of luxury, such thoughts are but idle dreams—such fortune is simply not in your destiny. Why do others have such fate, while you do not?
One must create the necessary conditions oneself to foster lasting affection with one's spouse. Do not envy others, for such bonds can be forged through one's own efforts. It is beneficial to frequently reflect on each other's strengths, using them to improve one's own shortcomings and inadequacies. When both partners cherish each other with a heart of gratitude, the thought of separation becomes inconceivable.
To be grateful for what the other has given—what are the husband’s strengths? What are the wife’s strengths? Often reflecting on each other’s virtues, and then practicing mutual tolerance, both should sit down calmly to examine: what are each other’s shortcomings? One must not act on impulse; it is essential to possess the grace to endure the other’s inadequacies, flaws, and mistakes.
A loving couple is the envy of all.
Success comes through continuous cultivation and change; where there is effort and the capacity to change, there is opportunity. No one is a sage, and it is inevitable that one will make mistakes or have shortcomings throughout life. Both parties can communicate calmly in a warm atmosphere, without focusing solely on the other's inadequacies.
Moreover, with a multitude of shortcomings and mistakes added to the mix, one can become furious, seething with anger, and even resort to harsh, embarrassing insults—this is what is known as "burning down the forest of merits." Worse still, some may resort to physical violence. Such methods of communication are better abandoned! Can each person consider the other's perspective, and work on correcting their own peculiar temper and various flaws?
Regarding the hope for a harmonious outcome between both parties in the future, I wonder if you, as immortals and buddhas, have said: Can you truly comprehend this! It is precisely a fundamental cause that Heaven considers primary—that when faced with all adverse circumstances and entangled obstacles, one must not abandon the other due to changes in time and space. No matter how harsh the environment, one must endure and persevere through it all.
One must also be able to cherish and deeply love each other, while possessing the wisdom to cultivate and change for the better. Do not assume that all marriages in the world are inherently ill-fated. Sometimes, as worldly sayings go, age differences of three, six, or nine years are considered clashes of fate—these are merely the words of fortune-tellers and diviners. Such notions of fateful clashes are no longer in vogue today.
The concept of mutual cultivation between husband and wife must be put into practice.
Nor should it be considered unlucky or unfavorable. Often, it is human effort that outweighs the influence of intangible forces. If a couple strives to nurture their bond, they can overcome such conflicts. In modern times, people no longer believe in these clashes of fate; if a couple perceives such conflicts, it is often more a matter of psychological factors than actual external influences.
Human intervention can be employed to dissolve such obstacles, enabling the renewed worship of heaven and earth, and further resolving the calamity of marital separation. Moreover, this separation can be transformed—a phenomenon increasingly common today. Through renewed reverence for heaven and earth, and with the blessings and fulfillment bestowed by immortals and buddhas, even a couple plagued by discord and on the brink of divorce can be reconciled and restored to harmony.
Granting both parties the opportunity for renewal and transformation, fostering mutual affection between husband and wife, it is essential to cherish the emotions and marital bond blessed by the Immortals and Buddhas. Would such a couple then separate? Certainly not! Through the mediation and blessings of the Immortals and Buddhas, a happy family can be created. Moreover, in times past, the Primordial Mother of the Wuji instructed Vice-Chairman Ma Xiangu to descend to the mortal realm and assume her duties at Chongxin.
What was promised in the past has long since been fulfilled in the present.
After the earlier teachings were revealed, the necessity of "couples cultivating together" carries precisely this meaning. One can observe a couple's mindset, perspectives, thoughts, actions, and behavioral outcomes—whether the husband sets an exemplary model and whether the wife serves as a paragon. Furthermore, students of the Chongxin lineage should earnestly implement the principle of "couples cultivating together" and promote it within the human world.
To enable all loving couples, couples bound by grievances, and couples entangled in karmic debts to change their fate, the practice of couples cultivating together, as ordained by Heaven, must be implemented. This represents a long-standing correction of human-induced ideologies and beliefs, re-establishing a path free from the influence of sorcerers’ deceptions and superstitions, which have long fallen out of favor. Sincere love between husband and wife is the true way.
It is precisely the will of Heaven to implement new laws for the human world, aiming to reduce the emotional estrangement between couples and thereby diminish the social costs of our time. What do you think? It is essential to cherish the bond between husband and wife, which will alleviate the predicament of separation. Understanding one’s nature and coexisting harmoniously—these are the necessary thoughts and values that loving humans must grasp, for they will surely create happy and harmonious families!
The bonds of affection in this life are predetermined by past lives, do not let them stray.
Choose three times before the wedding; after the marriage, fate's signs are no longer seen.
Do not contemplate extramarital affairs, for such emotional entanglements are difficult to resolve.
In the next life, one returns to atone for the evil deeds,  
Shamed before heaven, the cycle of sin persists.
This verse! Let us encourage one another among all sentient beings! When the emotional bond between husband and wife is predestined from past lives, and all mutual karma has been accumulated over countless lifetimes, it creates conditions that can lead to success or failure through human effort. How, then, is the marital relationship in this present life? What kind of karma will you choose, and what field of blessings will you sow? The boundary between happiness and sorrow lies in your own grasp. I have troubled the Chongxin lineage for a while. Farewell, everyone!
Bodhisattva of Western Literary Brilliance
The Western world descends upon us,  
Where literary grace blossoms in wondrous flourish.
The Bodhisattva arrives today to take up the watch,  
The great path of karma is recorded in the final scrolls.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, the Eight Great Bodhisattvas—specifically, the revered Maitreya Bodhisattva—have personally descended to compose the twenty-first chapter of "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect," focusing on the karmic bond of the "Virtuous Couple." This serves as mutual encouragement for all sentient beings! How can one cultivate a peaceful mind and create a happy family? Both husband and wife must align their thoughts, perspectives, and actions, for the outcomes follow these deeds. Are you all aware of this? May everyone be auspicious. Farewell!
2015, 0308, 2008 ◎＃※ OK;
Lord of the Underworld, Homage to the Great Vow, Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva
The Lord of the Netherworld descends in grace,  
Homage to the Great Vow of Ksitigarbha's embrace.
The king is invincible when benevolence reaches its peak,  
A couple's virtuous changes bear the fortune they seek.
第廿二回 　  夫妻善改
How Should Couples Strive to Improve Themselves
In the vast world of sentient beings, throughout the twentieth century, there has been a continuous decline in moral ethics. The once majestic moral principles and humanistic norms of the Middle Kingdom have lost their foundation for sustaining a humane society. The harmonious bonds between husband and wife, cherished in the past, have faded away, replaced by the troubling prevalence of high divorce rates.
The way of human existence is gradually losing the concepts of marital and ethical relationships, making it difficult to establish deep-rooted emotional bonds between individuals. As for why human ethics and morality have declined so severely, it is influenced by modern trends, yet people fail to realize that they themselves are part of this decline. How can human ethics and morality be rebuilt? This requires reconstructing the Three Bonds and Five Constants, as well as the Four Virtues and Eight Principles.
It is essential to start anew, to set out once more from the heart and with reverence, implementing the principles of human ethics and morality. For the future world of humanity, a foundational understanding of basic concepts is necessary. Sentient beings, through free love or arranged marriages facilitated by matchmakers, become husband and wife. Whether chosen by personal preference or by fate, all are built upon the fundamental framework of great human virtues.
This is the marital bond that Heaven deems the foundation of human relations, and there is only one person destined to match you. It is truly worthy of cherishing. Moreover, such a marriage is exceptionally blessed. Both husband and wife should strive to make it "the finest, the kindest, the most beautiful, the truest, and the most sincere"—this is the way for a couple to live together.
The Good Deeds of a Married Couple
Yet many people, when faced with even slight dissatisfaction in marriage, unable to bear loneliness, seek fulfillment outside—what is commonly referred to as the sin of extramarital affairs: cheating or infidelity. In this vast world, among sentient beings, the more civilized and developed a society becomes, and with the rise of gender equality, the notion of "chastity" is increasingly seen as something that can be openly traded.
Many are unaware that a great number of obscure illnesses stem from unchastity, giving rise to a host of diseases. These include all sexually transmitted infections of the past and the present-day AIDS epidemic—all consequences of unchastity. Indiscriminate indulgence in fleeting pleasures between men and women is driven merely by momentary gratification, utterly devoid of any sense of shame, which is profoundly shameless.
On the contrary, they believe that life is short and one should seek pleasure without delay. Such men lack loyalty and women lack chastity, and they are found everywhere in the underworld. If one remains unaware of this, they will treat sacred marriage as a mere game. Your family has long sown many seeds, and there are those who will come to repay the karmic debts and act as substitutes on your behalf. This is the sickness of the human world.
It is said: In this life, if a poor marriage ends in separation, and the debts of gratitude and grievance from your previous connection are not willingly settled, they will entangle you once more in the next life! Moreover, it is said: If a marital bond is not fulfilled and resolved in one lifetime, it will persist across lifetimes, recurring through seven generations until the debt is repaid. What do you think of this?
Conditions for the Improvement of Husband and Wife
Whether you owe the other or the other owes you, it will lead to even more cruel and tragic retribution for both sides. Are you willing to accept this? Thus, it will form the outcome that "lovers eventually become family, and family members are all lovers." It is essential to deeply love one another, enduring the constant changes in appearance brought about by time, space, environment, and human factors.
He was once a strikingly handsome and dashing man, but now his appearance has increasingly changed from what it once was. He has gone bald, developed a beer belly that grows ever more prominent, his back has gradually hunched, and the lines on his forehead have multiplied. The once beautiful and delicate lady now has a face full of coarse, fleshy folds, her figure expanding outward and swelling with time.
The face has deepened with many lines, and the teeth have gradually fallen out. Can both parties still deeply love each other? Some, with a little glittering gold, will seek younger, fresher companions to taste novelty. And why would those others be with you? It is only because they are drawn to your glittering gold.
At this moment, do you still think of the wife who shared your hardships? Or the husband who stood by you through thick and thin? Or do you only think of the younger one now! As the old saying goes: "The new future may not cherish what the old once held dear." Where is the husband or wife who once struggled alongside you? If you are quick to speak of separation, it seems all too easy.
A harmonious marriage is born from the mutual improvement of husband and wife.
However, as long as the karmic debts between both of you remain unsettled, you will continue to be entangled in the next life, and this entanglement may persist for up to seven lifetimes. Only when the emotional debts of a couple are willingly and completely repaid will the entanglement cease in the next life. This truth is meticulously recorded in the eighth consciousness of every individual.
Do not think that being fickle, loving a new person each time you see one, makes you impressive or capable. In your next life, you may be reborn as a dairy cow, a rooster or hen, a boar or sow, and so on, so that you will always have companions around you to play with. If you were to experience such a life for generation after generation, how would you feel? Would it be sorrow or joy? Would you be happy?
The bond between husband and wife arises from what the ancients called "a decade of cultivation to share a boat, a century of cultivation to share a pillow." This connection emerges from the powerful seeds of karma. Why does it come to be? It is not merely a matter of present causes, but rather the accumulation of virtuous, ordinary, or adverse karma from countless lifetimes.
These three factors give rise to fortune and misfortune, virtue and vice, as well as favorable and unfavorable marital unions. When both parties come to repay kindness, such a marriage in which both spouses are reciprocating gratitude tends to bring relative wealth, peace, and comfort throughout their lives. In the case of an ordinary marital union, there are both joys and sorrows, moments of happiness and sadness, yet it can still lead to a smooth and harmonious life without conflict.
A couple's virtuous transformation is the root of good karma.
If the union is formed through an unfortunate marital bond, as the ancient saying goes, "Poverty-stricken couples endure sorrow for generations," can the negative karmic outcomes for both parties gradually be improved? If both can empathize deeply, contribute their share of strength to the family willingly, and wholeheartedly uphold, fulfill, and care for every member of the household.
There will be a happy family. However, if a marriage is formed between two individuals with wicked and sinful dispositions, it may initially bring great joy as they pursue each other. Yet, some couples begin to quarrel and argue even before the wedding, sometimes escalating to physical fights or even drawing knives on each other. Such sinful unions are, unfortunately, all too common.
Moreover, problems are likely to arise: first, one may disapprove of the other; second, the other may be unwilling to listen; third, even though there is love, actions and words may convey an intense sense of pressure; fourth, infidelity may have already occurred, betraying one's spouse and even stepping outside the marriage.
Such a man, with a bit of silver in his pocket, becomes fickle and unfaithful. He has already cast aside his lawful wife, relegating her to a life of neglect and seldom returning home. All manner of wicked and disgraceful deeds then emerge one after another. Why should a couple who were originally meant to be good companions end up in such a state? It is truly a profound tragedy! Yet, what can be done?
A lifetime of deep affection between husband and wife.
To steadfastly uphold one's integrity and loyalty, it is essential for both parties to genuinely adhere to and practice the principles of human ethics and morality. This aligns with the teachings of Confucian sages and the fundamental doctrines of contemporary religions, which emphasize the importance of avoiding repeated mistakes. Taking marital relationships as an example: in today's society, it is quite common for men to engage in social interactions and seek the company of courtesans outside, acting as devoted patrons.
He freely gives money to socialites for a life of luxury, yet such actions could instead be taken home entirely to cover household expenses, rather than leaving his wife and children to struggle. Moreover, he considers it perfectly natural for a man to engage in socializing and entertaining, but for those who adhere to religious beliefs, such practices are disregarded.
For those who engage in such socializing and networking, business opportunities may arise, but the money earned tends to come and go quickly. If this does not lead to family conflicts, it is a testament to one's good fortune. However, should family disputes arise, causing the once respectful and affectionate bond between husband and wife to gradually fade—reaching a state of cold indifference—then even more severe problems are likely to follow.
In the emotional life of a couple, what was once mutual respect and courtesy can turn into cold indifference, or even escalate to hostility, like sharp blades facing each other. In such circumstances, can there be any peace within the family? It is impossible. This situation represents the most fragile, dangerous, and terrifyingly icy moment in a marital relationship, especially when relatives and friends on both sides add fuel to the fire with their instigations.
Improving the Bond of Marital Affection
I fear that what was once a loving couple may find their daily lives altered from this point onward! Should an extramarital affair then intrude, it could ultimately escalate into an irreparable situation. However, people in the past were more inclined to uphold the bond of marriage; even amid quarrels, fights, or even armed confrontations, they would not lightly speak of separation.
This kind of cold war often sees significant improvement as long as both parties are committed to preserving the harmony and happiness of the family. A couple who were originally affectionate and loving need to reconnect emotionally and communicate with each other. They should treat each other with mutual respect, as if they were honored guests. At this point, the cold war between them ceases, and they return to the loving affection they shared during their newlywed days.
Thus, they will treat each other with mutual respect and courtesy. This courtesy refers to being polite and considerate. It occurs when a couple on the verge of separation endures and communicates through difficulties, allowing time to settle their shortcomings, deficiencies, and mistakes. This provides an opportunity to reconcile and start anew. Should this principle also grant the other party a chance to turn back? Never speak lightly of separation!
Sometimes, despite differences in perspective, stance, lifestyle, education, knowledge, and countless other disparities—no matter how varied they may be—when it all comes down to it, are you not still a couple? Let all these differences dissipate like mist, and once again pledge your vows before heaven and earth. Together, witness the good karma anew and recreate it, and a harmonious, happy ending will surely follow.
If fate has brought you together as husband and wife, cherish and care for each other well.
This quote from the human world states: "Contentment, gratitude, tolerance, understanding, care, and communication." These six principles, when mutually upheld among all living beings across the vast universe, can foster mutual fulfillment. This teaching, already taking root in the human realm, will surely deepen the affection between spouses and strengthen the foundation of marital bonds, which is the true path.
A wife must be grateful to her husband's parents, for they have given her a spouse unmatched in all the world. A husband, in turn, should cherish and appreciate his wife's parents—his parents-in-law—for they have bestowed upon him a virtuous wife who dedicates her entire life to serving his family, laboring tirelessly and sacrificing selflessly without ever drawing a salary. For this alone, there is ample reason for gratitude.
Do not say as some do: a wife is brought home with a betrothal gift and wedding cakes, so what does it matter if she is not paid a salary? Consider how unkind such a man seems. If, instead, we shift the perspective and imagine that your husband were likewise brought to you with a betrothal gift and wedding cakes, how would you feel then?
The Harmonious Actions of a Married Couple
One must learn contentment in life, recognizing that all circumstances, whether favorable or adverse, are part of one's own destiny, which has shaped the present conditions of existence. Even amidst the most challenging living environments, one should accept them with grace and find joy within, sacrificing everything without complaint or regret. Only by being content, accepting fate, enduring hardships, and striving diligently can one gather the strength to prosper the family.
Otherwise, what can be done when one idly consumes resources without replenishing them? If you cannot overcome your circumstances, you will never learn contentment or gratitude. It is essential to embrace all shortcomings, deficiencies, and mistakes on both sides; only then can change be achieved bit by bit. Without such tolerance, a harmonious family life is unattainable. When there are minor flaws, shortcomings, or errors between husband and wife, it is necessary to offer gentle and tactful advice.
Only then can it be considered genuine, as it lies in the greater affection and mutual understanding between both parties. This is a crucial point of fate. Why is it that many couples can understand each other with just a glance or a small hint? This very understanding is the driving force behind the deepest affection between husband and wife. Without such understanding, tolerance can only be maintained for a limited time.
A virtuous couple must strive for continuous improvement.
It can generate great explosive force, but whether it will change for the better is uncertain. Sometimes, when emotions are suppressed too deeply, the resulting explosive force can be terrifying. However, at other times, after an outburst and mutual reflection, some may come to understand how to navigate all difficulties. At such moments, genuine care is essential—how to offer sincere concern.
Between husband and wife, all shortcomings and mistakes, along with the necessity for both to calm down and communicate, are essential. However, if both parties consistently believe that the other is at fault or in the wrong, it will inevitably lead to greater conflicts in the future. Can both sides settle down, genuinely care for each other, and engage in mutual communication?
Regarding the approach that both spouses can agree upon, what do you think? It is essential to incorporate "contentment, gratitude, tolerance, understanding, care, and communication." This is offered to all couples in the world who wish to separate, as well as to all loving couples and ordinary couples, to help them achieve greater fulfillment and improvement. Practice it well! What do you think?
Ten years of cultivation bring a shared boat ride,  
A hundred years of cultivation bring a shared pillow side.
Predestined fates from past lives are long set;  
Husband and wife together reform to cleanse karmic debts.
Contentment, gratitude, and tolerance,  
Understanding, care, and communication.
The quality of a marital bond, be it good or ill, is shaped by one's own destiny, a truth one must understand.
This verse! For all sentient beings, in the karmic connection of the millennium spanning from the 21st to the 30th century, being able to establish a happy and loving marital life will bring positive growth and room for improvement, rather than hastily seeking divorce over minor disagreements. Consider this carefully, is it not so? That would be truly unworthy.
Today's writing session has been somewhat lengthy. All discussions regarding marital karma have now been concluded. In the next session, the writing will be continued by the Celestial Son, King Qinguang of the First Palace in the Netherworld. Thank you all for accompanying us in this writing endeavor. The reverence and devotion of Chongxin are no longer as they were in the past; all momentum will be exceedingly vigorous. Congratulations! Congratulations! We have disturbed the Chongxin lineage for a while. Farewell!
Western Inscription on the Bodhisattva
Western literary themes ascend the stage,  
As the Bodhisattva sees the gathering, sages emerge.
Homage to the Bodhisattva Disha descending.  
Husband and wife should rightly reform themselves with goodness.
All Saints, Buddhas, virtuous beings, fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, and all academicians, good evening! Today, the Lord of the Netherworld, the Bodhisattva Ksitigarbha of the Great Vow, has personally descended to compose the twenty-second chapter of "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect." The sublime karmic connection of "virtuous transformation between husband and wife" is fully expounded in this celestial text, offering greater affection, communication, and tolerance to all married couples in the human world. Thank you all for your hard work. Farewell!
2015, 0308, 2009 ◎＃※ OK;
The First Hall of the Netherworld: King Qinguang
From the netherworld descends a solemn rite,  
The Son of Heaven ascends the dais to meet his chosen knights.
The First Hall, King Qinguang, records the karmic origins between parents and children.
第廿三回　  父母兒女
The Karmic Bond Between Parents and Children
All aspects of daily life for sentient beings involve the affection of parents caring for their children's well-being. When a couple unites, the karmic connections formed inevitably give rise to offspring. From the perspective of parents, this entails the necessity of investing immense effort and enduring considerable hardship—an all-encompassing sacrifice of their very best—to provide for their children and family.
If we consider the parents' devotion to their children as the crystallization of their life's efforts, they give selflessly regardless of whether their children are intelligent, average, foolish, or disabled. Since the children are born, raised, and nurtured by them, it can be said that parents attend to their children with utmost care, serving as the foundation of their upbringing and education, yet they never speak of weariness or hardship.
Throughout the ages, it has been difficult for the human world to understand why one cannot choose one's own children to bear and raise. This requires a clear understanding of the "law of cause and effect." Every parent hopes to have good offspring, but whether this wish can be fulfilled as desired is not certain!
Within this, there are still many causes and conditions involving good and bad, fortune and misfortune, virtue and evil. Moreover, what about one's own descendants? How are they distinguished as debt-collectors, the ordinary, or those repaying kindness... among several other circumstances? Sentient beings find it difficult to comprehend why, in the human world, such distinctions exist. This is precisely the outcome of karmic causes from past lives.
How Karma is Formed Between Parents and Children
This relates to the question of what kind of good and evil karma you have accumulated from your previous and past lives. All couples hope their children will achieve greatness, or at the very least, not bring harm to the world. However, can one really design or choose their own descendants? Impossible! This again relates to the question of what kind of good and evil karma human beings have accumulated over countless lifetimes.
Regarding past lives and accumulated lifetimes, have good seeds been sown and merits deeply cultivated, resulting in favorable or unfavorable karmic conditions? If one wishes to have children more easily, for ordinary people, having peaceful and harmonious descendants is already considered quite fortunate! However, if one's descendants are rebellious and difficult to communicate with, one must first reflect on their own character.
And how can one hope to have a good karmic bond with one’s own descendants? If they come to repay kindness, it may not feel particularly surprising; if they are ordinary, life may pass by smoothly and uneventfully. But what should one think when encountering truly unworthy descendants?
There will be those who are virtuous and ordinary, as well as those with unresolved karmic debts and negative affinities. These are judged based on the combined causes and conditions from past lives or accumulated lifetimes, determining what kind of children one may have in the future. However, not every child will come to demand repayment; among them, many are also recipients of kindness you extended to others in your previous or past lives.
The Karma Between Parents and Children
In this present life, I am born into your home, becoming your child to carry on the family lineage. Whether it is to repay kindness or to settle grievances, all arise from the same web of time and karma that brings us together in this lifetime. This existence remains bound to the conditions of human life, inseparable from them. If it is a matter of repaying kindness—surely that is something everyone welcomes and finds easier to accept, is it not?
If it is a case of seeking revenge, the actions taken by such karmic creditors in demanding retribution may sometimes be entirely incompatible with the principles and ethics of the human realm at that particular time and space. However, many human beings often believe that such demands for retribution, which do not align with the survival principles of humanity, are difficult to reconcile with the concepts recognized in the human world.
If sentient beings can adopt a broader perspective and a more open heart to observe the origins and consequences of events, they will come to understand that such instances—where the retribution of karma cannot be reconciled with human ethics—will continue to emerge endlessly. This occurs precisely because, under the principles of divine justice, those seeking retribution may be reborn as their parents, their own children, or other close relatives and loved ones.
In the perspective of karma: how one has exploited, abused, and humiliated others in past and accumulated lifetimes—if such karmic retribution is not clearly analyzed, it remains difficult for sentient beings to be genuinely convinced. One must understand what can be done and what cannot. This is the necessity of the just principles and ethics of Heaven.
The Karmic Connections of Good and Evil Between Parents and Children
In the human world, there are two types of encounters: those who come to repay kindness and those who come to seek repayment. Generally, the actions of sentient beings in daily life should align with the principles of human ethics and morality, as well as the universal truths that guide existence. By mutually adhering to these ethical and moral norms, and structuring the rhythms of life around human relationships, we establish the foundation of the human world. Indeed, this is how it ought to be.
However, for those who seek retribution through karma, the approach is not the same. Consider a couple who devote all their efforts and savings, living frugally solely to provide their children with a comfortable life. All parents in the world share this mindset and act accordingly, nurturing their offspring with care.
From the moment each human being is born, they follow closely by their parents' side, learning and growing by imitating all the behaviors and conduct of their parents—whether through their example, teachings, or discipline. All habits and daily routines become the foundation for their development. Over time, this shapes them, regardless of the inherent nature carried from past lives.
Regardless of how this genetic essence may have been shaped over countless past lifetimes, by this moment, it becomes intertwined with the lifestyle habits of the parents, thus casting their shadow upon it. As the ancient saying goes: "Dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes, and the sons of mice are born to dig holes." This indeed reflects the lifestyle habits of all human beings and sentient beings alike.
Parental Genes and the Nature of Children
Whatever habits the parents have, the children naturally develop corresponding lifestyle habits. This has been the condition of all lifestyle habits since ancient times; regardless of how excellent the genetic essence from past lives or accumulated lifetimes may be, it will be influenced by the present lifetime, affecting the genetic essence of past lives, irrespective of what that genetic essence may be.
That is to say, both virtue and vice are influenced by the fact that all behaviors, actions, and habits after birth are inherited from the parents, without distinction between good and evil or excellence and inferiority. There is a model to imitate, shaped by local customs and ways of life, which in turn affect the innate qualities carried from previous lives.
The descendants born of parents inherit all of their lifestyle habits and local customs. Additionally, as each family has its own distinct ways of living, children learn and imitate these practices through daily life. After one or two decades, they grow into adults and establish their own space for existence.
In such circumstances of time and space, it often happens that products cast from the same mold emerge, and children's habits turn out to be identical to those of their parents! If one is more perceptive, they can detect all their own peculiarities and eccentric temperaments through their children, thereby understanding what kind of character they themselves possess.
Children are the crystallization of their parents' heart and soul.
It is for every child to habitually come to understand what their own habits and tendencies are, and to recognize that the connection between parents and children is inherently intertwined—it is merely the replication of genetic essence. If one cannot discern the nature of their own genes, they may carefully observe: how are the daily habits of their own children? Can they distinguish them?
Thus, one can clearly, and even at a glance, understand how all of one's own survival habits are formed! Why is this so? The essence of genes, transplanted within, is replicated in one's own descendants—children who learn and grow under the influence of their parents, shaped by the functions of education and moral cultivation.
It is precisely through the essence of your genes that replication and transplantation are bound to occur. That is to say, products created from the same mold will be identical, and one will often consider their own product to be superior, even clinging to it stubbornly, believing that your descendants will never change. But for you, this is a grave mistake.
The affections and grievances between parents and children arise from natural instincts, which do not distinguish between good and evil, fortune and misfortune, or right and wrong. Ethical principles treat all humans equally. This social moral framework also represents the social responsibility of children toward their parents within the ethical order. It is a fulfillment of moral norms, fostering virtuous and favorable connections.
The kindness of parents is as immense as a mountain,  
The affection between children is deeply intertwined.
Repaying the boundless debt of parental toil knows no end,  
And the campaign of retribution is akin to a renewed mastery.
The morality of social ethics, the clear affection between parents and children
Understanding karma leads to righteous judgment;  
Creating no evil ties brings greater blessings.
This verse is shared with all sentient beings for mutual encouragement! The mutual karmic connections between parents and children involve the differentiation of karmic retribution and karmic rewards. This is the first work on the subject, and next time we will continue with even more profound and wonderful analysis. Among these, there are many instances of retribution that cannot be judged by contemporary social morality, but can only be distinguished through the lens of karmic retribution.
Today, I am truly delighted to descend once again and witness the Chongxin lineage. It has been several years since our last meeting, and the momentum has transformed greatly—truly a cause for joy and celebration! I have disturbed the Chongxin lineage for a while, and I appreciate everyone's hard work. May all be auspicious. Farewell for now!
Celestial Venerable of the Southern Heavens Bestowing the Way
The predestined bond from the Southern Heavens descends upon the Chongxin,  
Bestowing the boundless affection of the Great Dao.
The Heavenly Venerable presides over the wheel of duty today,  
Guiding the creation of cause and effect along the Great Path.
All Saints and Buddhas, all virtuous beings, and the fellow students of the Wuji Great Tao Academy, good evening! Today, the King of the Underworld, the First Hall's King Qinguang, has descended to compose the twenty-third installment of "The Great Tao of Cause and Effect." This first analysis of the karmic connections and retributions between parents and children is intended to help sentient beings with affection understand.
Why are all the traces of our parents' lives the same as our own, and can we change them? This is a matter of refinement through genetic essence. The Chongxin lineage works to elevate the genetic essence of all original spirit beings, transcending rather than endlessly imitating the undesirable customs and traditions of the past, as well as the habits and tendencies inherited from our parents' way of life.
The course of human life unfolds in this manner. Consider further: when your children grow up and establish their own households, do they not inevitably depart from the lifestyle and habits of their parents, creating distinct family lives of their own? This represents a profound transformation that has long been underway. It is precisely through such changes that society as a whole evolves and progresses.
2015, 0308, 2010 ◎＃※ OK;
The Second Hall of the Underworld: King of the River of Chu
The spirits of the underworld gather,  
As the Son of Heaven descends to the second hall.
King Chu Jiang, Chapter Twenty-Four:  
Deep Bonds of Brotherhood and Sisterhood
第廿四回　  兄弟姐妹
How Siblings Are Formed
The children born of the same parents share the bond of siblings, a connection of profound depth. The reason they are brought into this world by the same mother and father lies in the accumulation of countless virtuous and unwholesome karmic ties from past and successive lifetimes. It is due to these karmic affinities that they become closely-knit brothers and sisters in this present life. Across the vast universe, they are produced from the same mold.
For all living beings, it is precisely the same system, the same causes and conditions, and the same essential parental genetic makeup that produce identical products through shared karma. Within this, there are also varying karmic influences of good and evil, as well as favorable and unfavorable conditions, which differentiate how blessings and retributions are allocated. These are the karmic relationships among siblings born and raised by the same parents.
Brothers and sisters, viewed through this terminology: they are children born of the same parents. As for cousins from paternal uncles, aunts, and maternal relatives, they are the children produced within the lineage of grandparents. Having often lived together since childhood, they are quite close; this bond is certain to endure into the future.
Regardless of where they may live apart in the future, as long as occasions such as weddings, funerals, celebrations, or other events arise, they will come together, relying on and sustaining the bond of sibling affection for survival. This connection is profoundly intimate, for in this world, one cannot choose one’s siblings or relatives. Moreover, the bond of siblinghood is forged by sharing life under the same roof.
Siblings born of the same parents
Then, for the next twenty or thirty years, what will the life habits, ingrained tendencies, innate dispositions, and individual personalities of each sibling be like? Understanding the different habits, tendencies, personalities, and dispositions of each person is precisely what enables mutual tolerance and sibling affection. If one can comprehend and empathize with others, the emotional bonds among siblings will naturally become more harmonious.
It is natural to feel gratitude for the upbringing and education provided by one's parents, recognizing the immense effort and labor they have devoted. From the parents' perspective, the palm is flesh, and the back of the hand is also flesh—neither is favored over the other. Siblings living together under the same roof share a bond of affection that is beyond the comprehension of outsiders.
In daily family life and habits, as well as in how one conducts oneself, living under the same roof allows one to absorb the inherent qualities similar to those of one’s parents. Through everyday interactions, one also becomes aware of the distinct habits of each sibling, which manifest in daily routines. As they grow up, each person will eventually marry.
Originally, the family had gradually become too large to live under one roof, much like a tree that must branch out as it grows. Each person's family dispersing to different places can reduce friction among them, for it is impossible to avoid conflicts when living under the same roof. Moreover, among each sibling and their respective families, minor issues often lead to rifts.
The Bond of Brotherhood and Sisterhood
Especially in interactions among children, verbal and physical conflicts are bound to arise to some extent, along with various frictions in daily life. When there are many actions that cannot be reconciled, coupled with disputes over the division of modest savings, land, or property left by ancestors or elders, these often lead to numerous conflicts and obstacles.
It is precisely due to the karma accumulated in past lives that such an opportunity arises, allowing one to be born into the same family. This is a blessing cultivated over many lifetimes. Why would others wish to be born as your siblings? Could they simply possess the necessary karma? No! Each person must have their own past-life karma, regardless of whether the parents are good or bad, fortunate or unfortunate.
In this present life, we have the rare opportunity to be born as siblings from the same parents. Such a precious chance can be said to be one in millions. Yet, whether we cherish this extraordinary bond and foster true brotherhood or sisterhood is uncertain, for each person’s karmic causes and effects from past lives are different.
In this present life, why do different causes and conditions yield varying karmic results? It is precisely due to the parental seed causes—the one that is more intense will more readily sprout and take root. It is this intense seed cause that enters the opportunity of conception, forming a situation in which sentient beings fundamentally lack the ability to choose their own descendants.
Deep affection among brothers and sisters
As for the essence of which genetic traits one is born with, if one wishes to select the descendants of their own lineage, it requires profound virtue and fortune, as well as a highly advanced level of medical technology to achieve. Furthermore, what karmic connections determine the relationships among siblings, and what causes lead them to be reborn within the same family to live together?
It is precisely the will of Heaven, arranged in the unseen, that determines the karmic causes and effects of each person's past lives, leading them to be reborn as children and descendants in their parents' home. What the future holds, and why the ancients said, "To have worthy descendants, one must first accumulate virtue," is that such so-called worthy descendants can only be obtained when ancestors have first accumulated virtue, thereby gaining filial and virtuous offspring.
If you desire mediocre descendants, or malevolent and vulgar descendants, or descendants who come to settle karmic debts, which would you choose? Of course, most people wish for good children and grandchildren. If you desire good descendants, can you first accumulate virtue and merit? Only when the energy of hidden virtue is sufficient will you have them.
It is precisely towards one's own siblings that each person, due to different karmic relationships, receives varying blessings and faces distinct karmic retributions. Moreover, whether siblings can cherish the time they spend together in this life, and thus cultivate future affection based on the connections of this world, depends on the condition of having sufficient good fortune and virtue to support such karmic ties.
All karmic connections among brothers and sisters
Each sibling has a different karma. Although they are all children born to the same parents, each person’s causes, conditions, and retributions are not the same. Some come to repay kindness, some are ordinary, and some come to collect debts. One must observe the karmic connections between parents and children from past lives, as well as the nature of one’s own inherent qualities.
This is the ingenious arrangement of Heaven: the amount of virtuous deeds one accumulates will be matched by the number of outstanding descendants in the future. If, over many lifetimes, one has seldom performed any acts of charity, it is likely that there will be little hope for having good descendants. For one's siblings in the human world, there must be many karmic connections shared with the same parents.
How can we cherish the bond between siblings during the twenty or thirty years of intertwined lives before the family divides, regardless of how karmic debts are repaid or blessings are bestowed? In the human world, we must show greater tolerance toward our own siblings and be grateful for our parents’ toil. Only then can we build a good family and raise fine children of our own.
As the old saying goes: "Only when holding your own child do you truly understand your parents' love." Without experiencing the hardships of raising children, how could one comprehend the meticulous care and boundless devotion parents give to their offspring? This affection is indeed higher than the heavens and deeper than the earth. Another ancient proverb states: "Filial parents beget filial children, while the disobedient breed disobedience in their own."
The foundation of all filial piety in children
As the ancient saying goes, the transmission of teachings to future generations of humanity is rooted in "passing down filial piety through the family." The wealth accumulated and passed down by parents to their children is something one obtains without personal struggle or effort. Moreover, through the fair arrangements of parents, what you and your siblings receive is precisely a portion of that inheritance.
Do you ever feel that your parents are partial and unfair, giving more to your siblings and only a little to you, leaving you with a sense of resentment? At times, you may harbor considerable rejection toward your parents, especially when you believe they have distributed property unjustly among your siblings, and even resort to litigation, taking the matter to court.
This is precisely the behavior of a truly unfilial child. Consider how many among all living beings under heaven are like you, blessed with such fortune and good karma. When you feel unsatisfied, can you take a step back and reflect: what of those impoverished beings who often struggle even to secure three meals a day?
Without having to toil excessively, one can inherit a portion of property left by their parents—this is a blessing bestowed by heaven. How can there be such disparity among people? To compare one’s own heart with the hearts of others, only to harbor discrimination, is truly undesirable. In today’s underworld, there are far too many such beings among humanity. Sibling rivalry is simply not worth it.
All bonds of affection among brothers and sisters
Is it possible: to be content? To be grateful? To be understanding? To be tolerant? To be caring? To communicate? All are difficult! Why is it that even with such wealth, one remains insatiably greedy and still quite dissatisfied? Could one perhaps think of and compare oneself with those beings who have one meal today and none tomorrow, and realize how fortunate and blessed one truly is?
To possess wealth and land that others do not have, as the ancients said: calculations never cease, yet in the pursuit, one may lose harmony and fairness among people. However, human schemes are no match for divine will; such gains may come quickly and vanish just as swiftly, and one might even forfeit familial bonds, ethics, and morality. Is it worth it? To live together with affection and righteousness—who does not have siblings? Who does not have parents and elders?
We are all brothers and sisters, born of the same parents and nurtured with familial affection. Yet why, after a time, do we often allow conflicts over children's education and disharmony among sisters-in-law to undermine the steadfast bond between siblings? Moreover, differences in the dispositions of our sisters and their husbands further hinder the affection among you sisters. For what purpose do we endure such pains?
Each individual carries different karmic causes and effects, within which lie numerous factors. How to properly cherish the bond with one's own siblings is a fundamental affection one ought to uphold in this life and this world. Yet, why is it that even among siblings, each person’s karmic destiny differs? What causes give rise to such differences?
Each sibling bears their own karma.
These are children born of the same parents, yet each carries different karmic causes and effects from past lives. Although in this life they are born into the same family through the womb of the same parents, the human world is but a collective assembly of all who have passed away and departed. Whether they will be reborn together in the next life is unlikely!
Each individual's karma from past lives determines the future conditions of their existence; this is an absolute truth. By treating one's present siblings with mutual affection and loyalty, and by fulfilling one's proper responsibilities, one has already met the fundamental requirements. Moreover, when siblings face difficulties and seek your aid, it is essential to offer help.
It is precisely those who have the right, responsibility, and duty to help their siblings. This is a necessary act of loyalty and righteousness. By the subtle arrangements of Heaven, they may also be born as your siblings to settle grievances and debts from past lives. Would you not agree? It is merely a distinction between settling karmic debts and accumulating blessings, and it serves to repay all causes and effects from previous lifetimes.
Each sibling has their own karma.
Why, then, do siblings sometimes find themselves in such circumstances? Logically speaking, brothers and sisters born of the same parents should naturally share a deeper bond and harmony than outsiders. It is precisely because of this inherent affection that the workings of karma—both in terms of retribution and blessings—manifest so truthfully. And it is in the present moment that these accounts are settled.
If not, what else could engage with you in the cycle of cause and effect, retribution and reckoning across lifetimes? Nothing! It is precisely within this cycle of karmic retribution that opportunities arise for your downfall. Moreover, the seeds you sowed in past lives determine the fruits you reap in this life and this world. You must understand that both the reckoning of karma and the accumulation of blessings come about in this very manner.
Why does Heaven arrange so skillfully, subjecting you and your siblings to the retribution for past-life failures, while granting you the chance for favorable marriages separately? How do you feel about the past-life merits being added to you and your siblings? All good affinities, blessings, and fortunes will be communicated through your siblings, converging into great blessings to be bestowed upon you. The prosperity and decline in the human world are closely related to the virtuous and unwholesome karmic affinities from past lives.
Brothers and sisters share a bond of deep affection,  
United by the same parents, a connection of fate and devotion.
Good and bad, fortune and misfortune are distinctions;  
Such is the mechanism of cause and effect from past lives.
Brotherly bonds are incomparably great, sisterly affections embody true righteousness.
Why must ruin come as repayment?  
Debts from past lives are settled in this one.
This verse! Let us encourage one another, all sentient beings! By mutually supporting and analyzing the bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood, distinguishing between blessings and misfortunes, we can fully resolve the retribution of karmic cycles. In doing so, we may act willingly, without any dissatisfaction, resentment, or lamentation, and thus truthfully bring these bonds of affection and friendship to their rightful conclusion.
For a long time, I have not descended to converse with all the virtuous students of Chongxin. Today, I am truly delighted to have the opportunity to discuss the works of the "Dadao Series Celestial Books." I am also pleased to see the momentum of the Chongxin lineage, guided by virtuous merits and blessings, which holds great promise for the future. Today, I have disturbed the Chongxin lineage for a while. Farewell, everyone.
Celestial Venerable of Universal Transformation in the Southern Heaven
The predestined bond from the Southern Heaven arrives with a reverent heart,  
Spreading the fruits of universal transformation and opening the grace of virtue.
The Celestial Venerable takes his turn on duty today,  
The Book of Cause and Effect ascends the platform.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and the scholars of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, His Majesty the Underworld Sovereign, King Chu Jiang of the Second Hall, has personally arrived to compose the twenty-fourth chapter of "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect." This chapter offers a clear analysis of "the affection and righteousness among siblings," enabling all sentient beings to understand the origins and conclusions of these karmic connections.
Although born of the same parents, siblings differ from one another in habits, tendencies, innate nature, and personality. Even twins may not share the same fate or fortune. Indeed, each person experiences distinct cycles of karmic retribution and virtuous blessings.
2015, 0308, 2011◎＃※ OK;
Third Hall of the Underworld: King Songdi
The Netherworld descends upon us,  
The Third Hall's Song Emperor composes and arranges the texts.
The Twenty-Fifth Chapter of the Great Dao's Cause and Effect: Kinsfolk and Siblings Joyful and Harmonious
第廿五回　   手足親人
The Karmic Bonds of Family
The journey of human existence inherently involves one's own family and kin, who mutually support and complete each other in daily life. Throughout the process of personal growth, these siblings and relatives are of great importance. Beyond the bond between parents and children, the relationships with siblings and family members are also profoundly intimate.
Through living together with siblings, relatives, and family members, all functions and interactions greatly complement and fulfill one another for sentient beings. As the ancients said, "To fight a tiger, one still needs brothers." In the human world, there is a necessity to rely on the framework of ethics, and it is through this layer of connection that human relationships and familial bonds are maintained, giving rise to all actions and behaviors.
Each family member cares for the lives of others, and every action is upheld by the protection of familial affection and ethics. This is a gift from heaven and the foundation upon which people rely, fostering a sense of belonging among relatives. By fulfilling human ethics and morality, kinship bonds and sibling relationships are perfected, enabling mutual coexistence. Such a life together cultivates an admirable ethical affection that is deeply envied.
It can also be grounded in the framework of ethics and morality. In the daily life of the human world, which is shaped by human factors, how can ethical bonds and familial affection be more fully realized? It requires favorable karmic conditions to grow within the same family. As the ancient saying goes, "It takes ten years of cultivation to share a boat ride, and a hundred years to share a pillow." Such karmic conditions are truly precious.
Kinship and the Bonds of Family
Moreover, the opportunity to be born into the same family through such karmic connections is a rare affinity. For human beings, mutual growth and fulfillment represent the true path. Yet, how does this unfold within the cycle of karma and retribution? This very cycle of cause and effect stems from past lives and accumulated lifetimes, shaping all the good and evil affinities of this present existence.
Joining the lives of one's own relatives to mutually repay kindness and grievances is intricately linked to how each action unfolds and how the karmic causes from past lives manifest. Why is it that within the same family, some members come to repay kindness, others to settle grievances, and still others to carry on the family line? This shapes all future purposes.
It is precisely the karma from all past lives that shapes future outcomes, and the distinction between good and evil karma is embedded within this present life. It is due to the blessings or misfortunes of past lives that all interactions in this life arise, distinguished as good or bad, and differentiated by the human factors of virtue and vice, fortune and calamity.
The distinction between good and evil, and between fortune and misfortune, brings to a family either the addition of blessings or the retribution of calamities. Since these have already entered into the realm of karmic consequences, how can one mitigate them to the lightest possible retribution? When blessings come to be added, how can one extend their favor and prolong the causes and conditions of good fortune? This is related to one's mindset, perspectives, and actions.
The bond of kinship and brotherhood
Whether one should honestly allow it to settle debts and repay kindness is indeed one of the most difficult things for sentient beings to comprehend. In the human world, besides oneself, sentient beings have many other family members—their own relatives. This familial bond and affection are closely tied to the overall demonstration of family education in the orientation of sentient beings' lives.
For a family, the parents' "teaching by example, teaching by words, and teaching through discipline" are rooted in ethics. The words and actions of parents serve as models for their children and relatives to emulate. Moreover, the behavior and conduct of parents directly influence the future behavior, social interactions, and mindset of all family members in dealing with others and handling affairs.
If one has religious beliefs, there is also a greater tendency to follow certain behavioral patterns. The actions of parents and elders often become models to emulate, as the saying goes, "If the upper beam is straight, the lower beam will also be straight; if the upper beam is crooked, the lower beam will tilt." This illustrates the educational aspect of imitation, where the behaviors of elders and parents can lead to the formation of habits, whether good or bad.
How can one discern the educational standards of this family? The type of family will inevitably shape the corresponding code of conduct. As the ancients said: "Filial parents beget filial children, while the disobedient breed disobedience," and "If you doubt it, observe the water before your door—each drop falls from the eaves." The wisdom of the ancients holds true. So, what then are the words, actions, and conduct of the parents like?
Parents, children, and grandchildren all share the same bloodline.
It will inevitably relate to all descendants, children, and grandchildren, as well as the actions and behaviors of every relative and family member. Indeed, there exists a set of guiding principles and conditions to be passed down and relied upon. In the human world, actions and behaviors are transmitted from one generation to the next, from one era to another. The descendants of Yan and Huang in the Central Plains rely on ethical kinship to uphold all human relationships and moral actions.
Yet it never leaps beyond the framework of human ethics and morality. Moreover, ethical kinship serves as a model for every family. Parents inherit the family traditions of their grandparents, while they themselves pass on the education they received from their parents. Future generations and children, in turn, inherit the teachings of their own parents. In all these cases, the behaviors and actions of parents and grandparents are integrated into one's own habits of daily life.
As the framework for conduct and handling affairs, this is passed down through the level of family education. Human factors can foster exemplary educational standards, yet humanity often generates conflicts with education and cultivation, leading to many negative examples. This is closely tied to how parents and grandparents conduct themselves and manage matters.
In the past, education was less widespread among humanity, and today illiteracy has been largely eradicated. The bonds of kinship and fraternal affection among sentient beings form the framework that upholds all ethical relationships and familial ties. How rare it is to grow up alongside one's own family! To parents, the palm is flesh, and the back of the hand is also flesh.
The karmic connections among siblings, relatives, and family members.
There is no inherent comparison of better or worse between them. However, based on the karmic causes and effects of past and accumulated lifetimes, even children born to the same parents may differ. Those who come with blessings to repay kindness tend to receive more affection and favor from their parents, while those who come to settle grievances or seek retribution often receive less parental tenderness and love.
This reflects the mindset of parents: regardless of whether their children turn out good or bad, they are the crystallization of their own efforts and have been painstakingly raised to adulthood—how could they not be cherished! It is precisely this bond of fate that elevates this familial affection to its peak. Whether parents dote on their children or not, they are still their own flesh and blood.
How can one sever the bond of sibling affection? It cannot be done! Yet, the same holds true for the karma between brothers and sisters; some are merely born through their parents’ surrogate wombs, and all future karmic retributions and reckonings, as well as the settling of past karmic debts, differ from those of the present age. How then can we speak of it?
It is precisely through the "compression of time and space by a factor of sixteen" that we can now witness the law of cause and effect, which was rarely seen in the past. How to transform, reduce, and mitigate the retribution of karmic consequences is related to each individual's conduct and actions, as well as how karmic debts accumulated over lifetimes are settled. This process unfolds through the relationships among siblings, parents and children, and relatives in the human world.
The causal bonds of kinship among siblings and relatives.
To willingly repay the debt of fraternal affection can often reduce the original karmic retribution. Through human effort, the consequences of karma can be altered, lessened, or dissolved. This is one of the most commendable forms of karmic retribution in the eyes of Heaven, manifested in the daily lives of the human world, summarizing the accumulated experiences across countless lifetimes.
All causes and effects should be transformed and mitigated, leading to positive changes—this is the true path. It further allows greater fulfillment through human effort; by employing human factors to overcome the retribution of past-life karma, good changes are generated. Moreover, for past misdeeds—whom you have wronged or mistreated—in this very life, they will be reborn into your household.
What you most adore and cherish, and all the actions from past lives, when fulfilled through their opposites, will lead you to great and deliberate efforts. All past causes and conditions, whether good or evil, will transform into family members born into your household in this life, becoming your parents, spouses, children, siblings, relatives, and all other members.
Moreover, in a past life, when you bullied and trampled upon others excessively, they did not come to seek revenge but instead chose to be reborn directly into your household. This was truly an opportunity granted to you by the heavens to change the course of your past life. It was a subtle arrangement by Shangcang (the Supreme Heavens), regardless of your past deeds: deceiving, betraying, harming, injuring, or even killing others—all the karmic obstacles and consequences.
Brothers and sisters are bound by the causes and conditions of good and evil.
In this present life and world, you are given the opportunity to change anew and completely clear away your karmic debts. For sentient beings, this kind of fulfillment is a true heavenly opportunity and good affinity for eliminating karmic obstacles. Moreover, the effort and affection you have poured into it surpass that of others, and you may even find yourself constantly thinking of this family member, repaying all that you did in your past life.
Regarding: harming others, injuring others, killing others, mistreating others... if these could be replaced with methods of "care and compassion" to nurture and look after others—this is precisely the cause and effect of retribution. Do you not find the subtlety within it remarkable? And what of the kindness of parents? What of the affection between husband and wife? What of the bond with one’s children?
What of the bonds between siblings, or the shared lives of family and kin? Within these relationships lie countless causes and conditions of good and evil, which are implanted into every action and behavior in this present life. From your perspective, this process takes all the karmic consequences of good and evil from past and accumulated lifetimes and transforms them into future retributions, mutually fulfilling each other. It creates distinctions between all that is good and evil, favorable and unfavorable, fortune and misfortune. This is precisely a perfectly just and impartial recompense—rewarding virtue and repaying grievances—so that humanity may be awakened to caution.
The bond between parents, be it good or ill,  
Siblings are the bosom that holds the same will.
Relatives, family, and kin, all must forsake every evil and misfortune.
Thus do humans pass their lives on this path;  
Their daily living and resting are just as true.
How to grow and change: evil brings calamity, good yields benevolence.
This verse is shared with all sentient beings for mutual encouragement! Regarding our close relatives and family members as our own kin, they are either those who come to claim debts or to repay kindness. This is intricately linked to all the good and evil karmic connections from past and countless lifetimes. It is precisely the distinction between fortune and misfortune. At this moment, can we willingly repay these debts and avoid creating further karmic causes of misfortune for the next life?
It also shapes individual mental attitudes and behavioral actions. How to improve these is the true path! We are grateful for the compilation of the "Heavenly Book of Great Dao Causality" by Chongxin, which allows all Netherworld Sovereigns to mutually fulfill great karmic affinities and provides education, growth, and edification for sentient beings. Thank you all for your time and patience with Chongxin. Farewell, everyone!
Celestial Worthy of Southern Heaven and Ascendant Unity
From the Southern Heaven descends a sacred presence,  
Together we raise a celestial melody, profound and benevolent.
The Heavenly Sovereign takes his turn on duty today,  
A time for the Great Dao to record the ledger of cause and effect.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and the scholars of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, His Majesty Song Di, the Ruler of the Third Hall of the Netherworld, has personally descended to compose the twenty-fifth chapter of "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect," analyzing "the bonds of kinship among siblings and relatives." It explores how the karmic obstacles among family members can be mutually resolved, thereby benefiting the promotion of all sentient beings.
Only by willingly and gladly making amends can one truly dissolve the karmic obstacles accumulated over countless lifetimes. If one cannot transcend worldly attachments for the sake of one’s own family, how then can retribution be sought? This will be thoroughly analyzed in the next work, allowing you all to truly comprehend the divine plan and favorable destiny—that is, to provide sentient beings with mutual fulfillment and establish benevolent order in the human world.
2015, 0308, 2012◎＃※   OK;
The Fourth Hall of the Underworld: King of the Five Offices
The spirits of the netherworld,  
The Fourth Hall's Son of Heaven descends to welcome them.
The Twenty-Sixth Chapter of King Yama of the Five Offices:  
Guiding Through Kinship with Virtue and Intent.
第廿六回　   至親關係
The Most Intimate Human Relationships
The ethical and moral norms of the human world enable sentient beings to sustain a thriving family. Within this framework, the intimate bonds among parents, spouses, children, siblings, and all family members are interconnected through the ethics of kinship. This provides a foundation for the human world to resolve all life's challenges through the integration of familial affection and ethical principles.
As the old saying goes, "To fight a tiger or catch a thief, you need your own brothers." Since ancient times, the bond between close kin has been an affection that is difficult to sever. Nothing is more precious than this familial love, nor can it undermine the ethical and moral principles of close kinship. Within a family, all brothers and sisters are descendants born of the same parents.
In the human world, it is said that individuals with essentially the same genetic makeup, born into the same family and raised in identical environments, will have highly similar genetic traits. Alongside this genetic similarity, their habits and lifestyles will also align. Within such families, members nurture and support one another, fostering warmth and affection.
Regardless of any adverse circumstances, there will always be mutual support, unwavering loyalty, and care for one another. As the ancient saying goes, "To hunt tigers or catch thieves, one relies on one’s own brothers." This age-old adage speaks not only of brothers but also includes sisters and all family members. It is an undeniable truth that in all matters, whether good or bad, they stand by and care for each other.
The Interdependent Karma of Close Relationships
There will be greater internal consistency and mutual support, rather than a lack of unity directed outward. This stems from the bond of brotherhood, which includes sisterly affection, and from the closeness of immediate family members who have lived together for a time. Even after individual siblings marry and start their own families, these emotional ties will continue to be well maintained.
Should any family member have an event or encounter a date of celebration or mourning, all members, whether near or far, will return to gather together and enjoy the joys of family life. This familial bond and ethical connection also foster mutual emotional attachment and support. In this world of human affections, such favorable or unfavorable circumstances are collectively upheld and cared for by all.
They will jointly accept and handle the matter, allowing it to be resolved and brought to a satisfactory conclusion. In the human world, the orientation of life relies on the framework of morality, kinship, and ethics, precisely through close familial relationships that depend on one another. The human world possesses such intimate bonds, which, after each brother and sister marries and has descendants, give rise to mutual affection and closeness among future generations.
Among the children born to a pair of parents, each will have their own marital destiny. Through such unions, relationships with brothers and sisters-in-law, as well as with sisters and brothers-in-law, are formed. These connections, stemming from the wife’s marital family and the husband’s natal family, are sustained by the goodwill and affection of each individual, regardless of any differences that may exist.
Close kin are bound by mutual dependence.
If the bond is limited to close relatives and cannot extend to more family connections, it may lead to a person becoming relatively isolated and struggling to integrate into the extended family through marriage. Therefore, in the human world, sentient beings often take on different roles: a single individual can serve as a parent, uncle, sibling-in-law, as well as aunt, maternal aunt, maternal uncle, and so on.
Sentient beings can each assume many roles and portray different generational standings. It is the same individual who can take on various roles and act as different generations, and from that perspective, one constantly switches between these roles and generational positions. Thus, everyone frequently plays different roles and different generational parts.
Furthermore, the kinship derived from the bond between husband and wife serves as the very foundation that sustains familial connections and relationships. As social beings, humans often reside in the same regions, frequently travel within an area, or venture to different countries and territories. This movement gives rise to what is termed as the "activation of the Traveling Horse Star," leading them to journey afar to distant lands.
This is the bond of kinship, which, amidst the separation, longing, and emotional distance, can sustain the affection among all family members throughout a lifetime, regardless of being separated by thousands of miles. Moreover, thanks to modern technology, today's world has made distant places feel like close neighbors. Regardless of time, space, or national boundaries, people can now quickly connect and communicate through electronic means such as video calls.
The Affection of Close Kin and the Gradations of Distinction
This technological civilization brings humanity and all living beings greater functional benefits, fostering enduring and resilient bonds of brotherhood and sisterhood. It enables closer connections among close relatives, transcending distinctions of good or bad karma. It facilitates mutual support between husbands and wives and all their kin, while simultaneously nurturing virtuous and favorable karmic ties for growth.
Do you maintain a bond of kinship with yourselves, your husbands, and all relatives of your wives, preserving this familial affection regardless of the distance of time and space? Can you sustain this connection, mutually supporting one another, while also recognizing that all karmic causes and effects from past lives are embedded into your present existence in this lifetime?
When all beings in the sentient world come together in mutual connection, it is as the ancient saying goes: "To hunt tigers and catch thieves, one needs brothers." Such good karmic bonds can only be shared with one's own brothers and sisters. If all outcomes are favorable, they are enjoyed together; but if the karmic bonds are unfavorable, they may bring hardship and suffering upon all brothers, sisters, and related kin.
How does this karma of good and evil, cause and effect, seek retribution? It relates to the distinction between good and bad karmic connections, all of which are intertwined among siblings, close relatives, and family relationships. If it is good karma, it will bring additional blessings; if it is bad karma, it will lead to mutual conflict and retribution. How does this come about!
How to Resolve the Retribution of Karmic Debts from Close Relatives
This will result in the complete dissipation of all family estates, farmland, and the entire wealth accumulated through the hard work and frugality of parents and ancestors. It is precisely what the world calls "wealth does not last beyond three generations." Do you feel any sorrow? Any anguish? Any resentment? Any unwillingness? Yet, in the face of such retribution and repayment, the human world often finds itself utterly helpless!
This form of retribution is beyond the comprehension of sentient beings—when will the retribution of cause, condition, and effect arrive? It is profoundly difficult to discern! Often, at the outset, those closely related are first given sweet rewards, but gradually, the retribution of karmic obstacles takes shape and slowly reveals itself, especially when vigilance is insufficient.
This would result in all the efforts and toil of a lifetime ultimately vanishing without a trace, forcing one to start over from scratch. Worse still, one may end up impoverished, burdened with debts of millions, tens of millions, or even billions, with creditors constantly knocking at the door demanding repayment. This makes it extremely difficult to recover in this lifetime, leading to immense suffering and unbearable hardship.
When the unfavorable and vile "karmic causes, karmic effects, karmic obstacles, and karmic retributions" created in past and successive lifetimes—whenever they may have been formed—come to demand repayment, which sentient being can truly comprehend? The blessings, wealth, and fortunes bestowed upon you by Heaven, along with all the hard-earned savings of your lifetime, will gradually fade away. This is precisely in accordance with the impartial justice of retribution for past karma.
The Formation of the Crusade Against Close Kin
Can it be improved? This concerns every individual—how are blessings and hidden virtues to be addressed? It is necessary to earnestly beseech the immortals and Buddhas to intervene, so that the blessings and hidden virtues of each person may be transferred to reconcile with the karmic creditors from past lives. Only through such a transfer can the retributive actions of this lifetime be significantly reduced. Yet, this also depends on the nature of the grievances and debts between the parties involved.
However, not everyone can employ this method, and how many sentient beings truly understand the underlying reasons? Indeed not! From past lives and throughout countless cycles of cause and effect, if the grievances are first brought before the Kṣitigarbha Hall in the underworld, and the accused possesses an overwhelmingly strong aura, it becomes nearly impossible for the wronged party to seek redress.
Through the profound teachings of Namo Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, it is revealed that in this present situation, it is not appropriate to seek retribution. For those who have suffered injustice, the karmic retribution may be deferred for a period of time and space, awaiting a moment when their oppressor’s momentum weakens before seeking justice. But what if the oppressor’s strength remains formidable across lifetimes—how then shall retribution be sought?
It is precisely as decreed by Heaven: those who have suffered injustice are granted the opportunity to be reborn into the family of their oppressors as kin. At this time, seeking retribution becomes easier, for the oppressors are made to deeply cherish and dote upon them, willingly and wholeheartedly devoting themselves with utmost care. It can be said that this serves as true recompense for the injustices, humiliations, abuses, and violations endured by the wronged in their past lives.
Even the closest family members can achieve harmony and fulfillment.
In this lifetime, we are destined to resolve and repay the karmic debts from past lives. You once bullied others in your previous existence, so in this life, you are given a beloved child to cherish as the apple of your eye. All memories of the past are erased, allowing for a fresh start with new perspectives and roles. The former tyranny, arrogance, and dominance are now transformed and reshaped.
To sentient beings, there is a deep affection for one's own closest kin due to karmic connections, willingly becoming like an ox or a horse to repay all karmic debts from past lives. One may not understand why this is so, but it aligns directly with the retribution of cause and effect, and it is a willing act that leads to the ruin of all family lands and property.
When confronting those who have wronged us, we can deeply empathize with their suffering and torment. If they are utterly ruined and broken, and even after their bodies are destroyed, all their relatives, property, relationships, family, and everything else gradually drift away, leaving them utterly alone, then the creditors of past grievances may even take pleasure in exacting retribution.
Moreover, by observing human actions, one can see how the causes and effects of an event unfold? This is absolutely true, and it serves as a stark warning to sentient beings about the terrifying nature of karmic retribution! When those who create grievances are reborn as humans in this life, they must distinguish between the virtuous causes and the malevolent causes from their past and accumulated lifetimes. If two or more descendants come to seek retribution simultaneously,
The Tribulations and Transformations of Intimate Relationships
When there are two or more karmic creditors involved, it may be difficult for the one who created the grievance in this life to escape suffering as they wish. After the case between the perpetrator and the victim is brought before the Hall of Ksitigarbha, some creditors have already received warrants to seek retribution. This aligns with the principles of divine justice and the karmic law of cause and effect.
Yet it may not align with the perceptions of sentient beings, nor with the principles and axioms of the human world. As the ancients said, "The pitiable inevitably have their detestable aspects, and the detestable inevitably have their pitiable actions." Moreover, regarding all ancient sayings, one must examine the causes and consequences, tracing their origins and outcomes, rather than merely judging them by the standards and norms of human conduct.
This does not align with the law of karmic retribution, as understood and upheld by all sentient beings across the vast universe. One cannot judge an event solely by its outcome; it is essential to examine its entire context and origins. This principle serves to complement the framework of justice decreed by Heaven. Why, then, does the human world experience such karmic retribution?
The Interconnected Karma of Humanity's Closest Bonds
It is only when all the causes and effects from previous lives and successive lifetimes are combined that many karmic retributions arise. This embodies the just principle of Heaven and aligns with the cycle of cause and effect inherent in the Earthly Realm. Yet, how many sentient beings can truly comprehend the reasons behind this? Most remain utterly unaware!
Otherwise, if one only observes the misconceptions left after a campaign, believing that good people receive no good rewards and evil people suffer no retribution, how can there be just principles to implement for both the wrongdoers and the wronged? Moreover, how can the distinctions between cause and effect, good and evil, fortune and misfortune in the human world be made clear to sentient beings? Good and evil will ultimately be repaid—it is only a matter of time, sooner or later.
It is certainly not the perceptions and notions formed by our current life experiences, nor is it the retribution of cause and effect in all forms of punishment. Within the vast and unerring net of cosmic justice, where all karmic consequences are accounted for without the slightest omission, it is essential for all sentient beings who possess consciousness to adopt a way of life that avoids creating evil causes, thereby preventing the formation of evil consequences to be repaid. This is the true path.
Family ethics serve as the foundation, ensuring harmony between parents and children.
The kin of brothers and sisters begins with the closest of bonds.
It is easy to condemn cause and effect—  
it is simply a matter of having kinship ties.
I willingly repay you with all my heart,  
In accordance with the great righteousness of Heaven.
This verse is shared with all sentient beings for mutual encouragement! How to carry out the "retribution of karma" and transform all its fundamental concepts will become an opportunity for mutual growth in virtue in the next cycle. It offers sentient beings the chance to dissolve all ignorance and delusion in the human world, and to thoroughly and truthfully resolve the retribution of cause and effect.
It is hoped that all sentient beings will willingly come to repay all karmic debts and obstacles from past lives, for only in this way can the karmic fruits of previous existences be truly and completely settled in this present life. I appreciate your hard work. The momentum of Guan Chong Xin is exceptionally vigorous, and it is certain to achieve great success in guiding four hundred million Buddhist disciples in the future. Strive on! Strive on! I have disturbed the Chong Xin lineage for some time now. Farewell, everyone.
Celestial Venerable of Southern Heaven's Upright Order
The Southern Lord presides over the proclamation of sacred decrees,  
Upholding the righteous path to propagate the transformative workings of the Way.
The Celestial Venerable jointly assists Chongxin Hall, guiding four hundred million souls back to their destined return.
All Saints, Buddhas, and virtuous beings, as well as the fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, the Fourth Hall's King of the Five Offices, the Underworld Sovereign, has personally descended to the Chongxin system to compose the twenty-sixth chapter of "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect." This chapter distinguishes between the positive and negative aspects of "karmic retribution in close familial relationships," connecting and analyzing them in conjunction with the previous chapter's content.
The next installment will be even more splendid, continuing the narrative. It is hoped that the three divine volumes, "The Dao is Sentient," "All Beings of the Dao," and "Karma of the Dao," will be interconnected. By truthfully addressing the karmic retribution of sentient beings, and earnestly cultivating and transforming it, greater practical efficacy will be achieved. This will truly benefit sentient human beings, enabling them to ascend and transcend.
2015, 0308, 2013◎＃※ OK;
The Fifth Hall of the Underworld: King Yama
From the netherworld descends a solemn presence,  
The Son of Heaven meets the worthy in the fifth hall.
Yama, the King of Hell, writes in the twenty-seventh chapter:  
Relatives and friends form the foundation of good and evil.
第廿七回　   親戚朋友
The Affinity of Relatives and Friends
After sentient beings enter the human world, they begin to distinguish between good and bad in interpersonal relationships, as well as differences in kindness and evil. This leads to the classification of good friends and bad friends, as well as good relatives and bad relatives. This process is fundamentally structured with the self as the "subject," while other human beings serve as the "object" in mutual interaction.
It is essential to understand that good relatives and friends often create a favorable living environment and blessings for oneself, bringing greater comfort and convenience in daily life. Conversely, poor relatives and friends can negatively impact one's daily routines, dragging one into a harsh living environment, and even causing constant anxiety over debts, leaving one overwhelmed and without peace.
In this way, the causes and conditions concerning good and evil, as well as favorable and unfavorable relationships with relatives and friends, distinguish all your behavioral standards. How the quality of interpersonal relationships shapes the separation of blessings and misfortunes, rewards and retributions in this life and the future, leads to mutual fulfillment within one's own family. Relatives, bound by considerable intimacy, maintain the foundation of familial ethics and moral principles.
Thus, taking oneself as the principal agent among relatives, the good and evil karma from past lives shapes all aspects of one’s present existence, distinguishing it as favorable or unfavorable. To settle such karma and exhaust blessings or material gains, relatives serve as intimate connections within this karmic framework, often bringing favorable news.
The Origin of Kinship Relations
Because of the availability of good information, it is shared with you earlier than with the outside world to aid in your fulfillment. This kind of message is related to whether one has blessings or not, as well as one’s own lack or insufficiency of judgment. If, in addition, one’s karmic creditors come to demand retribution, it can form a very cruel and damaging force against oneself and one’s relatives.
As the old saying goes, "To fight a tiger or catch a thief, one needs one’s own brothers." Why, then, do so many siblings inflict such severe harm upon each other? This distinction arises from all the karmic causes and effects of past lives. If the familial bond is meant to be one of goodness, distinguishing between what is beneficial or harmful, kind or evil, why does such merciless violence emerge, affecting every member of the family?
The reasons behind the occurrence of more cruel actions must be judged based on all the karmic causes and effects from past lives. This, in turn, forms the mutual karma of this life. Through countless lifetimes, all the various negative karmic causes from past lives enter into the present life, precisely in accordance with the mutual retribution of cause and effect, allowing for the possibility of one day clearing and extinguishing them completely.
This kind of repayment and settlement of karmic cause and effect must be based on the results of one's own actions over countless lifetimes. After calculating the karmic credits and debts of each individual through addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, a timing for the repayment of each person's accumulated karmic results over lifetimes is determined. However, this is also constrained by the varying degrees of merit and fortune each person possesses.
The retribution sought by relatives due to karmic causes.
If it is necessary to settle all debts within one lifetime, there may be times when an individual's accumulated karma and blessings are insufficient. In such cases, one must wait until the next life, or even across two or three lifetimes, or longer spans of time and space, before retribution can be exacted. For those past circumstances that could not be repaid, there is no choice but to wait.
Only after one has accumulated a certain measure of blessings and merit can they then seek to settle accounts, for only then do they possess the capacity to repay. Moreover, if the other party has committed too many transgressions, even to the point of living a life of utter destitution and poverty—truly destitute—how could they possibly be held accountable? This speaks to the necessity of retribution within the cycle of cause and effect.
As the primary basis for future lives, the focus is on the main grounds for judgment, without negating the individual as the principal framework. If one is said to have accumulated blessings and joins in this life, after all actions are accounted for and tallied by Heaven, those who lack sufficient blessings due to human actions will endure a lifetime of poverty and hardship.
Moreover, even when there is little room for compromise and one is plagued by both poverty and illness, there are times when a certain amount of good karma may accumulate, leading to a reckoning of cause and effect. This causes the "perpetrator of injustice and the victim of injustice" to independently settle their respective karmic debts. As a result, all entangled aspects of fate inevitably draw the "victim and the perpetrator" together.
Condemnation by Kin and Friends
In the conflict between the accuser and the accused, all acts of retribution will manifest within the karmic ties of their own relatives, which is relatively easy to accomplish. Moreover, for those whose retribution is particularly intense, when observed from both sides: the repayment of grievances through mutual satisfaction often involves significant karmic connections.
Once the "perpetrator of injustice and the victim of injustice" become members of the household, the perpetrator will develop deep affection for the victim, cherishing them as a pearl in the palm or a treasure in the heart. This holds true regardless of gender. They often share a natural rapport, appearing exceptionally endearing and winning the affection of the entire family, as if bound by a mutual attraction.
This allows both parties to develop a deeper karmic connection, which aligns with the vulnerabilities inherent in all sentient beings within the human realm. If there is no affinity, how could there be a basis for retribution? The karmic process of each event, regardless of time, space, or circumstance—whether spanning hundreds, thousands, or even tens of thousands of years—how then can such cause and effect be drawn together?
At the very heart of heaven and earth lies the distinction between the mirror of the earth's core and the mirror of human conscience. This distinction arises from the interconnectedness of the causes and conditions linking these two mirrors. Regardless of how vast or enduring time and space may be, all causes, conditions, and their resulting effects are bound together. The net of heaven is vast, with wide meshes, yet nothing escapes it—not even the slightest trace is ever overlooked.
Relatives and friends seek retribution for cause and effect.
Even in the case of relatives and friends, when seeking the most favorable karmic connections, it is precisely because they are not mutually acquainted that pursuing claims becomes more difficult for you to recover. Moreover, it may even be impossible to cause you harm or demand repayment. In all instances of "karmic cause and effect," where claims and repayments are settled, there exists a necessity for pursuit, ensuring that no time or space remains obscured.
Furthermore, it aligns with the fundamental structure and principles established by Heaven. Regardless of the passage of time or distance, retribution is assured without the slightest omission. Throughout countless lifetimes, all karmic causes and effects are tallied and settled. Through the calculations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, it becomes clear how much one person owes another and how much another is owed in return.
Under what causes and conditions does it arise, and under what circumstances can retribution be demanded? Sentient beings are unable to comprehend how many people they have owed over countless lifetimes, how much they owe each person, and when, in what time and space, these debts will be reclaimed. It is believed that each person’s karmic connections differ, making this one of the most difficult matters for sentient beings to understand.
How can one discern the causes and consequences of all outcomes? Naturally, there are traces to follow. As for whether each event brings fortune or misfortune, signs often appear before the outcome manifests. Regarding the distinction between "those who create grievances and those who suffer grievances," there are two types: one is living human beings, and the other is the invisible spirits of the deceased. For both, the pursuit of retribution and compensation follows a discernible pattern.
Framework for Debt Recovery Among Relatives and Friends
Before the occurrence of good or bad, virtuous or evil events, there will be various signs such as "intuitive feelings, dream revelations, personal visions, or reminders from others," all of which will manifest in advance, often with discernible patterns. These premonitions experienced by humans frequently occur within the near future, within half a year, or may manifest as intuitive feelings, personal visions, or dream revelations over a period of one to three years.
Moreover, the various signs and reminders from others are often overlooked, neither noted nor remembered, and easily forgotten. In this process, the grievances of a departed soul have been woven into the fabric of one's own life, traceable through its threads. At the same time, this marks the gradual decline of your accumulated blessings.
First, alienate your esteemed ones and then strip away all blessings; at this point, it becomes easier for vengeful spirits to exact retribution. Many have faced such retribution under these very conditions. The more prosperous a person becomes, the more fiercely their own kin may turn against them. Yet, in the course of daily life, human beings often dismiss such matters as trivial.
They often do not pay much attention, or even forget, until after a period of time, it forms a greater destructive force. It is necessary to maintain vigilant judgment toward sentient beings; in fact, Heaven will allow the spirits of the deceased to come to settle karmic debts, and will give advance warnings through "dreams, intuitions, direct encounters," and various other signs within one to three years, or as recently as within half a year.
Relatives and friends are the easiest to criticize.
If one is vigilant, they will understand how to take preventive measures in advance, and with the compassionate guidance of the immortals and Buddhas, if the warnings are indeed true, one must remain alert at that moment to know how to evade and prevent harm. Yet, as time and circumstances unfold, month after month passes! After a long while, the sense of vigilance gradually relaxes.
No longer possessing the initial vigilance, and even believing that the matter has already been resolved, or even gradually forgetting about it, yet in the opposite dimension, the invisible spirits are relentlessly pursuing their retribution, continuously waiting for the opportune moment to arrive. All matters of pursuit and accountability are still being carried out with intense urgency. As human beings have long forgotten over time, their inner guard has diminished with the passage of years, which is precisely the best moment for retribution to unfold.
Sentient beings are often caught off guard by unforeseen adversities, struggling to cope and at a loss for how to resolve and repay them. This is precisely where the compassionate grace of Heaven extends its fair and equal care and protection to every being, without distinction between sentient beings and intangible departed souls, offering all the same just and equal opportunity.
The collective judgment of humanity is something you might more willingly accept, and to which you would devote all your efforts and wisdom. Often, the condemnation faced by your descendants is precisely due to your past life: relying on power to oppress others, seizing people's property, cruelly destroying what others cherish, harboring extreme malice, and engaging in all manner of inhuman acts... These actions accumulate to form the entirety of your karmic consequences.
The Difference Between Subduing Spirits and Subduing Humans
All the karmic consequences from past lives are what sentient beings find most difficult to comprehend and are least willing to acknowledge. The causes and effects of past lives can no longer be verified, nor is there any evidence to prove that they were indeed one's own actions. People often say: How could I have been so malicious in my past life? So cruel? So inhumane?
This absolutely cannot be the case—I could not possibly be mistaken. I am a kind, honest, and sincere person, and would never commit such a cruel and malicious act. I believe the majority of sentient beings would also deny it. If, as you say, this never happened—and you did not do it—then how could the deceased spirit have found you? Could this really be a mistake?
It is essential to understand that human beings are distinguished by each individual's "color, fraction, code, and energy." Each person's genes—or the differences in their IC microchips—cannot be falsified. In the process of settling karmic debts with intangible spirits, it is precisely under such circumstances that you will be identified, giving rise to all forms of retribution.
This situation can be described as follows: it will not only exhaust the wealth accumulated over three lifetimes in a single generation, but it will also strip you of all your property, land, and possessions, leaving you with nothing. Moreover, it may burden you with debts amounting to millions, making it extremely difficult for you to recover in this lifetime and subjecting you to prolonged suffering and torment. When all tangible and intangible forces come to demand repayment, the outcome will be precisely as described.
The statutes ordained by Heaven
Why is it that in the subjugation of formless spirits, the retribution faced by humans is a thousand times lighter? How can this be! It is precisely in the spirit of "grievances should be resolved, not deepened" that the subjugation of formless spirits is addressed. Through mediation and counsel from upright religions and temples in the human world, it is often easier to let go. But whether formless spirits can seize the opportunity for mediation remains uncertain.
If there is an opportunity for mediation and persuasion through various religions, temple deities, and spirits, it can lead to letting go of all past grievances in the present moment. At this time, the intangible departed souls are more likely to experience greater growth and benefit, and the causes and consequences of retribution will be significantly alleviated. If the intangible departed souls cannot be put at ease to accept mediation and persuasion, this outcome may not be achieved.
This will lead to even harsher retribution against those who create grievances. The retribution demanded by such karmic consequences differs significantly between intangible spirits and living human beings. How, then, can there be an opportunity to mitigate or resolve the retribution of cause and effect? It ultimately depends on the mindset and perspective of the one who caused the grievance. Yet, such resolutions are not always achieved with perfect harmony.
In this situation, if the one who created the grievance can adopt a willing and accepting attitude, it will be easier to resolve this karmic debt. This is the harmonious outcome hoped for by Heaven and the divine beings. However, if the one who created the grievance refuses to believe, denies responsibility, or even resorts to harsh words and insults, they will inevitably face suffering in the future, and such consequences will often follow.
The Ruin of the Invisible Spirit's Subjugation
Your family is frequently disturbed, leaving you in constant fear and unease, with no peace throughout the day. Whether you believe it or not, this is the repayment of all the negative karma from your past and accumulated lifetimes. In this life, all your savings have been exhausted and depleted. As for those who have suffered injustice, whether the debts sought in this lifetime can be fully settled remains uncertain! Why has it come to this?
As for the repayment of grievances in this very lifetime, where the blessings of the wrongdoer are exhausted, it merely dissipates the accumulated resentments of the wronged from past lives. What can such retribution truly achieve for both the wrongdoer and the wronged? And what will become of them in the next life? This is a pitfall that sentient beings are most prone to stumble into, precisely because it is all too easy to forget.
Time and circumstance return once more, and again, what can you do? They dismantle and destroy all your lifelong efforts, everything you have cherished, treasured, and loved, leaving you incomplete. They also sever all your interpersonal and familial ties, every "good connection," forcing you to break away.
Moreover, you may even incur considerable aversion from others. All interpersonal relationships—be they with relatives, friends, or even family—may refuse to forgive you, dislike you, or even despise you... As a result, all possible support will gradually withdraw. All your efforts will not only come to naught but may even leave you deeply indebted.
Invisible creditors of karmic debts come to demand repayment.
Let you be unable to hold your head high in this lifetime, with a multitude of creditors coming to demand repayment every day, constantly hiding and evading, never able to turn your fate around. How would you feel being subjected to such condemnation? There would simply be no way out! Such situations are all too common in the world. How, then, can this problem be resolved? When it comes to human factors, change is the best method.
This method entails a willing repayment, akin to the selfless sacrifice and care one would offer to their own children, given without expectation or personal gain. Should one be unwilling to repay, they must be prepared for everything to return to zero, to start anew, and to find themselves alone once more—a more passive approach.
However, as for the proactive approach—first dedicating merits to the karmic creditors from past lives (the wronged ones)—some sentient beings may ask: "Since we don’t know when we might encounter these wronged ones (karmic creditors) who come to seek retribution, why should we dedicate merits to them first?" Of course, it is also acceptable not to dedicate merits, provided one has the ability to resolve the karmic debts on their own.
How can one truly know how much is owed from past lives? Not so! By first dedicating merits, future retribution may be lighter, and the creditors of karmic debts may be willing to let go. If one bears a decree to demand repayment, it must be observed how much was owed to others in past lives. In this life, one should repay accordingly and dedicate merits accordingly. There is a source and a complete chain of cause and effect, all traceable through its veins and connections.
The debts incurred by sentient beings in their past lives.
Moreover, it is quite fair and just. After all causes and effects from past lives enter this present life, Heaven will calculate how much you should repay. When the retribution demanded by your karmic creditors becomes excessive, there is a crucial dynamic at play: everything you respond with in this life will inevitably be deducted in the next.
If the debts of this life have been fully settled, they will not return to haunt you in the next. What is most feared is that when creditors from past grievances have already come to demand repayment, one still refuses to believe, persists in their own ways despite being entangled by unseen spirits, or even resorts to cursing and shouting. In such cases, it is likely that in this very lifetime, numerous sufferings will assail the body—truly in accordance with the just principle of karmic retribution.
The karmic creditors are invisible disturbances, which sentient beings cannot perceive. If they were to manifest in physical form to exact retribution, it would be easier for humans to become alert. When faced with tangible retribution, one can develop vigilance and take precautions. Moreover, typical forms of retribution are tangible and observable, thus leaving traces that can be traced.
The manifestation shown by karmic creditors.
First, you develop a deep fondness and delight, identifying with, liking, and appreciating the other person. All favorable traits are fully manifested within your own mindset of affection, making you firmly believe in the intensity of this fondness, delight, and tenderness. This is one of the most difficult things for sentient beings to guard against.
Once one becomes fond of the other's sweet words, it is as if struck by a honeyed arrow that is difficult to remove. This blinds one's judgment entirely, as the ancient saying goes, "blinded by a ghost." In such a situation, you are both willing and helpless! It is precisely this that gives the wronged—the creditors of past grievances—a greater opportunity to seek retribution.
Are human beings often "blinded by ghosts"? No matter how sharp your judgment or how high your vigilance may be, when such a moment arrives—that is, when your fortune begins to decline—the bitter fruits of the future are already awaiting you. Will you willingly repay them, or are they the result of past deeds beyond your understanding?
Kinship ties form the basis for seeking retribution,  
Friendships are shaped by the nature of good and evil.
Giving you sweet words and honeyed phrases, I admire the other's delightful sentiments.
Creating grievances and suffering grievances are intertwined,  
offering opportune moments for creditors of karmic debts.
Covering the eyes obscures the truth;  
A mistaken judgment demands its reckoning in due time.
This verse is shared with all sentient beings for mutual encouragement! Moreover, why do relatives and friends sometimes face the best opportunities for reconciliation? What mindset should we adopt to achieve this, so as to resolve the causes and effects from past lives? Only in this way can we align with the just principles and laws of Heaven. Today, observing the flourishing momentum of the Chongxin lineage, we can look forward to its future propagation and transformation!
Celestial Lord of the Southern Heaven, Qi Yang
From the Southern Heaven's realm descends a lofty heart,  
Together we uphold the Great Way, guiding all beings.
The Heavenly Venerable arrives today to take his turn on duty,  
The great Dao's karmic ledger of heaven is newly inscribed.
All Saints, Buddhas, virtuous beings, and fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, the Underworld Sovereign of the Fifth Hall, King Yama, has personally descended to compose the twenty-seventh chapter of "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect," analyzing the "karmic connections of relatives and friends, whether virtuous or malevolent." Regarding this invisible and visible retribution, how to fully resolve and repay it is a greater revelation bestowed upon you all, enabling everyone to jointly achieve progress and elevation. This is the true path!
2015, 0308, 2014◎＃※   OK;
The Sixth Hall of the Underworld: King Biancheng
Crossing the Primordial Spirits in the Netherworld,  
The Six Palaces of the Son of Heaven Guide with Virtuous Intent.
King Biancheng pens twenty-eight chapters,  
Comrades and friends uphold loyalty and righteousness.
第廿八回　   同儕朋友
Peer and Friendship Relationships
Relatives and family members share the same intimate bond, while peers represent a closer relationship than ordinary friends. The connection with relatives is directly proportional to that with friends. In terms of peers, spending day and night together creates a greater karmic affinity. This distinction among relatives, friends, and peers exists precisely because knowing you enables the settling of karmic debts.
Good relatives, good friends, good companions, as well as bad relatives, bad friends, and bad companions—all arise from karmic conditions, which are divided into two categories: retribution and blessings. For sentient beings, all past-life experiences of good and bad, virtue and vice, fortune and misfortune are implanted into the present life through these conditions, thereby forming the cycle of "cause, condition, and effect."
It is precisely the cyclical law of cause and effect governing all human life that determines the future retributions and blessings. Friends are not categorized within the scope of relatives; they are distinguished as "three types of beneficial friends and three types of harmful friends," with benefits and harms often equally balanced. Yet, why is it that good, intimate friends often develop a deeper level of interaction than relatives?
In a good, close friendship, friends complement and support each other. True friends are willing to go to great lengths for one another, mutually uplifting both themselves and others. Such genuine friendships are built on deep affection and loyalty, always standing together in solidarity. No matter the task or challenge, they join hands with shared devotion and commitment.
Defined by Peers and Friends
In the human world, the role played by relatives is one of considerable closeness. Although friends are not directly related by blood, a good and intimate friend can become even closer than one’s own family—this is what is known as a sworn brotherhood. One should stand by friends with loyalty and engage with them through genuine affection, depending on what one is willing to offer.
A true friend is defined by the ability to reciprocate what others give. Differentiating friends based on whether they bring benefit or harm to oneself aligns with the saying: "There are three types of beneficial friends and three types of harmful friends." Whether a friend can stand by you in loyalty or engage with you in genuine affection distinguishes a good friend from a bad one—none of these traits are written on one's face.
It is essential to distinguish between good and bad friends, for true loyalty and friendship cannot be seen overnight. Only after an event occurs can one understand whether a friend is harmful or beneficial. Then it becomes clear who stands by you with loyalty, who supports you with friendship, who holds you back, and who shirks all responsibility.
Who are the ones who push you down the well, who are the ones who shove you into the fire pit, and who are the ones who go so far as to destroy the evidence and cover up the crime? The gains and losses among these three types of friends stem from everything you have invested in your daily life. Reflect on your own actions and behavior: why do the friends others make become their benefactors, while the friends you make only bring you endless excuses and delays?
On Gains and Losses Among Friends
Good deeds never seem to involve oneself, yet one is often implicated in misfortunes, with many even holding you back. The actions of one's beneficial and harmful friends reflect each person's mindset and conduct, which are further shaped by karmic retributions from past and accumulated lifetimes. This distinguishes the consequences of virtuous blessings and evil calamities, or the cyclical return of blessings and misfortunes.
It is precisely how you treat others, how you handle matters, and how you respond to situations in this life that will influence others to treat you in the same way. The rewards and returns you receive depend on your own actions. In the same organization, company, or any related institution, there are also many others who work alongside you.
Whether in religious organizations, business enterprises, or other groups, such connections are predestined, and there are even more karmic ties among colleagues. As the ancient saying goes: "It takes ten years of cultivation to share a boat ride." If one is fortunate enough to work together in the same organization, even if not necessarily in the same department, it is a distinction born from all the karmic bonds of past lives.
To discern what virtuous or adverse karmic conditions bring individuals together in this life, many of these are the accumulation of good and bad karma from past and countless previous lifetimes. Whether you can conduct yourself harmoniously in human affairs, and whether the camaraderie among colleagues around you—a bond even deeper than friendship—exists, all arise from the karmic conditions that unite you.
What, then, is the karmic connection among peers?
As the old saying goes: Knowing one's nature allows for harmonious coexistence, enabling people to live and work together. This coexistence and interaction among colleagues foster mutual understanding of each person's habits, tendencies, and character. Through such understanding, one can grasp the habitual patterns of each individual, thereby facilitating collaboration. Thus, they can work together harmoniously within the same unit.
In the workplace, it is essential to understand how to conduct oneself in a way that fosters popularity among colleagues. If one finds oneself unwelcome, it is important to reflect on one's own character and examine how one interacts with others. Those who are disliked often receive less support and cooperation from their peers.
Your noble supporters are relatively few, while petty individuals are many. Yet neither the noble nor the petty are marked upon their faces. It often depends on whether your usual words and actions appear odd or eccentric in the eyes of others. As the human world often says: if you are considered an eccentric, such a person will inevitably find themselves at odds with all those around them.
It is all too easy to be marginalized and pushed out by others. Yet for such an odd person, have you ever reflected on your own shortcomings, mistakes, and deficiencies? I believe this is quite difficult, as no one tends to see themselves as odd. The key to harmonious coexistence among colleagues lies within the dynamics of a workplace unit.
Correcting One's Own Wrongful Actions
One may believe that all their words, actions, and conduct are entirely correct, with no errors, shortcomings, or deficiencies. Yet, many opportunities that should have been within reach are easily lost. What lies at the root of this issue? It is that within this organization or group, others regard you as an oddity.
Unable to integrate with others, often preferring solitude, and even possessing a rather aloof disposition, one cannot collaborate effectively with colleagues, nor can one align with the rules and systems of the unit or group. Consequently, others will gossip behind one's back, frequently undermining efforts, spreading rumors, and even resorting to slander.
If there is an opportunity for promotion, and if timing is to be considered, your usual lack of sociability means that a single remark from others can hold you back, suppressing your chances for advancement. Reflect on this: why is it that colleagues who joined later than you have already risen above you, while all your lifelong efforts and hard work seem to have gone unnoticed?
In the end, if one still cannot integrate into a unit or a group, it can be said that while one's work may be passable, one fails in interpersonal harmony. This is precisely because one's own stubborn character obstructs the opportunities that life ought to offer. If one comes to realize this flaw, would it not be a great loss to miss out on so many fine chances?
Mutual Support and Setbacks Among Peers
This camaraderie and mutual support among peers can sometimes, with just a word from others, lead a person to great achievements, or conversely, erase all their hard work and dedication, causing opportunities that were once within reach to vanish. And what of your own character? How do you treat others? Why is it that the efforts of some can earn the recognition of others?
I work diligently, give my all, and uphold integrity—I am upright and incorruptible, neither greedy nor covetous, and I refrain from speaking ill of others. Yet why do my peers dislike me, resent me, exclude me, and fail to recognize my worth? Am I truly so unwelcome? I must first examine whether, in my conduct and dealings, I appear as an oddity in the eyes of others.
Then, even if there are a bunch of strange quirks and eccentricities, it will be very difficult to integrate harmoniously with everyone; and within a group or unit, if one cannot blend in with others and foster unity, how can there be greater growth? When others label you as an unsociable and isolated person, you become a thorn in their side and a source of constant irritation.
Although you do not speak ill of others, if people gossip behind your back, such individuals are not fit to work alongside. Among peers, one should discern whether one possesses peculiar habits or eccentric traits. If this is indeed the case, it is essential to deeply reflect on the efforts and sacrifices made throughout one's life, especially as someone who abides by the law and serves with integrity.
There are three types of beneficial friends and three types of harmful friends.
Why do others have more opportunities than you? Although you also have chances for promotion, you are repeatedly passed over during each review of candidates. If viewed among peers: you consider yourself to be law-abiding, upright, and impartial, and you also believe you are a kind, loyal, and honest person. So why is it that you cannot integrate into the group or the unit?
Are all other peers truly mistaken, deficient, or lacking? Certainly not! It is precisely because of the relationships one has defined for oneself that one fails to see even the slightest hint of one's own peculiarities or eccentricities. So why, in the eyes of peers, are you not only seen as an oddity but also unable to integrate into this unit or group?
If this is the case: you believe that all your actions have long been incompatible with the group, which not only reduces the number of benefactors around you but also creates many adversaries who hold you back. Are all these colleagues truly adversaries? Not necessarily! For you, each colleague and every individual in this life is both a benefactor and an adversary.
Observing how you conduct yourself and handle affairs, it is indeed the case that each person is both their own benefactor and the benefactor of others, as well as being their own adversary and the adversary of others. Do you believe this? Among friends, there exists a responsibility and duty to support one another, yet when it comes to resolving any problem or difficulty, it is often one's own ignorance and obstacles that remain unclear.
The Value of Friends and Peers
Among friends and peers, the experiences and journeys of others often represent the very parts we ourselves lack. Moreover, when we encounter difficulties and setbacks, peers and friends often become our benefactors. Whether it is a single phrase that enlightens us or a method that brings clarity, such moments frequently transform many of our hardships and challenges.
Another form of support through money and material goods can help you overcome many difficulties. Being loyal and righteous to friends is a virtue worth practicing by all. However, among friends and peers, there are also many who may hold you back, such as through spreading rumors, slander, gossip, disputes, or tattling... Prolonged exposure to such negative influences can be detrimental.
Good-hearted peers and friends are benefactors who can assist you, while ill-intentioned companions and friends are petty individuals who may betray or harm you. Benefactors and petty individuals are defined from one's own perspective. Others can be your benefactors, and others can also be your petty individuals. Likewise, you can be your own benefactor, and you can also be the petty individual to others.
This is the work of noble persons and petty individuals. The distinction between others and oneself is essentially that of subject and object. Whether one encounters more and better noble persons or more and worse petty individuals in this life is entirely determined by one's own actions. Only through genuine effort can one gain true friends who understand one's heart and mind, and who are beneficial to oneself.
Peers and friends come to show their support.
Rather than constantly holding you back and spreading rumors, it is actually just pointing out your peculiar temper and odd habits. Do not think that others are always treating you poorly, dragging you down, or spreading gossip. Have you reflected on yourself? Have you corrected your ways? Have you made improvements? Start anew and do better!
If there are colleagues who previously held unfavorable opinions of you, they will gradually develop goodwill and draw close to you once more. By cultivating and reforming your peculiar temperament and eccentric disposition, you will attract many more benefactors into your life. Blessings and virtuous, auspicious connections will follow you continuously. This is something within your control and can be changed.
One is the subject oneself, while others are the object; conversely, if others are the subject, one becomes the object. This gives rise to different standpoints and perspectives. From one's own standpoint, viewing others may not always be accurate. It is advisable to step down from one's own position and engage with everyone on equal terms.
Indiscrimination is mutual care and tolerance, and even more so, it is about fulfillment within interpersonal relationships. This further distinguishes whether one has noble persons or petty individuals around them. The factor of affection can make oneself welcomed by others, which is determined by one's own actions and behaviors. It also helps differentiate between noble persons and petty individuals in one's life, necessitating a genuine effort to change.
Peers gather together,
Friends share a bond of loyalty.
Hardships and setbacks come to test and transform,  
Standing together and aiding each other is the true essence of friendship.
Knowledge must be capable of gathering together, dwelling in a single unit of time.
Words of care and encouragement bring harmony and good fortune.
This verse is shared with all sentient beings for mutual encouragement! Why is it that others often encounter many noble opportunities, while one's own efforts seem in vain? The reason for this must first be sought in examining one's own peculiar temperament and eccentric disposition. Ask yourself: Are you seen as an oddity in the eyes of others? If so, you will understand why in this life you encounter more adversaries and fewer benefactors.
On the contrary, you are a well-liked person. In this life, you will naturally encounter more benefactors and fewer adversaries—this is absolutely true. Can you grasp the underlying mystery within this? Reflect upon it carefully! Thank you all for your hard work. I am grateful for the time spent with the Chongxin lineage and for accompanying this work. Farewell and thank you.
Celestial Lord of the Southern Heaven Immortal Path
From the Southern Heaven descends a noble presence,  
The immortal path, selfless yet filled with compassion.
The Heavenly Sovereign presides over the celestial rotation today,  
marking the appointed time for the Great Dao to inscribe the book of karma.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, His Majesty the Sixth Hall King of the Netherworld, King Biancheng, has personally descended to compose the twenty-eighth chapter of "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect." This chapter will cover the latter half of relationships with relatives and friends, as well as the extraordinary karmic connections among peers. You may reflect upon: what conditions and karmic ties have shaped your own circumstances.
Why is it that within the same organization, some individuals gain widespread recognition while others do not? Wherein lies the reason for this? Through the writings presented in this volume, one may come to understand whether the cultivation of one's virtuous karma is related to this phenomenon. When one's goodwill fails to earn the recognition of others, it is essential first to reflect upon one's own errors and contradictions.
If one can cultivate and reform, reflect on one's own mistakes, shortcomings, and inadequacies, they will earn the affirmation and recognition of others. Sometimes, a single word, whether good or bad, can offend someone. Over time, people may gossip behind your back, waiting for an opportunity to seek revenge in the future. Such situations are common everywhere, so one should avoid holding grudges against others.
As the old saying goes, "A kind word warms the heart for three winters," and people will always remember your virtues. Conversely, "A harsh word breeds lifelong resentment," which is the primary cause of creating enemies and negates all your efforts. Do you understand? It is the right path for everyone to "be a good person, harbor good thoughts, speak kind words, do good deeds, and attract good fortune."
2015, March 8, 2015. All good.
The Seventh Hall of the Underworld: King of Mount Tai
The Netherworld ferries the souls of the departed,  
Mount Tai descends, Chongxin is graced with his presence.
The Son of Heaven authored twenty-nine chapters,  
Blessings and nobility bring joy to all beings.
第廿九回  　 福氣貴人
The noble's fortune and blessings increase.
One's own actions and deeds manifest in the conduct of interpersonal relationships, within which the distinction between noble persons and petty individuals arises. All causes and conditions of good and evil, combined with every action and deed in this lifetime, determine whether one encounters noble persons or petty individuals. Moreover, the causes and conditions bestowed by noble persons naturally bring additional blessings and fortune.
If one encounters many petty individuals, it can lead to a decline in one's own fortune; if fortune is diminished too much, it will affect one's blessings and positive interpersonal connections, and favorable circumstances will significantly decrease. In such situations, both in personal relationships and the workplace, it inevitably creates obstacles that are difficult to resolve.
In the human world, while pursuing the direction of life, many individuals may serve as benefactors to themselves, and one can also become a benefactor to others. This process distinguishes one matter: it is precisely through one's own way of life that the distinction between noble individuals and petty ones is made. The support and guidance provided by such noble individuals are precisely what contribute to the accumulation of blessings.
Moreover, it adds to wealth and can also enhance interpersonal relationships. A benefactor does not necessarily need to possess wealth or currency. Sometimes, a single word can awaken someone who has fallen into despair and destitution, or breathe new life into someone who has lost all meaning in existence. Such a word often holds immense power to revive hope. Similarly, for ordinary people, when they lack the accumulation of virtuous deeds and favorable conditions, this too can be a source of transformation.
The actions and behaviors of sentient beings
This situation often presents excellent opportunities to select capable individuals for important roles. If a person of influence speaks well on your behalf, many opportunities may arise. If such an individual possesses sufficient virtue and favorable karma, and is also harmonious and adaptable, the chances of success become even greater. So why does such fortunate affinity descend upon you?
It is essential to cultivate good connections widely in daily life and to foster mutual harmony, enabling others to recognize your capabilities to undertake and excel in this position. In this way, the blessings and opportunities you receive will be acknowledged and affirmed by others, who will support all your actions, thereby adding to your good fortune. This is often how it is among human beings.
All of one's actions and behaviors in this life are implanted from previous lives, accumulated lifetimes, and the deeds of the present life, determining which virtuous causes and evil calamities one should bear in this lifetime. When virtuous merits are fully attained, every action and behavior in this life will bring you, seemingly without reason, everything you have long dreamed of and found difficult to obtain.
As well as the karmic connections of virtue and wealth, one's fortune or misfortune is determined by the good and evil karma accumulated in previous and past lives. Furthermore, with the support of benefactors, and through peers, relatives, or friends whom you know and are familiar with, there arises an affirmation and recognition of all your actions and conduct by others.
The Blessing of Being Recommended by a Noble Person
Moreover, when you are endowed with an abundance of virtuous merits, a great multitude of sentient beings will feel drawn to you, affirming and following you, and even praising you highly! This karmic connection from past lives' virtuous deeds—can you understand it? You yourself are not necessarily a person of great talent, so why do you possess such charm, able to win the admiration, affirmation, and following of many?
To borrow a phrase from the human world, it is about being supported by a benefactor. Through packaging and promotion, and with the essential alignment of "favorable timing, advantageous location, and harmonious human relations," one can rise above others, gain widespread fame, and achieve both reputation and wealth. Yet the fortune of receiving such support from a benefactor stems from the virtuous causes and conditions cultivated in past lives, which bring about this necessary fulfillment.
When it comes to an originally ordinary person who gains the admiration, approval, and even affection, praise, and fervent following of many, what is the reason behind this? In this life, if one can offer a little more benefit to others, it accumulates in the karmic connections of future times and spaces. Much of it stems from the charity and assistance you have provided to others throughout your past lifetimes.
The virtuous karma accumulated from past lives, which in this lifetime manifests as the blessings of previous virtuous deeds being doubly returned to you, is precisely how the heavens often bestow great fortune upon sentient beings, rewarding those who practiced generosity in their past lives. If in this life you are miserly and greedy, even to the point of refusing to give the slightest aid, and rarely offer alms or relief to the poor, such a person will find it difficult to attain such fortunate blessings.
Achieved through the patronage of the noble.
Moreover, if one is overly calculating in all matters and fundamentally lacks magnanimity, they will be impoverished in the next life, lacking money and struggling to receive aid, and will remain destitute throughout their lifetime. Conversely, if you consistently assist the poor and suffering, selflessly sacrificing and dedicating yourself without seeking reward, and practice the "threefold purity" in your actions, you will provide alms and relief to many beings.
What you will receive and reap in the future will be immeasurable—this is to be expected. Why is it that the same person can be described as having little ability, talent, or diligence, yet is endowed with considerable blessings? What is the reason for this? It is the accumulation of virtuous causes from past lives.
In all the actions and conduct of this present life, can one gain the recognition and affirmation of others? If one can indeed receive such affirmation, many people, though perhaps not adept at expressing it, may not say aloud, "How wonderful you are!" Yet from the depths of their hearts, they hold you in genuine affirmation, appreciation, and even admiration. Why is this so? It is because they look not merely at the present moment, but also at the merits of past lives.
The varying karmic retributions experienced by individuals stem from the virtuous deeds and causes they cultivated in their past lives. As each person sows different seeds of good and evil, when others encounter you, they naturally feel goodwill. Such blessings arise from the fields of merit sown in previous lives, which only now begin to sprout. It is because one relieved the poor and aided many suffering people in past lives that such fortune manifests in this present life.
The Virtues of the Noble and the Vices of the Petty
If a favorable opportunity arises in the future, those with whom you have cultivated virtuous connections in the past will step forward to lend you a helping hand, repaying past kindnesses. Even a single word of encouragement from them can lead you to great achievements and further enhance your blessings. Such well-established interpersonal relationships, accumulated over time, are built entirely on goodness and beauty.
In the karmic connections of future times and spaces, there will be many favorable conditions that mutually bring about success. As the saying goes, "A kind word warms the heart for three years, while a harsh remark breeds hatred for a lifetime"—and even that may not suffice, leaving grievances to be settled in countless future lifetimes. A good karmic bond and positive interpersonal relationships are inevitably supported and bestowed with great blessings.
Is it closely linked to favorable interpersonal connections? It distinguishes whether you will have benefactors in this life to help you achieve greater advancement and gains. In this existence, why do virtuous and malevolent karmic ties exist in this space, influencing the direction of one's life? This is precisely the result of the relationships formed by the good and evil, fortune and misfortune of past lives.
This is to distinguish whether one encounters in this life either fortunate benefactors or those who hold one back—that is, whether one can harmoniously accommodate others in daily life, or whether one nitpicks over every matter, harboring resentment and complaints toward others... All of these will lead to human-caused differences, for better or worse, in the direction of your life.
The varying nature of fortune and misfortune arising from good and evil deeds.
In the distinctions between good and evil, fortune and misfortune, it is precisely our own actions and conduct, as well as how we treat others, that define them. Often, a single word can be either kind or malicious, and such situations are everywhere. A casual remark, unintended by the speaker, may sound quite harsh to a sensitive listener. Throughout one's life, it is essential to strive for improvement toward goodness.
It is essential to "cultivate more good intentions, speak more kind words, act as a good person, perform more virtuous deeds, and attract more good fortune." If you can do so, you will likely encounter more noble individuals and fewer ill-intentioned ones. It is important to actively foster positive connections in daily life and elevate your mindset and perspectives toward the direction of benevolent thinking.
If you do enter a religious path, it is also a virtuous affinity, and you will encounter more good affinities in the future! Regarding all your own words, actions, conduct, and movements—in the eyes of others, the distinction between being seen as a good person or an eccentric lies precisely in this judgment of behavior.
To distinguish the good and bad karma that will affect you in the future, as well as the number of benefactors and adversaries you may encounter, interpersonal relationships are categorized into virtuous blessings and harmful misfortunes. It is essential to rectify and improve any negative habits, as this benefits both oneself and others. Benefactors are the fortunate connections one encounters—why would they appear without reason?
Growth Through Noble Recommendation
It is essential to incorporate all karmic causes and effects from past lives into the present existence, and similarly, to integrate all virtuous and unwholesome karmic connections from previous lives into your current life. The extent of virtuous karma sown in your past lives determines the opportunity for these good causes to flourish. How, then, can such virtuous karmic connections be nurtured and cultivated to grow even more abundantly?
It is precisely the blessings sown by you in your previous and accumulated lifetimes that are planted into this life, bringing forth exceptionally favorable fortune. This is essential for the transformation of interpersonal relationships. As the ancient saying goes, "If destined, even from a thousand miles apart, we meet; if not, we pass by without recognition." Such virtuous karma from past lives, manifesting as blessings in this life, not only adds to one's fortune but also forms a great reservoir of merit.
Therefore, distinguishing between human factors that can lead to success or failure, for all your virtuous karma and favorable conditions in this life, when a noble person recommends and supports you, often a single word of praise can add much fortune to you. Many blessings and good fortunes will be added, and numerous rewards will come your way—so much so that you might not even dare to imagine it, often wondering if you are dreaming? Indeed, it is so!
The reason for this is precisely the accumulation of virtuous karma from your past life, which has brought about the rewards in this present life. This is not without cause, nor does it come without reason. It is the harvest of seeds sown in a past life, now reaped in this one. When another favorable karmic condition ripens, it is essential to have a virtuous and noble person to guide and support you, which will lead to great fulfillment.
The noble one's support brings fulfillment to those he uplifts.
If you, as a sentient being, find that your virtuous karma and favorable conditions are lacking, you must first reflect on your own actions and conduct. Ask yourself why others, who may appear less talented, capable, or even lacking in interpersonal skills and external charm or wealth compared to you, still seem to surpass you in certain aspects.
Why do some people have greater blessings, fortune, and wealth than you? This is largely related to interpersonal relationships and the accumulation of good and bad karma over countless lifetimes, which shape the outcomes of each person's efforts. As the ancients said: "Do not form grievances with petty people, but cultivate connections with noble individuals." Those who follow this principle also tend to encounter fewer calamities.
Although interacting with a gentleman may not involve flowery words or flattery, the mutual understanding and connection formed through such interactions will inevitably earn one high regard. This is unlike those who are skilled at flattery, sycophancy, obsequiousness, or sweet-talking. Observing their conduct in daily life, such individuals often rely on opportunism and cunning throughout their lives, yet they are less likely to offend others.
In truth, upright and noble individuals are not universally acknowledged, yet all their lifelong actions and deeds are recognized and affirmed by Heaven and Earth. Such individuals often serve as their own benefactors, though they may not bring you great wealth or material gain. Why is this so? Throughout life, they often offer others some benefit and use kind words to enlighten many who are lost in confusion.
All virtuous actions of human beings
Some consider various acts of benefiting and aiding others to be foolish behavior—quite laborious and thankless, with little expectation of any return. Yet truly wise individuals believe that accepting a loss can itself be a gain. Sentient beings may understand this concept, but though it is widely recognized, it remains difficult to practice and often impossible to fully embody.
Everyone fears being deceived too often and losing this kind of goodwill. Can we understand that the benefits we previously gave to others may, in the future, flow back to us continuously, bringing great returns and rewards? In life and work, "do not be too calculating" and "do not compare too much." Instead, "discipline yourself." These three principles are the good remedies for the human world.
All of these will greatly elevate you, enabling you to understand the obstacles that hinder your progress. These obstacles are in fact composed of many favorable conditions and causes. In this lifetime, do not dwell too much on comparisons or calculations. Favorable causes and conditions will surely arise to facilitate your growth and realization. Keep this firmly in mind and never forget it. Do you understand?
A lifetime of hardship seems all too brief, yet we haggle over every ounce at both ends.
When comparing others' achievements, one must first weigh one's own worth.
Noble souls, kind and blessed with good karma, bring abundant oil and water to others.
The petty man weaves flattery with sweet words, slandering and stirring trouble to tarnish your reputation.
This verse! May all sentient beings encourage one another! By adding the blessings of "Dadao Causality" and noble fortune to our writings, we can witness the flourishing energy of the Chongxin lineage. This will truly aid in the propagation of teachings in the future. Thank you all for accompanying us in this work! We have disturbed the Chongxin lineage for some time. May everyone be auspicious. Farewell!
Supreme Commander of the Vast Firmament, Celestial Lord Wang
Wang Tianjun of the Chongxin Taoist Temple—the Divine Officer of Huoluo descends to the platform.
The Celestial Tome of the Great Dao's Cause and Effect  
Universally Transforms All Sentient Beings with Virtuous Compassion
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and fellow students of the Wuji Great Dao Institute, good evening! Today, the Seventh Hall Underworld Sovereign, Mount Tai King, has descended to compose the twenty-ninth installment of "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect," bringing fulfillment to the noble ones' blessings. This is to offer greater fulfillment and elevation to all sentient beings in the future, providing everyone with profound reflections on the contents of all these works.
It is hoped that everyone can understand the profound intentions behind the divine works, with the four billion Buddhist disciples and the ninety-two original spirits as the core focus. In the future, there will surely be favorable conditions for continuous growth, elevation, and transcendence. This not only benefits oneself but also all sentient beings, enabling a return to achieve noble accomplishments. Thank you all for your hard work. Farewell!
March 8, 2015. All set.
The Eighth Hall of the Underworld: City God King
From the depths of the underworld emerges the Chongxin Hall,  
Where the Son of Heaven composes the chapter of cause and effect.
The Eighth Hall's City God descends,  
For the wicked bring calamity and sin.
第三十回　  小人惡禍
How Petty Individuals Give Rise to Calamity
After sentient beings enter the human world, while pursuing livelihood and life's direction, they often unknowingly accumulate numerous karmic obstacles. This diminishes the virtuous causes and conditions for both their present and future lives, obstructing their own blessings, and consequently invites many misfortunes.
The formation of such issues is often brought about by gossip and disputes, which in turn offend others and inflict significant harm upon oneself. This is the most difficult obscurity of ignorance for sentient beings to comprehend. To dissolve these "intangible obstacles and obscurities of ignorance," one must focus on the three aspects of one's own "body, speech, and mind."
By cultivating these to purify "body, speech, and mind," one may ask why one suffers from such obstacles of ignorance and unknowing. This is precisely the most difficult point for sentient beings to thoroughly penetrate. Moreover, regarding the purification of these three—body, speech, and mind—why do human realms harbor petty individuals? Is it because pettiness is written on their faces? Certainly not! Yet it is also not entirely absent.
This is a subtle aspect of interpersonal relationships, often arising from deficiencies and obstacles in social interactions. When others find it difficult to identify with or approve of us, it is frequently due to our own actions, gestures, or spoken words inadvertently offending others—often without even realizing why this happens.
What causes the emergence of petty individuals?
Thus it can be said that "a kind word can warm one for three years, while a harsh word may cause lifelong resentment," and can even push one into an abyss of eternal ruin. Such petty individuals are fundamentally impossible to guard against entirely, yet what truly defines a petty person? Moreover, since both petty individuals and honorable gentlemen are human, where then lies the boundary between the gentleman and the petty person?
It is due to the actions and behaviors in the human world, combined with each person's distinct habits, inertia, inherent nature, and their disagreeable personality traits. This causes an originally ordinary matter, after being influenced by one's own disagreeable personality, to often be met with the attitude of "This is just how I am, what are you going to do about it?" Such behavior is precisely driven by these disagreeable personality traits.
Often, those who are most likely to offend others leave even bystanders puzzled. Why does this happen? It stems from a disagreeable personality and behavior, coupled with an inability to take a step back after an incident occurs. Moreover, there is a refusal to admit fault—"It's not my mistake; if they hadn't done this or that, I wouldn't have had a problem!"
As the saying goes, one hand cannot clap—it takes two to make a quarrel. Such is my nature; what else can be done? Often, after offending others, I still consider myself remarkable. Little do I know that people have long been whispering behind my back, marking you with a target. As the proverb says, "A gentleman's revenge can wait three years!"
The Fundamental Cause of Petty Individuals
However, revenge is not only sought after three years; time and circumstances cycle continuously, and as long as an opportunity arises in the future, it is never too late to seek retribution. This is precisely how "petty grudges" are formed—rooted in individuals with "unwholesome actions, speech, and thoughts." One type is driven by a stubborn nature, refusing to admit mistakes and even believing themselves to be exceptional.
This will lead to such a person forming enmities everywhere, offending many and often making numerous enemies. In the future, there will be ample time for these foes to seek revenge. Another type holds grudges deep within, biding their time for the right moment to retaliate. As the saying goes, "The world is round," and one day, they will surely catch up with you.
If we examine this from the perspective of such circumstances and conditions, it is precisely due to the first person's inherently unpleasant disposition, while the second person harbors resentment in their heart. Both of these individuals believe themselves to be upright and honorable. If one were to call them petty individuals, they would never admit it even under threat of death. Moreover, the malicious retribution inflicted by petty people is often difficult to withstand precisely because they consider themselves to be upright and honorable.
Among these, your previous disagreeable nature—bullying and tormenting others, using humiliating language, and thereby offending them—has caused people to gossip behind your back. The reason for this can be observed in another scenario: sometimes, when interacting with such petty individuals, even a single remark can provoke a major conflict.
The prevention of calamities caused by petty individuals
At this point, if matters can be openly communicated between both parties, it becomes easier to resolve disputes. The greatest fear is when both sides are irreconcilably opposed, which may lead to physical confrontation. Even over a minor issue, they might argue until flushed with anger. However, for most people, once the dispute has passed, they do not dwell on it further.
This is the case when dealing with someone who is less inclined to hold grudges. Both parties may have been too hot-tempered, but after venting their emotions, the matter is considered settled, and there is nothing worth holding onto. However, there is another type of person who harbors deep resentment. In such cases, you plant a rather unfavorable seed of enmity, which then gives rise to a situation where, in the future, both parties have already moved on from that environment.
Such individuals will continue to harbor grudges, waiting for opportunities to seek retribution in the future, which is truly quite unavoidable. Even when they have offended others, whether intentionally, unintentionally, or unknowingly, they remain unaware, still believing themselves to be exceptionally kind and capable, and thus superior.
Yet you are unaware: having already, whether intentionally or unintentionally, wounded another's self-respect and subjected them to invisible humiliation, they will come to harbor significant doubts about your abilities. They may think that while your skills may be adequate, your character falls short. To such individuals, you remain oblivious, affecting others either unconsciously or through a mix of intention and carelessness.
Misfortunes are bred by petty men.
Moreover, it has already ignited the fuse of conflict, even to the point of deeming others' criticisms worthless, or publicly humiliating them to cause embarrassment and make it difficult for them to save face. For you, in the moment, this may feel deeply satisfying. However, as time and circumstances shift, no one's influence remains perpetually strong, nor does fortune forever stay by one's side.
As for those whom you have humiliated, they will not forever remain in ruin and despair, without a day of rising again. The root cause of this issue, in terms of human society, lies in the original cause and effect: one must yield three parts and offer others some benefit, for in the future, one may gain greater returns and advantages, while also reducing the calamities that would otherwise be endured.
The ability to harmonize conflicting issues arises from the awareness of the misfortunes caused by petty individuals, which can mitigate many disasters. The emergence of such individuals often stems from unintentional insults in past words, incomplete handling of matters, and even more severe harm to others' self-esteem—all without one's own realization.
Such petty individuals are not marked on their faces, nor are gentlemen. It is human factors that lead to forming bonds or enmities. Both parties should remember, before any matter begins, not to create enmity with others. Why is it that others do not encounter such issues of karmic retribution, while one finds oneself facing such karmic consequences?
A petty man, fearing calamity, must cultivate and rectify himself.
You must observe whether your conduct and handling of affairs are complete and satisfactory, and it is essential to cultivate and rectify yourself with utmost sincerity. Transform yourself by purifying the three aspects of "body, speech, and mind," so as to prevent greater harm in the future and avert potential calamities caused by malicious individuals. These arise from past grievances and various issues between both parties. Can you understand this? Reflect on it yourself.
Furthermore, when human factors lead to criticism, slander, defamation, and the like, all are caused by the three aspects of "body, speech, and mind." Speaking in terms of human factors: ask yourselves, "Who has never been spoken of in front of others, and who has never spoken of others behind their backs?" Is the criticism directed at others fair and balanced? Is it pleasant to hear or not, and how does the other party feel about it?
In a single utterance, whether it is pleasant or unpleasant to hear lies the beginning of either fostering resentment or avoiding it. If one can purify their actions in body, speech, and mind through careful words and deeds, they can prevent discord. This is especially crucial in matters of interest among peers and friends, where great caution is necessary. Blocking another's path to wealth often leads to unforeseen calamities, which can erode the goodwill that was originally cultivated.
Moreover, you may harbor hatred for someone throughout your entire life, and this hatred can persist, even carrying over into the next life or across multiple lifetimes as a memory. Deeply embedded within the eight consciousnesses, the karmic causes and effects formed over one lifetime and successive lifetimes become "causes meeting conditions, and conditions bearing fruit." As a result, you may inexplicably feel intense dislike and profound hatred upon seeing the other person.
The petty man abhors the distress brought by calamity.
Furthermore, there are instances where one may inexplicably harm or sabotage others, which stems from a particular issue; even the other party is left bewildered, having never met in this lifetime and harboring no deep-seated grudges, yet one finds themselves acting in such a manner. This situation arises from all the negative karmic ties formed in past lives.
When all connections of time, space, causes, and conditions intertwine, they mutually link together: "encountering causes forms conditions, encountering conditions yields results." Since the fruits have already manifested, how can they be dissolved? They cannot! Each seed-cause will inevitably persist into the future, carrying out retribution across lifetimes. Do you consider such a circumstance worthwhile? Certainly not!
This is the accumulation of long-standing grudges that have persisted through generations, where the causes and effects, kindnesses and grievances from past lives are woven together and implanted into the present existence. At this moment, all human-induced interferences arise, leading to considerable aversion and resentment toward you, while you yourself suffer unwarranted humiliation and harm from others.
Moreover, there are those whom I have never met and do not know at all, and I cannot recall when I might have offended them. It is even more baffling, like a monk unable to reach his own head—no matter how much I ponder, I cannot understand why things have turned out this way. Such situations, arising from these reasons, must have been encountered by some sentient beings. Often, it is triggered by a single unpleasant remark or provocation.
Who is a petty person?
I myself did not wish for it to be this way, but the other party's attitude and tone were excessively harsh and overbearing. Unable to endure the heat of the moment, I acted as I did—a result of my own stubborn temperament, which itself is shaped by all the karmic causes and effects inherited from past lives and embedded into this present existence. Such petty misfortunes, heartless and devoid of meaning, come only to torment and destroy.
At this moment, all the issues within your human world will continuously unfold from this point onward. The hardships and helplessness related to these matters will persistently manifest, inflicting upon you unbearable harm—this is merely the retribution for your past lives. Moreover, if in this present life you are plagued by a multitude of misfortunes caused by petty and malicious individuals...
You must reflect on whether you have sown various negative seeds of karma in your past lives, and whether you can discern the root of all the obstacles and problems you encounter in this present life. It is essential to gain a clear and thorough understanding of your current issues, rather than repeatedly resisting with reluctance and unwillingness, thereby perpetuating the cycle of unfavorable causes and effects.
The petty man detests the misfortune that comes with self-cultivation and rectitude.
This is not a mutual fulfillment affirmed by Heaven to fully resolve karmic debts. To allow both parties to mutually settle their karmic retribution, one must understand why such severe retribution has befallen oneself. If viewed from the perspective of sentient beings: in your previous life, you were not a righteous gentleman either, but rather a petty individual.
Only then does it lead to a situation where one has wronged others in a past life, and in this life, others come to: bully you, repay you, harm you, or settle accounts with you. If you were a petty person in your past life, would you still be one in this life? You should be well aware of it yourself. Neither petty individuals nor upright gentlemen wear their nature on their faces, making it difficult for you to judge all the issues!
Are you yourself a petty person? Or are others petty? Or perhaps everyone is merely petty, pettier, or pettiest—do you consider yourself petty? It is absolutely impossible to admit that one is petty, yet in reality, every action and behavior aligns perfectly with that of a petty person. Are there such petty people? Far too many.
The noble person's blessings are revealed through distinguished companions; once a word is spoken, it is as steadfast as a team of four horses.
A trustworthy reputation is admired by all,  
A fortunate life is blessed with friendship's call.
When calamities befall the petty man, retribution comes for past wrongs,  
For his deeds and actions fall short of completeness and integrity.
Harsh words wound the body,  
Creating karma across lifetimes.
This verse is offered to all sentient beings for mutual encouragement! Why do human factors give rise to the misfortunes caused by petty individuals? The reasons behind this can be felt by you. I believe everyone wishes to be an upright person rather than a petty one. Precisely because such causes exist, it is hoped that all sentient beings may greatly improve and perfect their interpersonal relationships.
Do not create enmity everywhere, for this will greatly diminish the support and assistance of noble individuals across your many lifetimes. It is hoped that everyone may cultivate good relationships and virtuous karmic connections! This is truly beneficial for one’s own growth and well-being. Thank you all for your hard work and companionship in this endeavor—it is deeply appreciated. I shall now take my leave from the Chongxin lineage for a while. Farewell, everyone.
Supreme Commander of the Dipper, Marshal Ma Sheng
Marshal Ma Sheng of the Limitless Spirit  
Guardian of the Dipper's Mouth, Bound by Deepest Bonds
The Great Dao's cause and effect come to be recorded,  
Distinguishing the noble-hearted from the petty-minded among sentient beings.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous students, and fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, His Majesty the Emperor of the Underworld from the Eighth Hall, the City God King, has descended to compose the thirtieth chapter of "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect." The various circumstances of "the calamities brought by petty individuals" have now been recorded in the Celestial Book, which will enable sentient beings to gain understanding.
Why do we, for no apparent reason, encounter many troublemakers who interfere with us? What is the cause? It lies in our usual words, actions, and expressions, which, whether intentionally or unintentionally, hurt others without our awareness. The crux of this issue is how to address it. I hope that after today's writing, all interpersonal relationships will transform into harmonious and complete ones, which is the true nature of reality.
2015, 0308, 2016◎＃※ OK;
The Ninth Hall of the Netherworld: King of Equality
From the netherworld descends a solemn ceremony,  
The Ninth Hall's sovereign sets the time for writing.
King of Equal Judgment, Chapter Thirty-One:  
The Direct Accord of Cause and Effect, Good and Evil.
Chapter Thirty-One: The Karma of Good and Evil (Direct Retribution)
How Karma Directly Repays Good and Evil
Sentient beings, often unaware of the essence of karma, must navigate their lives by aligning their actions with the principles of good and evil karma to achieve fulfillment. This concept is built upon the framework of distinguishing between "direct retribution" and "indirect retribution." It is through sentient beings that fulfillment is realized, using the dynamics of good and evil karma and interpersonal relationships as the basis for judgment.
In the human world, what serves as the basis for attachment is the integration of human factors—habits, inertia, innate nature, and individuality—with the local customs and environment, forming the primary foundation of life. How does this come about? How should sentient beings apply these human factors to address, settle, and resolve intangible debts and grievances?
This is the most correct and optimal concept, and it should be practiced exactly as such! Why is there direct retribution for good and evil karma? This is also distinguished by how sentient beings themselves act and behave. For human factors, there can be "direct retribution," and this retribution is further distinguished by the outcomes of good and evil karma—what are they?
If we consider the karmic cause and effect of goodness in relation to the direct recipient, there must be a direct beneficiary and another who bestows the good karma. However, whether we speak of the beneficiary or the benefactor, from the perspective of these two, the workings of cause, condition, and effect can be observed: How then do the karmic connections among siblings, spouses, children, and all other family members manifest?
The retribution for all good and evil deeds.
Sentient beings, shaped by the present human-made conditions and influenced by the karmic merits and retributions from past lives, must consider how to act in this lifetime. This also distinguishes the care and affection of one's own family and loved ones—under what conditions and causes do such bonds arise? Within the karmic retributions among family and relatives, there is great hardship, with much tenderness and care given to the beneficiary, leading to deep affection for them.
This type of behavior is guided by the norms of familial affection and ethics. Why does the legacy passed down from ancestors to future generations evoke a mutual emotional bond? The care, deep affection, and nurturing provided to descendants are meticulous and all-encompassing; they offer comfortable living conditions while practicing considerable frugality themselves, demonstrating genuine sacrifice and dedication for the benefit of their descendants.
It is both a lifelong affection and the accumulation of all one's hard work, given entirely to this beneficiary. Whether it be delicious food, fine clothing, useful items, or any good material possessions, all are reserved for the beneficiary to enjoy. Why, then, does this beneficiary appear to others as lacking any particularly great fortune or favorable conditions?
To the giver, who is capable of tender affection and diligent care, this reciprocal cause-and-effect relationship forms an intimate bond between the benefactor and the recipient. Such a virtuous connection is forged in past lives, and in this present life, it is repaid and fulfilled. All the good karma established in previous existences enters this life, allowing them to live together.
Good karma yields immediate rewards.
What is this life of familial ethics like? It involves the close interweaving of kinship and morality, implanting all virtuous causes from past lives into the present one, so that these virtuous causes can bring greater benefits to family members. You may ponder this carefully! When one becomes a parent, a natural care and concern for one's children arises.
Yet, as parents, do we not share an even deeper bond with our own children? We strive to provide them with all the finest material comforts and luxuries, reserving only the most basic necessities for ourselves. We work tirelessly and earn diligently, all to ensure that our children may live a life free from want.
They can also live a stable life without lacking food or clothing, receiving higher education and studying abroad. But what happens after studying abroad? Those with virtuous karma will return to their parents' side, offering filial piety and care, providing simple yet heartfelt support, continuing the family line, and reuniting to live together, sharing the joys of family life. This is a relatively favorable outcome.
If the negative karma from past lives accumulates, it may result in one drifting away from home, never to return, causing parents endless worry. In the end, even when the parents pass away, such a person fails to return to fulfill the final duties of filial piety. This situation is intolerable in today's social ethics, as it violates the fundamental principles of filial duty, representing the repayment of past-life grievances in this present life.
What one experiences now is the result of causes and effects from a previous life.
Sentient beings can understand: parents, spouses, children, and descendants are all manifestations of karmic causes from past lives, planted in this present life as retribution. How can one fully resolve all karmic consequences from previous and accumulated lifetimes? And what will become of future descendants? They are merely continuations of the same essential nature.
Furthermore, will future descendants truly comprehend the arduous efforts of their ancestors? It was to grant you, their descendants, a life of blessings. If the ancestors possessed virtue, they are bound to bring forth virtuous descendants; if the ancestors lacked virtue, they are destined to produce unworthy descendants—this is the natural law, the universal principle and order. As for the retribution of good and evil through cause and effect, how is it fulfilled by human agency?
In the interplay of human relationships and familial ethics, human actions intricately weave the causal connections of each individual with the merits and demerits accumulated from past lives. Moreover, through their conduct, people embed these merits and demerits into their present existence, thereby affecting both the recipients and the bestowers of such karmic rewards.
Regarding the causal relationship between these two, there is a distinction between the beneficiary and the giver. Such beneficiaries and givers are precisely the result of karmic retribution accumulated from past lives, manifesting in the present. It is due to this causal relationship that sentient beings come to have relatives such as parents, spouses, children, siblings, grandchildren, and so on.
The distinction between the consequences of good and evil
All things are interconnected through mutual cause and effect. In directly receiving the retribution of such familial affections, human factors give rise to good and bad, virtuous and evil, fortune and misfortune through karmic cause and effect. You are precisely those who act with joy and accept willingly. All human actions and behaviors, when integrated into the orientation of survival and implanted into every aspect of life, will manifest all benevolent causes and effects.
If one retaliates with evil deeds: initially, there may be considerable affection and cherishment, but after a period of time, karmic retribution will arise, manifesting the destructive power of evil retribution. This destructive force does not directly kill, but rather acts as a force of destruction, precisely targeting what you have loved, treasured, and possessed throughout your life.
It comes to devastate, making it difficult for you to attain fulfillment; it uses destructive forces to sow discord among all relationships and familial bonds. After tearing everything apart, it leaves those who have created enmity unable to withstand the cruel harm inflicted, which is etched into the bone, unbearably painful, and makes all difficulties and obstacles nearly impossible to overcome. It also drives those who have created enmity in past lives into a dead end.
For most people, it is difficult to withstand and can only be allowed to drag on. The crux of this issue lies precisely in the fact that sentient beings struggle to comprehend the law of cause and effect, and are unable to understand how such circumstances arise and unfold. In relation to sentient beings, there exists mutual entanglement, within which lies an element of retribution. Can human beings see this clearly?
The Basis for Direct Retribution of Cause and Effect
That is to say, all karmic causes and effects from past lives have already entered the stage of preparation for retribution. If one can understand the full context at this moment and also make proactive dedications and preventive measures, there will be mutual elevation for those who are directly facing the karmic retribution. This means using human methods to resolve all actions of retribution.
If one cannot comprehend the origins and consequences of events, they will continuously suffer the devastation and destructive power of karmic retribution. This is understood from the perspective of human mentality and beliefs. By mutually adjusting the causes and conditions of good and evil, the severity of retribution can be mitigated. However, if the force of retribution is further integrated into daily life, one must personally endure its consequences.
Can it be reduced, and can the karmic retribution from past lives be eliminated and settled? It depends on whether you are willing to repay it willingly; in showing greater tolerance toward your own loved ones, this is precisely the action of retribution from the human world, and it arises exactly for this reason! If one can understand that through the mutual resolution of cause, condition, and effect, there will be actions taken to prevent problems before they occur.
When facing the difficulties and bottlenecks encountered in this life, one will likely find them significantly reduced. This is because human factors are truly accepted willingly, allowing the karma of a lifetime to be fully resolved and dissolved. This is realistically distinguished through the ethics of familial affection. When measuring karmic retribution by the standards of familial affection, one is also more inclined to accept it willingly, as the causal relationships within the ethics of familial affection are mutually intertwined.
Good and evil karma yields retribution, whether directly or indirectly.
In the context of caring for human familial bonds and ethics, humans are emotional beings. Regardless of the circumstances, when people live together for a long time, even those without blood ties will come to love and care for one another. This reflects a subtle aspect of human emotion and further sustains the goodness of familial relationships through nurturing care.
When human beings live together for a long time, affection naturally arises, allowing them to blend with and accommodate one another, thereby fostering mutual emotions. As the ancient saying goes, "To fight a tiger or catch a thief, one needs one’s own brothers." This bond is not limited to blood brothers alone; it extends to peers who share their lives, as well as colleagues working together in the same unit, organization, or workplace.
All are relatively familiar and acquainted with one another, and they have a clearer understanding of each person's conduct and character. This means that the emotional bonds among people directly influence the karmic consequences of good and evil in the future, leading to intertwined retributions. Whether it is direct retribution through familial ethics or indirect retribution through peer relationships, all will be clearly understood.
The law of cause and effect between good and evil often brings direct retribution.
It is precisely through the causal relationships among humans, whether direct or indirect, that blessings or misfortunes are brought upon you. All actions and deeds of sentient beings, in the present and the future, are interconnected through cause and effect, without distinction between good and bad, fortune and misfortune. They are simultaneously pursued and repaid within the same time and space, in accordance with the principles and laws of Heaven, serving as the basis for retribution.
There is no inherent distinction between good and evil, fortune and misfortune, or right and wrong; the difference lies solely in the extent of each person's efforts and actions, which determines the measure of their reward. Why then do such distinctions exist? They arise from the differentiation made regarding a single matter: whether it is good or bad, virtuous or wicked, fortunate or unfortunate. What you owed others from your past life is precisely what you are meant to repay in full.
Regarding good and evil, right and wrong, fortune and misfortune, human actions can lead to either reduced or multiplied retribution. In applying the principles of cause and effect to these aspects, when individuals willingly repay their dues through their behavior, what might have originally warranted tenfold or hundredfold retribution is often greatly diminished.
Human karma from past lives is repaid in the present.
If, after the karma of evil deeds is met with severe retribution, it further leads to "adding cause upon cause, effect upon effect, retribution upon retribution, and repayment upon repayment," then after the cycle of "cause, condition, effect, and retribution" is fulfilled, it results in either an increase or decrease of blessings, or an increase or decrease of calamities. This is something that sentient beings among humanity can comprehend.
In distinguishing human actions and behaviors—whether it involves reducing the debt of karma, demanding repayment with interest, or reciprocating kindness with multiplied gratitude—and in differentiating between good and bad, virtue and vice, fortune and misfortune in terms of cause and effect, it is based on all the karmic retributions of humanity. This serves to distinguish whether relatives and loved ones receive retribution directly or whether interpersonal relationships lead to indirect retribution.
When there are causes and conditions involving good and evil, good and bad, fortune and misfortune, you are precisely in the present time and space, using these causes and conditions to cultivate and learn thoughts and concepts. Accumulating many wholesome thoughts and concepts bit by bit will bring endless and immense benefits, and will also reduce many instances of forming grudges and enmity with others. Thus, you will genuinely achieve growth and transcendence for yourself.
Good and evil, fortune and misfortune, each has its appointed time;  
Reward and retribution for good and bad deeds follow this principle even more so.
The direct retribution of cause and effect—  
Loved ones and family are the true reality.
Thoughts, deeds, and actions combined,  
Rewards are divided into blessings and calamities.
Indirect retribution serves as chastisement, with past-life karma forming the framework.
This verse is shared with all sentient beings for mutual encouragement! It will distinguish for you all—good and evil, right and wrong, fortune and misfortune—whether retribution is directly received by human beings or indirectly through interpersonal relationships. It truthfully differentiates human actions by whether they lead to great reduction or multiplied consequences. Thank you all for your hard work in accompanying this endeavor. The momentum of Revered Heart is truly excellent and is bound to yield greater transformative effects in the future. We apologize for troubling the lineage of Revered Heart for a while. Farewell, everyone!
Marshal Zhao Gongming, the Martial God of Wealth from the Wuji Heavenly Palace.
The boundless karma descends in due time; the Heavenly Official, the Martial God of Wealth, ascends to guide.
Marshal Zhao Gongming meets the virtuous,  
A new work on the great Dao's cause and effect.
All Saints, Buddhas, virtuous beings, and the scholars of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, the Ninth Hall Emperor of the Netherworld, King of Equality, has personally descended to compose the thirty-first chapter of "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect." He has provided a detailed revelation on the familial ethics of "direct retribution" and the cause and effect of good and evil. Can the human world comprehend all the intricacies and origins of these matters?
If one continuously suffers from negative karmic retribution and does not know how to resolve it, this will influence the causality in interpersonal relationships. By integrating one's own thoughts and perspectives into the system of contemplation, one can achieve resolution. This is also a necessary understanding for all sentient beings with compassion: only by grasping such thoughts and perspectives can one genuinely grow and benefit. Thank you all for your hard work. Farewell.
2015, 0308, 2018◎＃※ OK;
The Tenth Hall of the Underworld: King of the Wheel of Rebirth
The period of teaching in the netherworld,  
The Son of Heaven descends in ten courts with solemn ceremony.
The Wheel-Turning King manifests thirty-two marks,  
Indirect affinities arise within human relationships.
Chapter Thirty-Two: Interpersonal Relationships (Indirect Retribution)
Retribution in Interpersonal Relationships
Sentient beings' responses to human actions can be distinguished between indirect retribution through interpersonal relationships and direct retribution through kinship ties. However, when it comes to interpersonal relationships, no distinction is made between direct and indirect retribution. It is human factors that make interpersonal relationships the dependent condition, within which arise distinctions of favorable or unfavorable, good or evil, right or wrong.
Facilitation is about fulfillment and disruption, while distinction lies in each individual's actions and conduct. The strengths and weaknesses in human interactions give rise to future karmic retribution. Moreover, in human relationships, there is no clear separation between direct and indirect influences—within this issue, human factors interplay and mutually affect one another. Yet why do such behaviors and actions exist? Fundamentally, human beings are incapable of fully comprehending this.
Regardless of the religious community, organization, or family one belongs to, understanding each other's personalities is essential for peaceful coexistence. It also helps in recognizing the peculiar quirks and stubborn traits that individuals may display in daily life, which are often inherent to their character. Without such understanding, others may find it difficult to accept one's habits and actions, so what then?
In human affairs, all actions and behaviors are shaped by what people do, and are differentiated by the quality of interpersonal relationships, distinguishing how others perceive you. When one does not know what is correct and finds it difficult to make choices or judgments, their actions cannot gain the approval of others. Furthermore, such behaviors and actions often turn out to be unfavorable.
How does indirect retribution work?
Often, this arises from disharmony in interpersonal relationships, coupled with one's own eccentric temperament and peculiar disposition, making it difficult to blend in with others. When you find fault with others, they in turn look down upon your behavior and actions. Moreover, if you are sharp-tongued and frequently offend others, it leads them to hold grudges against you and disapprove of all your conduct.
All of your actions in the workplace fail to foster mutual harmony, often leading others to gossip behind your back. Why do so many people undermine you, or even spread rumors and slander? They do not approve of your conduct. In such interpersonal dynamics, it is essential to deeply reflect on your own behavior.
Have I already become an odd person in the eyes of others? If only one or two people say, "You are an odd person," it may not be necessary to dwell on it too much, as perspectives and viewpoints differ. However, if the majority do not approve of your actions, then you truly have become an odd person in the eyes of others, and collaboration becomes difficult.
To speak truthfully, such individuals are upright and incorruptible in their daily conduct, both in character and action—they are truly righteous people. These righteous individuals believe, from their own perspective, that they have already been singled out and marked in the eyes of others, and that everything others say is directed specifically at them.
The Actions of Human Beings
Everything you do becomes the subject of others' discussions and criticism, often serving as material for complaints during casual conversations. Consequently, many people will speak ill of you behind your back. If you persist in such conduct while still considering yourself upright, you will find it increasingly difficult to integrate with the public and maintain harmonious relationships.
If one truly comes to understand that they are already perceived by others as eccentric, incompatible, and not worth associating with, it would undoubtedly bring about considerable distress. How would you feel about this? In the workplace, you consider yourself a law-abiding and dutiful individual, handling matters rigidly by the book, and even in official affairs, you are unyielding when you believe you are in the right.
You are often quite sharp in your words to others, unwilling to show leniency even when reason, emotion, and law would allow it, showing no trace of human warmth. This has already caused many to hold considerable resentment toward you. Moreover, you have made many enemies, frequently taking advantage of your position to bully others, flattering superiors while oppressing subordinates, acting arrogantly and abusively. You neither care for those under you nor show respect for others, convinced that this is the right way to be.
You are carrying out a task, and it is always others who are at fault or in the wrong, while you have done nothing to let anyone down. This holds true in official matters. However, when reason, human sentiment, and the law can be harmonized, it is appropriate to offer others a bit of flexibility and room for maneuver. Granting others convenience is, in fact, granting convenience to yourself, and it prevents you from inadvertently making enemies.
Indirectly receiving retribution from poor interpersonal relationships.
Do not think that it is solely due to one's own abilities and good fortune, as the circumstances of time and space also differ. Through the present moment, other conditions may shift. No one's blessings remain at their peak forever. When the time and situation change, one may no longer hold a high position, much like the ancient saying: "Fortune shifts like the wind and water—ten years on the east bank, ten years on the west."
A Taiwanese proverb says, "The round may become flat, and the flat may become round." One must remember to temper one's arrogance in times of triumph and power, and understand the humility required in times of decline and misfortune. When you are currently in a position of power, if you become inflated with pride, act overbearingly, and offend a great many people with your domineering attitude—even using words that sweep others down like gunfire—you should take heed.
The gaze of others, in the moment you wield power and indulge in arrogance to commit wrongs, implants all your malicious actions and behaviors deep into the eighth consciousness. Simultaneously, every act of bullying, humiliation, and harm inflicted upon others is recorded in the IC microchip. As time, space, and circumstances differ, when you encounter these again in this life or a future one—
Like an enemy, they will treat you with great hostility and unfriendliness, making you feel deeply unsettled. Yet, you find yourself helplessly enduring such unwarranted resentment, which serves as retribution for all past actions. If in this life, some memories remain vivid, it may be due to karmic connections from past and previous lifetimes.
Creating Evil and Retribution: The Law of Cause and Effect
This is truly a situation of utter helplessness. One has no memory whatsoever of the actions committed over countless lifetimes, yet is met with inexplicable resentment and wrongful grievances. How could one possibly comprehend all the intricate causes and consequences? Indeed, it is impossible. For these karmic ties from past lives have long since passed, and are not the result of any actions or deeds in this present existence.
It is precisely the evil causes sown by all your past vile actions that manifest in this present life, thus subjecting you to the arrogance, oppression, cruelty, and humiliation of others. What use is it to understand all these past transgressions? None! These ignorant deeds of the past, driven by your own evil karma, will inevitably bring about retribution and suffering in the here and now.
What is the relationship between such issues and all of one's past? It is precisely the negative karma imposed by others upon oneself. For you, it may be unclear how the good and evil karma from past and accumulated lifetimes has formed in this way. This can also give rise to ignorant resentment, as others may look down upon you with contempt, believing they have done no wrong, unaware that they have already created karma in the past.
Yet, you fail to realize that your own actions and behaviors are the peculiar habits and eccentric temperaments accumulated over countless lifetimes. These are carried over into your present existence, inheriting the undesirable tendencies from your past lives. Once these habits, ingrained patterns, inherent dispositions, and those stubborn, foul traits that persist across lifetimes follow you into this world, they continue to perpetuate themselves without end.
Indirect Retribution through Conquest
It becomes apparent that when encountering in this lifetime someone with whom you had enmity in a past life, you would not recognize them. How then could they harbor such deep resentment toward you and take greater retaliatory actions against you? Thus, you might wonder: in ordinary life, you have made no enemies and bear no profound grudges, so why are you now subjected to such retribution?
Furthermore, I believe that none of my actions have wronged others; but can I truly understand the intricacies and reasons behind this? Why do others find your words and actions, your tone of speech, so detestable? They neither agree with them, nor are they satisfied; instead, they harbor deep resentment, making it fundamentally impossible to coexist harmoniously.
In such a situation, one must engage in deep reflection, considering what might have been done wrong, or whether many grudges have already been formed in the workplace. Additionally, there may be those from past lives who hold grievances against you, harboring a desire for revenge. In the future, across lifetimes, they will await the right moment and conditions to exact their retribution.
Do you think it is worth it? Moreover, if you consider yourself an upright and righteous person, you will find it hard to swallow this grievance. It is precisely because you cannot swallow this grievance that you become impulsive and generate much blind destructive force. In inflicting even more cruel actions upon others, such a person, in this lifetime, simply cannot let go of that one breath of resentment.
Indirectly Suffering the Consequences of Poor Interpersonal Relationships
Originally, there should have been a fairly satisfactory outcome, but often it is the inability to swallow that one breath of anger that leads to greater harm. Why do sentient beings harbor "direct retribution and indirect retribution"? It is precisely for this reason that such outcomes are formed; and it makes no distinction—whether it be one’s own relatives, siblings, spouses, children, parents, or family members—all are affected in this way.
Moreover, among relatives, friends, and peers, or within the same religion, organization, unit, or workplace, it is precisely due to such reasons that extremely negative and adverse conditions arise. These conditions, in turn, give rise to all future unfavorable circumstances, making it difficult to swallow one's anger, impossible to calm down and think clearly, and leaving no room for patience.
Pushing oneself into an abyss of no return, the myriad sentient beings in this world of emotions originally hope that all those they encounter should be bound by good karma. Yet why do they fail to receive such good karma? Instead, they repeatedly find themselves trapped in unfavorable relationships, while also questioning in their own actions and conduct—whether they truly believe themselves to be good people.
Such a kind-hearted person should naturally attract many other kind souls to come together in harmony. Why is it, then, that after giving so much, one fails to gain recognition for their efforts? And why do so many people end up hindering your progress? Could such actions have already sown widespread resentment and discontent?
The Various Retributions of Human Karma
When it comes to interpersonal relationships and karma, if one fails to harmonize with others' perceptions, it is essential to reflect on one's own conduct—specifically in terms of speech, tone, attitude, and actions—and make necessary adjustments. If one's interpersonal relationships are particularly strained, it is crucial to deeply reconsider one's behavior.
You have long been entangled in unfavorable circumstances, yet you remain unaware. All your actions and behaviors have already drawn considerable dislike, dissatisfaction, and disapproval from others. If, on top of this, your words become sharp enough to pierce straight into people’s hearts, leaving no room for reconciliation, such a situation has long been the result of your own misconduct.
Having entangled oneself with numerous negative karmic ties, and persisting in self-willed ways while disregarding the feelings of others, one cannot achieve greater harmony in interpersonal relationships. Such adverse karma and attitudes will inevitably lead to suffering in the future, in the next life, or across countless lifetimes. Can one truly comprehend the future suffering and pain that will follow? Considering the severe negative karmic ties that will affect you across all your lives, do you believe it is worth it? It is simply not worth it at all!
A lifetime of fame and fortune may sow the seeds of injustice for centuries;  
Yet accumulating good deeds builds the foundation for blessings and destiny.
The cause and effect of life manifest as they truly are; evil consequences bring retribution for misdeeds in the next life.
Direct retribution falls upon one's kin, while indirect retribution touches the lives of one's peers.
Good and evil karma are self-made; why suffer from creating evil instead of upholding benevolence?
This verse! Let us encourage one another, all sentient beings, to analyze the causes and conditions that indirectly shape our retributions, dissecting the reasons behind all phenomena in the human world. In the present underworld, there are far too many such cases. How, then, can we use real examples to caution sentient beings? So that we may cultivate more and greater virtuous causes and conditions, ascending and transcending ever upward.
Moreover, one should not bully or humiliate others based on power or position in the workplace, as "a lifetime of fame may bring a hundred generations of grievances"—it is truly not worth it. Your current good fortune may not last forever; time and circumstances can change in an instant, leaving the future uncertain. Such situations are all too common. Beware, for this is how your own negative karma arises.
It is essential to understand one's own mistakes, shortcomings, and deficiencies. By doing so, one can reduce many adverse karmic consequences. These consequences arise from every moment and circumstance in the human world. Do not create negative karma with others, as it will inevitably bring retribution in the future, leading to painful suffering that outweighs any gain. I appreciate everyone's efforts and wish you all auspiciousness. I have troubled the Chongxin lineage for a while now. Until we meet again, farewell.
Marshal Wuji Xiande, Celestial Lord Wen Qiong
Marshal Wuji Xiande Ascends; Lord Wenqiong of Heaven Meets the Virtuous Student.
The Great Dao's cause and effect come to be written,  
The foremost true marvel under heaven.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Tao Academy, good evening. Today, His Majesty the Tenth Hall King of the Underworld, King of the Wheel of Transformation, has personally descended to honor Chongxin in composing the thirty-second chapter of "The Causality of the Great Tao." This chapter provides a detailed analysis of cases involving "indirect retribution," exploring why it is often so difficult for people in the mortal world to understand how adverse karmic conditions come to be.
Why is it that others can receive many virtuous causes and conditions, while all of one's own actions and behaviors have a distinct effect on the virtuous or malevolent causes and conditions for the future, as well as on the resulting good or bad fruits? It is essential to reflect on one's own shortcomings and deficiencies. For the true future of the Chongxin lineage, one must strive to "elevate one's level and transform one's character," and not let this opportunity pass by lightly.
2015, 0308, 2019 ◎＃※ OK;
Ancient Buddha, Daoji of Nanping
The Venerable Daoji of Nanping descends,
As the Ancient Buddha composes the karmic sequence.
The Great Dao series gradually expands and spreads; it is only fitting to know contentment and be grateful.
Chapter Thirty-Three: Contentment and Gratitude (Hurtful Words)
The Framework of Contentment and Gratitude
When sentient beings enter the human realm, they come to understand the entire process of cause and effect through their own actions and those of others. Is this not so! In responding to all causes and effects, whether through confrontation or gratitude, it is the behavior and actions of human beings that differentiate between the process of "gratitude and contentment" or the cycle transformed by "resentment and hatred."
This is shaped by human factors, concerning the orientation for survival in the human world. It involves understanding the concept of cause and effect, and how to reduce actions that create enmity with others. Moreover, such fulfillment through human factors necessarily arises from individual actions, combined with all causes and conditions of good and evil, which in the future will mutually sustain the consequences of good and evil karma.
The issues of the human world must be understood by sentient beings, who should possess both the "necessity of contentment" and the "certainty of gratitude" toward both favorable and unfavorable circumstances. In the orientation of worldly existence, it is essential to recognize that every matter—whether "good or bad, virtuous or evil"—requires discernment in the course of life.
All sentient beings hope to encounter only favorable circumstances, yet often things do not unfold according to their own wishes and intentions, nor do their desires come to fruition as they might hope. One should understand the distinction between good and evil causes and conditions, as well as the corresponding positive and negative consequences. By thoroughly and truthfully grasping the crux of matters, one can discern how blessings and misfortunes from past lives have taken shape.
How is the process of contentment achieved?
It is believed that every being hopes for favorable outcomes from their actions. However, the process is often shrouded in inexplicable confusion, and throughout this process, there is often a lack of judgment in distinguishing the importance or urgency of matters. Moreover, sharp words and harsh speech are frequently used to harm others.
Such individuals often offend others without even realizing it, wondering why a single careless remark from them could inflict significant harm on another's self-esteem. They may also fail to recognize how sharp their words can be, directly wounding others' pride, all the while still considering themselves impressive.
Yet, while others are bleeding inside, consider whether there might be some place where you went wrong, causing them to speak to you more sharply. Reflect on yourself—perhaps there truly is some part that is mistaken, and it should be corrected and changed. They come to advise you with good intentions, and you should be grateful and make the necessary adjustments—that is the right way.
Do not cause damage to the other party's self-esteem. The worst scenario is when words become increasingly sharp in retort, thereby destroying the original goodwill and kindness. Simply because one cannot swallow their pride, greater harm is inflicted on both sides. If this does not create enemies, it would indeed be strange! As the ancient saying goes: "A kind word warms for three years, but a harsh word breeds lifelong resentment."
The Conditions for Contentment and Gratitude
Wounded by a single remark, one becomes trapped in a vicious cycle of cause and effect across lifetimes, a situation both profoundly helpless and the most difficult for sentient beings to release. Whether intentional or not, words that injure another’s self-esteem can turn what might have been an opportunity for elevation into a base and unfortunate karma.
Just because of a single remark, one harms others and delays the growth and transcendence of virtuous karma. How would you feel about that? This issue concerns the words and tone of every individual and requires great care and caution. For people to coexist within the same religion, group, or organization as colleagues is no easy matter.
This connection is truly rare and precious; we should treat each other as brothers. Why, then, do arguments and conflicts arise between us? When we use harsh words to hurt others in disputes, yet fail to address the underlying causes of that hurt, we plant seeds of resentment in others' hearts—often without even realizing our own mistakes or feeling any sense of wrongdoing.
Some individuals never reflect on their own shortcomings and mistakes, and even frequently speak to others with sharp and cutting words—as the Taiwanese proverb goes, "their words are as piercing as a sword." Throughout their lives, such people will create far more negative karma than others. Moreover, they tend to be overbearing in the workplace, showing no consideration or mercy toward others.
Human beings must be grateful in their interactions with one another.
To the extent of causing even greater harm to others, such a way of dealing with people and handling matters leaves no room for flexibility. One may believe oneself to be impartial and just, handling affairs strictly by the book, without mercy—effectively cutting off others' livelihoods. Under the illusion of strong personal fortune and capability, and spurred by a sense of heroism, one ends up obliterating the efforts of everyone else.
Moreover, due to their fondness for self-expression, they inflict greater harm and distress upon others—be it religious groups, organizations, units, or families. Yet such individuals remain utterly oblivious to the irreparable damage they have caused. Consequently, those affected harbor deep-seated resentment, wishing they could devour their flesh, gnaw their bones, and drink their blood to quell the bitterness in their hearts.
Single-mindedly waiting for an opportunity to seek revenge—if viewed from another perspective, when you yourself suffer the same treatment from others, causing you harm, how would you feel? This is the peculiar and stubborn tendency of sentient beings to create evil karma. You ask whether such people exist within the same unit or community. Indeed, there are far too many.
Only individual heroism, a penchant for showmanship, and a desire for grandiose achievements prevail, with no mutual affection among peers, nor any shared loyalty to achieve fulfillment. This kind of destructive force is the very source of negative karma. In matters within one's capacity to act, offering others some flexibility and convenience will, in time, cultivate much goodwill.
Contentment, Growth, and a Grateful Mindset
In the human world, people often unknowingly offend others without realizing it. If one can perfect both oneself and others through the expression of their abilities, greater good karma and blessings will follow. Similarly, within a religion, organization, or institution, if harmony is not achieved, efforts to promote and expand its influence externally will be significantly diminished.
What's more, it may even mean standing still, or worse, continuously retreating. In such peer groups, one is also more likely to become the subject of gossip behind their back. The negative karma you have accumulated in this lifetime is already more than enough. Regardless of the organization, group, or religion you are in, where good karma should have been fostered, the opposite has occurred instead.
It is precisely because of your individualistic heroism and desire to show off that you have left others utterly devastated, with wounds that are difficult to heal. Such a situation sows the seeds of evil outcomes even amidst good causes and virtuous karma. Do you think it is worth it? No, it is not! Nor can it lead to greater growth and elevation. After all these actions and behaviors, what then?
In all that you do, you are seen as an eccentric in the eyes of others, yet you believe you are merely fulfilling your duties. It can be said that you have already sown the seeds of misfortune within good circumstances. This is not a wholesome cause or condition, regardless of the organization, community, or religion where it occurs, where it should have been a favorable and virtuous connection.
Gratitude is conditioned upon its circumstances.
Everyone is able to gather and work together, which should be achieved through wholesome affinities. However, each person’s peculiar temperament and sharp words toward others may pose challenges. How would it feel to work alongside such individuals? Why is it that sentient beings, despite giving their all, often fail to receive recognition?
This leads to forming unwholesome and negative karmic connections with others. In daily life, one might believe they are making diligent efforts, yet remain unaware of how their peculiar temperament and domineering attitude overpower others. Moreover, in fulfilling their responsibilities, they often speak sharply to colleagues, with a tone that is quite aggressive. Such speech and language are common occurrences among sentient beings.
Why do I find myself in such a situation? Everyone desires to be respected and appreciated by others, and hopes to have good karma and virtuous companions to work alongside. Such individuals often long for many favorable connections. However, if your words to others—whether kind or harsh—are excessively sharp or aggressive...
In this life and in any workplace you find yourself, believe that the negative karma you have accumulated is already too much. Among all your peers, you may think you are selflessly and effortlessly giving, but in the eyes of others, you are seen as someone who loves to show off and embodies individual heroism. If none of your actions cause harm to others, it might still be tolerable.
Being together is a matter of fate.
If one maliciously slanders others and tramples upon their self-esteem, believing it to be one's duty, then for you, many enemies have already been made. In the future, there will be much ill fate and interference from adversaries and karmic creditors. Why not instead cultivate gratitude toward others, nurturing the virtuous connections that allow us to come together and mutually fulfill one another?
Why must one's words be so sharp towards others, often offending them? Such individuals primarily prioritize themselves, while considering others and all peers as secondary. It is essential to understand that humans are social beings; when fate brings us together, we should help one another, be grateful to each other, support and fulfill one another, care for each other, and lift each other up.
No matter how strong your abilities may be, you must also be able to bring fulfillment to others. Believe that everyone will like you and affirm you. What is most feared is when your views and perspectives are unacceptable—what then can be done about such a person? Alas, alas! Sentient beings who come together to work in the same unit, organization, or religion must strive for mutual fulfillment.
Everyone tends to appreciate being recognized and affirmed by others. From the very beginning of interpersonal relationships, people strive to perform well, hoping that their actions will earn others' approval. If peers can show mutual affection and care for one another, it is reasonable to expect greater personal growth. Such mutual support among peers fosters a deeper, more cherished friendship.
The Certainty of Contentment and Gratitude
Even after parting ways, they will maintain contact; such interpersonal relationships require good karma, and as long as there are favorable opportunities, others will inform you. In this way, you will have more benefactors. If you frequently make enemies, in the unfolding of time and karma, you will similarly face retaliation from others.
One will forever remember your past arrogance and all your domineering and detestable actions, holding a grudge against you. Such matters, no matter how much time passes, will remain etched in the eighth consciousness, perpetually awaiting an opportunity to retaliate for past grievances and resentments. This is where sentient beings are most prone to error and deficiency—precisely in this!
Always remember the kindness others have shown you, and in turn, extend your own kindness to others. Store these acts of goodwill deep within your eighth consciousness, awaiting the right time and conditions to arise. When the moment comes, it is essential to repay the kindness you have received. This principle, rooted in everyday human interactions, reveals the true character of a person in their conduct and dealings with the world.
In understanding the quality of the relationships one has built, one can become aware of one's own actions, which represent the causes and conditions of good and bad, as well as good and evil, in the human world. By honestly addressing future relationships, one will receive corresponding rewards of good and evil, good and bad, which will then be imprinted in the eighth consciousness of every individual, forming the causes and conditions for all future good and evil, good and bad, fortune and misfortune.
Fulfillment through contentment and gratitude.
When you make choices based on various conditions, how do you ensure they benefit both yourself and others? I believe everyone tends to select favorable and virtuous causes and conditions, rather than unfavorable or harmful ones. Moreover, in daily conduct and interactions, when examining the "body, speech, and mind," should not one's words, expressions, and tone be kept gentle and mild?
In dealing with people and handling matters, one should be more tactful and accommodating. It is believed that this will lead to forming more positive connections. However, if one's words are sharp and cutting, and the tone is aggressive, no matter how much effort, sacrifice, or dedication is put in, it will only result in making many enemies.
Without speaking, one can still avoid offending others; once words are spoken, matters may only worsen. How, then, can one be cautious in speech and conduct to reduce the creation of negative karma? Moreover, the enemies one makes are often not inherently malicious individuals, but rather people inadvertently offended through minor oversights in daily life or unintentional slights. These are the bitter fruits and torments that you will inevitably have to bear in the future.
Do not blame others for harboring ill will towards you. For you, it is the result of having long ago sown the seeds of negative karma—the causes of misfortune and flawed seeds. Would you lament this? You should not. Instead, you should focus on how to cultivate, reform, and rectify your shortcomings and mistakes. Only then will you truly understand what it means to learn the first lesson of "contentment and gratitude."
A virtuous mentor harmonizes with all,  
Every cause and condition bears its seed.
The spoken words are rather sharp, making it difficult for the other party to accept the harm inflicted.
Cause and effect are thus,  
Retribution's fairness is even more true.
The seeds of cause sown in the past  
Now yield the bitter fruit of consequence.
This verse! Let us encourage one another, all sentient beings! How is it that the first lesson of contentment and gratitude is sown by the causes and conditions of good and evil? This is the ailment and peculiar temperament most easily fallen into by sentient beings. Today, your teacher has come again. What wholesome fruit do you hope for your teacher to bestow upon you? Ah! You have long understood the principles, yet you fail to apply them.
Do you understand the meaning of what your teacher has written? Sentient beings are blessed with such favorable conditions to distinguish their own good deeds from evil misfortunes and the causes of good and bad karma. Remember this: "A kind word warms the heart for three years, while a harsh word is like snow in June." Moreover, some may hold a grudge against you for a lifetime, and even across countless lifetimes, they may harbor eternal resentment toward you.
Remember today—all the teacher’s admonitions are for the elevation and growth of all humanity. Take heed! Do not form negative karmic ties with others; instead, strive to cultivate good and wholesome causes with them. In this way, you will foster favorable conditions in the future, enabling upward progress and transcendence. This is the true path—do you understand? Thank you all for your dedication. May all be auspicious. Farewell!
Wuji International, Guanyin Bodhisattva
Wuji International Guanyin Bodhisattva ascends the platform to meet with sentient beings.
The Great Dao's cause and effect are recorded herein, revealing the reasons for humanity's good and evil.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and fellow students of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, the Ancient Buddha of Nanping Daoji has descended in person to compose the thirty-third chapter of "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect." Together with all Saints, Buddhas, and virtuous beings, we shall explore how to cultivate contentment and gratitude in our actions, and provide a detailed analysis of forming negative karmic ties with sentient beings and others.
How to transform unfavorable circumstances into favorable ones, and how to elevate virtuous conditions—this is precisely what will lead to greater growth and gains for you in the future. It is believed that this must be achieved step by step, with each footprint left firmly and steadily, gradually building the necessity for upward progress! Thank you all for your hard work. May everything be auspicious. Farewell.
2015, 0308, 2020◎＃※ OK;
Ancient Buddha of the Southern Sea
Nankai's great path ferries all beings across;  
Within the ocean, wondrous principles manifest wisdom.
Ancient teachings of virtue, again spreading transformation;  
Buddha's writings on tolerance, skillfully unraveling truth.
Chapter Thirty-Four: Tolerance and Understanding (Actions That Hurt Others)
The Function and Role of Tolerance and Understanding
The actions of sentient beings in the human realm often involve words that harm others, making it difficult to foster better interpersonal relationships. Due to the workings of such karma, they frequently offend others without even realizing it—harming with words and failing to show respect for others. Conversely, every human being ought to respect others.
Do not discriminate between high and low, rich and poor, for all are sentient beings who equally hope for mutual respect from others. If we can respect and support one another, we will foster harmony among ourselves. By respecting others, we can cultivate mutual tolerance and understanding, without infringing upon anyone's rights and interests.
This kind of interpersonal relationship is also less likely to foster resentment or enmity with others, reducing the occurrence of many negative issues. This is what constitutes a good and wholesome connection. However, if one's words hurt another's self-esteem, it can lead to harbored grudges. Such a relationship can also cause the deep bond of many years of friendship to vanish abruptly, eroding the once-strong camaraderie.
This is a situation that often occurs, but why does it happen? Every human being, to a greater or lesser extent, harbors thoughts that are difficult to express and keeps many small secrets close to the heart. Between two close friends who have shared a deep bond for years, if one intentionally or unintentionally touches upon the other’s sensitive and painful spot, how can the situation be turned around?
The Foundation of Understanding and Tolerance
At this moment, even an unintentional remark, if it deeply wounds and undermines another's self-esteem, may unknowingly touch a sore spot. If the other party can be tolerant and understanding, it is unlikely to cause significant issues, and a sincere apology may not be necessary. However, if they harbor resentment, it could shatter a long-standing, deeply cherished friendship.
This is a most undesirable behavior—failing to distinguish between oneself and others, often unintentionally touching on others' sensitive points with careless words. One must understand what can be said and what cannot. If words cause harm, the distinction lies in whether it is intentional or unintentional. If both parties can embrace understanding and goodwill, the chasm of conflict may one day be bridged.
Yet what is most feared is that after words have wounded others, the lingering resentment is hard to dispel, and when further actions are taken to cause harm, it results in numerous injuries. If one wishes to change, it may be difficult to resolve. Moreover, the wounds inflicted by words lie deep within the heart. When actions are then used to harm others, it creates many enemies in this lifetime—a phenomenon that is far from favorable.
Frequently preparing for future retribution, as the ancient saying goes: "A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even if it takes three years; if not in this life, then in the next life, grievances will be repaid." This manifests as "harming others through words or actions." The distinction between grievances in the next encounter and the next life stems precisely from this, shaping the future retribution of good and evil, right and wrong.
How to Embrace and Understand with Compassion
Why do sentient beings often find themselves in conflicts with others, with numerous underlying causes? If one could avoid creating enmity with others, they would not provoke dissatisfaction in others. Thus, human actions, behaviors, and hurtful words determine how many adversaries one accumulates. Sentient beings deeply desire to be well-liked and welcomed by others.
But why do we often hurt others with our words and actions, whether unintentionally or deliberately, without any reason? We ourselves remain unaware and feel nothing. Such obstacles that we do not understand bring about confusion and ignorance within us, and they also destroy the good karma of harmonious relationships with others. What can be done about it?
Sentient beings often, driven by their preferences and temperaments, infringe upon the rights and self-esteem of others. Though unaware themselves, they sow the seeds for future retaliation. Why do such behaviors and words arise? It is because for such individuals, misfortune stems from the mouth—they create negative karma through harsh speech, unkind words, and a poor tone of voice.
Moreover, using actions to harm others—can you change this in all your lifetimes? Not necessarily! One must wait until they encounter retaliation and hit a hard wall before realizing how deeply they have hurt others. If they fail to thoroughly examine their own shortcomings, inadequacies, and mistakes, such individuals will often create many adversaries and enemies.
How then should one cultivate understanding and tolerance?
If you cannot change, how can you have good understanding and tolerance, and how can you establish healthy interpersonal relationships? This is the very beginning of why enmity arises. Sentient beings, after entering the human world, will inevitably live and work together with other human beings. Such connections are truly subtle and extraordinary.
It can be said that this is indeed a rather good and virtuous cause and condition. As the ancient saying goes: "It takes ten years of cultivation to share a boat ride, and a hundred years to share a pillow." Such is the nature of causes and conditions in the human world. How subtle and extraordinary it is for a group of people to work together! Consider how rare it is in this sentient world to be able to work alongside you.
If you cannot live in harmony with others, do not form hostile relationships with them, lest you incur future misfortunes and invite the obstruction of ill-wishers. This will greatly diminish the number of benefactors in your life. Moreover, in the course of handling matters through human interactions, avoid bearing grudges against others, as it is a profoundly detrimental practice.
Sentient beings often have unwholesome habits; when things do not go as they wish, they react with displeasure, uttering harsh and insulting words that hurt others, and further harming them through their actions. Not only does this plant the seeds for future negative consequences, but it also risks attracting many adversaries and ill-wishers across lifetimes, who may hinder one's progress.
Human interaction requires tolerance and mutual understanding.
I find myself quite displeased with everything you do, picking faults here and there. Why do humans create negative karma in this life and from past lives? The unfavorable causes planted in this lifetime have already ripened into consequences. As time and conditions mature, all these karmic effects will influence one's efforts, while others neither acknowledge them nor cease their endless complaints.
At this moment, do you feel rather dejected and helpless? Have you experienced such a process? Perhaps all too often; the journey of existence in this world is precisely about implanting all karmic causes and effects from past lives and accumulated lifetimes into the actions and behaviors of this present life. Regardless of who one is, everyone follows and resolves all the debts of gratitude and grudges from past lives.
All the good and bad outcomes you experience in this present life are the accumulated causes formed by your actions in past lives, embedded into every aspect of your current existence—hence the distinction between encountering noble persons and petty ones. Yet the past lives have long vanished, neither visible nor provable. Can all events encountered in this life truly be traced back to those former existences?
Regarding the benefactors and adversaries you encounter in this life, they are shaped by various causes and conditions. You may think you can embrace them with understanding and tolerance, but that is not necessarily the case! Sentient beings often believe they have never harmed anyone nor made enemies, yet they fail to realize that, whether intentionally or unintentionally, they have already offended others.
The Function and Influence of Karma from Past Lives
If one is still unable to recognize their own mistakes, shortcomings, and deficiencies, how can they boast shamelessly that they have no enmity with anyone nor have formed any ill will or negative karma? Such an attitude, expressed in harsh and aggressive language, along with a thoroughly unseemly demeanor—whether intentionally or unintentionally criticizing, slandering, defaming, or spreading rumors about others—is deeply problematic.
Moreover, if one is dissatisfied with the other's tone, attitude, or actions, it is essential to first reflect on one's own behavior: Have you already harmed the interests and self-respect of others? Have others, for no reason, suffered from your domineering, harsh tone, and arrogant demeanor, which may have hurt not only them but also everyone around?
If one cannot even recognize one's own mistakes, how can there ever be a day of genuine change? It is simply impossible! Such individuals, with their arrogance, domineering behavior, harsh words, and abuse of power to bully others, are driven by a desire to show off. This not only fuels their own sense of self-satisfaction but also harms the dignity and rights of others.
What can be done about the resentment and grudges others hold? Are there such people? Far too many, far too many. Can they reflect on their own mistakes? Try it! Before damaging others' self-esteem or interests, one must think twice and not stubbornly inflict harm while remaining unaware, all the while thinking, "This is just how I am!"
The primary function of tolerance and understanding
Humans are emotional beings; if you show others three parts of respect, they will reciprocate with three parts in return. This is the principle of mutual courtesy. Mutual respect between people is a form of benevolent fulfillment. Sentient beings do not remain forever at the peak of their positions. In the journey of life, just as the waves of the Yangtze River are pushed forward by those behind, the earlier waves eventually fade away on the shore.
The old generation gives way to the new—how subtle is the human world! It is only right that the old generation must pass on to the new. Yet how should they coexist? How should they respect one another? How should they educate, train, select, and create? All these depend on one’s own mindset and perspective. When one acts with a spirit of fulfillment, good karma will naturally follow.
You have the opportunity to work together in the same workplace—this is a truly rare and precious connection. It can be said: how uncommon, and how extraordinary such a bond is. In human interactions, friction is inevitable. Yet, would you allow a single unpleasant remark or a dissatisfying action to provoke you into leaving your workplace in a fit of temper, never to return?
Such individuals possess a rather undesirable character and temperament. It is crucial for them to hold firm beliefs about their own future, as this marks the dividing line for whether they can achieve success. They also often experience friction among their peers. It is essential for them to discern whether the shortcomings, deficiencies, or errors lie with themselves or others. Through reflection, they can come to understand all their mistakes and recognize where they went wrong.
The Necessity of Tolerance and Understanding
Only with tolerance and understanding can there be true harmony. Such tolerance and understanding must be accompanied by both parties genuinely correcting their mistakes and avoiding repetition of past errors—this is the right path. All sentient beings, regardless of religious sect or lineage, are the same in this regard. Such human factors often arise, and all issues stem from the problems between people.
Is it possible to change through mutual communication among peers, as well as through reflection and revision? Only by embracing understanding and tolerance, thereby bringing greater benefit and efficacy to others, can we eliminate the harm caused by hurtful words or actions. For all human beings to live and work together harmoniously—what a subtle and wondrous thing it is, and what a bond of affinity it signifies.
Without distinction among all religions, groups, organizations, and families, in all interpersonal relationships between people—whether between heaven and earth, men and women, parents, spouses, children, relatives, friends, or peers—every individual among all human beings has, to a greater or lesser extent, shortcomings, deficiencies, and faults.
Only with contentment and gratitude can one achieve understanding and tolerance. In this world, when sentient beings who coexist together engage in harmful actions, oppress and insult others, or display various forms of domineering behavior, such moments and circumstances arise. If you cannot form good connections with others in the present, at least refrain from forming negative ones.
The world must embrace both sides.
If one cannot form good connections, it is not a serious matter, but beware! Do not create enmity or resentment with others. Can one truly enjoy perpetual good fortune and power throughout life? And for how long? Life is like a play: entering and exiting the stage, playing generals and ministers—each person merely acts out their role in this lifetime’s drama. Who, then, truly holds lasting power?
One should wisely utilize their strengths to benefit all living beings, and not harm others during times of prosperity. For you, "a lifetime of fame and achievement may lead to a hundred generations of karmic debt"—truly a loss outweighing the gain. How, then, can one retain much influence or blessings? They vanish in an instant. Each person’s life is broadcast live without a script; there is no chance for a retake. Reflect deeply on this.
Observing the electoral systems of the present era: who gains power, who brings blessings, who becomes a tyrant, and who steps down—all reveal what the future outcome will be! Through "understanding and tolerance," one must remain vigilant: among sentient beings, is there anyone who holds power forever? Nor does anyone enjoy blessings eternally!
In dealing with all human beings, whether in times of prosperity or decline, retribution will follow one after another without end. How long can arrogance truly last? Sentient beings must, when in power, create blessings for the masses; and when in decline, they will receive abundant rewards that can be enjoyed endlessly. This is the conduct and action befitting those who possess true wisdom and great intelligence.
Words and tongues create disputes;  
Actions that harm others must not be pursued.
In this life, highs and lows differ,
Rising and falling, they follow in constant flux.
To be a general or a minister is like acting in a play;  
When in power, one must not bully others.
Only in downfall does one taste boundless bitterness,  
Alas, the evil wrought was by one's own hand.
Throughout the journey of life, it is much like performing in a play. Who can truly comprehend how all present advantages come to be? Only when circumstances shift with the passage of time and one falls from grace does one come to realize past mistakes. By then, burdened with regret and remorse, what can be done? Such a state is truly undesirable. Today, upon returning, I sense that the Chongxin lineage has undergone significant transformation, with an entirely renewed vigor. I am genuinely heartened for all of you. Thank you for your hospitality and for allowing me to trouble the Chongxin lineage.
Wuji Eastern Seas, Bodhisattva Guanyin
Life is but a play on stage,  
Where the Eastern Guanyin takes the stage in ritual display.
All saints and sages are born for the good of humanity,  
The Book of Heaven on Cause and Effect nears its completion.
All Saints, Buddhas, and virtuous beings, as well as the fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening. Today, the presiding immortal Buddha of the "Great Dao Series," the Ancient Buddha of the South Sea, has descended to Chongxin to compose the thirty-fourth installment of the "Great Dao Series." This installment focuses on the fundamental causes of tolerance and virtuous understanding, addressing how to resolve issues arising from actions that harm others.
Sentient beings should strive to dissolve all ignorance and obstacles. This is what humanity ought to understand: in this lifetime, each person should forge good connections and affinities with others, avoiding the scenario where, if meeting again in some future time and space, enemies cross paths with eyes blazing in hatred—a loss far outweighing any gain. With that, I conclude for today. Thank you all, and farewell.
2015, 0308, 2021 ◎＃※ OK;
Namo, descend from the void,  
The ancient Buddha, revered by heaven and humanity, draws near.
The Thirty-Fifth Chapter of the Great Dao's Cause and Effect: Good and Evil Retribution Guided by Virtue and Intent
Chapter 35: Caring Communication (The Retribution of Good and Evil)
The Fundamental Role of Care and Communication
When sentient beings enter the human world, they inevitably form judgments regarding all actions and behaviors, distinguishing between good and bad, and experiencing corresponding rewards or retributions. But how should the distinction between good and bad be made? While human perspectives on matters may often align, from the viewpoint of the heavens above, this is not necessarily the case. It all depends on the thoughts and intentions arising from the causes and conditions of each moment in time and space.
Begin to differentiate all issues and matters, understanding how the actions and behaviors of sentient beings arise. If mutual communication and care can be achieved, it will lead to greater and more complete resolution of the core problems. As expressed in the human world, this is the way to dissolve obstacles and difficulties! In doing so, much karmic cause and effect can be reduced.
When people come into contact with one another, they often produce harsh words, aggressive tones, and poor attitudes, accompanied by rough behavior. This leads to mutual opposition, a situation that is difficult to resolve due to differing perspectives, making it nearly impossible to achieve mutual satisfaction.
In the interpersonal relationships that each individual encounters, there must be a point of convergence where differing perspectives can meet. This requires mutual communication to understand the other's viewpoint. It is essential to mutually clarify where the issues lie, so that problems can be genuinely resolved and differences between both sides can be more easily understood.
The Necessity of Caring Communication
All issues between individuals stem from unacceptable language, aggressive tones, poor attitudes, and domineering behavior, which create barriers between people and breed strong aversion. Moreover, human factors make such barriers difficult to dissolve, preventing mutual understanding.
In human conduct and actions, it is common for many people to prefer demonstrating good performance. This inclination is entirely understandable. From the beginning to the end of any endeavor, numerous issues inevitably arise throughout the process. Once problems emerge, it becomes essential for many individuals to support and assist one another, working together for mutual success.
Only with good results can there be a positive outcome. If both parties hold different views on an issue, how can they reach a consensus on the key points? When both sides can remain calm and accommodate each other, the differing perspectives on the core of the problem can be resolved through effective communication. This creates room for change and leads to favorable outcomes.
Before communication can take place, there must first be a mutual sense of calm and care between both parties, allowing them to sit down together and thoroughly examine the issue, understanding how such problems arise. When both sides communicate with a peaceful and composed mindset, positive outcomes will naturally emerge. Through dialogue between individuals, all points of concern can be clearly explained and thoroughly understood.
The primary purpose of care
It also dissolves the mutual surge of anger and resolves the differing opinions between both parties, thereby overcoming difficulties and obstacles. In interpersonal relationships, it is achieved through sincere and earnest intentions. This is how it should be: using genuine sincerity to resolve the differing opinions between both sides. Moreover, where there are people, there are matters; matters arise from the different perspectives and differing opinions of both parties.
The synthesis into a mutually shared understanding is precisely the essential necessity for communication between people. All interpersonal relationships are viewed and enacted from each individual's unique perspective. Due to these differing perspectives, significant gaps and barriers often arise between people, resulting in nothing more than stagnation in place.
This estrangement and barrier can only be resolved if both parties find a common ground. People often hold different views on matters, but it is through finding a point of intersection in communication that problems can be solved. If both sides approach from different angles and hold divergent perspectives, and if mutual communication is impossible, then achieving common ground becomes highly unlikely.
It is likely difficult to achieve a perfectly satisfactory resolution to this matter, as each person holds different perspectives, naturally approaches issues from different angles, and harbors distinct disagreements. Consequently, various points of contention arise. Once these disagreements emerge, each individual tends to believe their own viewpoint and approach are entirely correct. If this persists, it may undermine the deep mutual affection that originally existed between both parties.
Caring communication can reduce friction.
They also consider the other party utterly unreasonable and difficult to communicate with, which makes it hard for both sides to understand each other’s differing perspectives—this is precisely the root cause of the issue. The method of communication must be grounded in mutual, genuine concern, so that it can be carried out under conditions acceptable to both parties.
Such concern serves as a lubricant between both parties. Adding this lubricant to communication reduces the friction that may naturally arise. After any friction occurs, both sides should sit down together to discuss the core issues. What is each person's perspective on the matter? And can both parties genuinely understand and care about the issue through sincere communication?
Once the issues at hand are understood, the next step is to recognize the perspectives held by both parties and where their differing viewpoints lie. The primary goal of fostering compassionate communication is for both sides to set aside their own biases and individual perspectives. Only then can a sincere and mutual exchange take place, which is precisely what is necessary.
Sentient beings, in their mutual care and communication, can compensate for each other's shortcomings and deficiencies. This is especially true when it comes to caring for the vulnerable. One must act with genuine sincerity, avoiding a mindset of superiority or arrogance, and never treating such care as a form of charity bestowed upon others.
The Benefits of Communication and Care
In the communication among sentient beings, regardless of the differing perspectives or attitudes each party holds toward a matter, it is essential to demonstrate care for both sides as an expression of kindness, manifested through a compassionate heart. This arises from an innate energy of universal harmony that emanates from within oneself, capable of resonating with and gaining the acceptance of the other party. Such compassionate and benevolent energy, radiating from one's being, benefits both sides.
Allow both parties to recognize the perspectives they hold and the actions they take, and to understand the potential future outcomes. At the point of contention, enable mutual acknowledgment and resolve differences from each side's perspective. In this way, for both parties: they can sit down with calm and composure, addressing the crux of the issue and engaging in necessary communication.
People are emotional beings, and this holds true both in the workplace and at home. Why do couples argue, or even fight? The perspectives on such issues differ for each party, yet both sides act with the good of the family in mind. Within this dynamic, the roles each partner plays also differ.
In fact, differences in perspective, viewpoints, and understanding, among many other distinctions, lead each spouse to assume different roles. Yet in all their directions and goals, both are anchored in the well-being of the family. Each person’s approach, methods, understanding, and upbringing remain distinct.
All human beings care for one another and communicate with each other.
This can lead to issues and differing perspectives on matters. No matter how affectionate a couple may be in daily life, when they encounter situations from different angles and hold differing views or approaches, they often engage in intense arguments. Neither side yields, and the quarrels escalate in volume, further aggravated by slightly sharp words.
It is possible that conflicts may arise, as even the most loving couples can sometimes "bite each other with their lips and tongues." Moreover, since humans are emotional beings, the bond between husband and wife runs even deeper. If they are usually overly intimate and possessive, it often leads to situations where even slightly sharp words can cause harm to both parties.
It would hurt the other's self-esteem, making arguments and fights a common occurrence. As the old saying goes, "Fights at the head of the bed are reconciled at its foot." One moment you hear a fierce quarrel, and the next they are as close as ever. While you are still troubled on their behalf, feeling anxious and unsettled, the couple has already finished their quarrel and fight, their anger dissipated.
This is what marriage is like! Much like little dogs, what can one do about the bickering and squabbling? Such is human nature—have you ever encountered it? Nowadays, people say that family happiness is forged through constant quarrels. Whether in the workplace, within the same organization, or in families, such problems of "clashing tongues" are endlessly recurring.
Communication Necessity and Genuine Concern
Why is this the case? When people spend a considerable amount of time together with peers, working and interacting, some become more familiar and gradually close the distance, growing closer instead. This daily coexistence—living together, working together, sharing the same workplace, and collaborating on common tasks—often creates many opportunities for such bonds to form.
There will be many benefactors and villains, yet neither are marked on their faces. Only when events unfold will they gradually reveal themselves. Who are the ones truly worthy of deep friendship and mutual understanding? Who can be relied upon to work alongside? As the proverb goes: "Time reveals a person's heart, distance tests a horse's strength."
Sentient beings, in their relationships such as friendship or marriage, once placed greater emphasis on moral integrity, the Three Bonds and Five Constants, the Four Principles and Eight Virtues. There was a stronger emotional bond, and people stood by each other in times of trouble. Today, with the spread of Western influence, the descendants of Yan and Huang in the Central Plains have shifted toward a greater focus on utilitarianism, gradually losing the moral integrity and emotional bonds of the past.
Differences in the Perspectives of Care and Communication
The principles of the Three Bonds, Five Constants, Four Virtues, and Eight Ethics have long been cast aside. How, then, can the bonds of human relationships be maintained? As the ancients said, "Good and evil will ultimately be repaid; it is only a matter of time." Sincere care in human relationships will lead to differences in future retributions, whether good or bad. To foster good relationships, one must genuinely care for those around them.
Your family and friends are the ones who allow your good karma to manifest, greatly aiding all your efforts and future interpersonal relationships. Why does the human world need care and communication? It enables others to feel what you have given, as all sentient beings enjoy hearing kind words, gentle speech, praise, and affirmation.
I am rather disinclined to listen to harsh words: slanderous or critical remarks are precisely the behavioral effects of human speech. I doubt that any of you, if given a moment to reflect, can truly speak to others with kind words, good language, and words of praise. I believe that when others hear such words, they too find them pleasing to the ear and refreshing. But what would happen if one were to speak slanderous and hurtful words to others instead!
Compassionate care and mutual communication.
Believing in others' inner feelings often leads to discomfort and unpleasantness, a situation that applies to both humans and animals alike. Both humans and animals generally prefer to hear kind words and praise from others. This gives rise to the role of verbal expression and behavior in human interactions. Why, then, are there more instances of others speaking kindly?
No matter how hard I try, my speech is not fluent. Often, I have the intention to speak kind, gentle, and pleasant words, yet others perceive them as unconvincing and unacceptable. Why is this so? It is precisely because I am not accustomed to speaking kindly in daily life, and I rarely use gentle, pleasant, or kind words. With more practice, I will surely improve.
From now on, I will change myself, speaking more kind words and pleasant phrases, which will also bring better fortune. The more I practice speaking such good, kind, and pleasant words, the more fluent I will become. I must also cultivate a sincere heart, genuinely caring for others. Others will then be more willing to engage with me, allowing us to communicate openly about any issues and help each other solve problems. In this way, I will gain greater benefits and inevitably transform my path into one of good fortune.
In this life, one must speak with care — kind words and gentle speech bring much good.
Words of harmony in relationships, words of kindness that turn fortune for the better.
Care is a sincere heart,  
Communication also requires mutual guidance.
The number of all noble individuals is determined precisely by this reason.
This verse! It is about mutually supporting all sentient beings. For those who currently have few benefactors around them, one should take more care to show concern for others and communicate with sincere hearts. Not only will benefactors increase significantly, but ill-wishers will diminish. If everyone understands from this day onward, they can apply this well! Thank you all for your companionship in this work.
The Infinite Azure-robed Golden Sage, Guanyin Bodhisattva
The Right Presiding Officer of the Chongxin Taoist Hall  
By the Will of the Ancient Buddha of Supreme Virtue in the Void
Blue-robed Golden Sage Guanyin,  
Ascends the platform to gather with all virtuous companions.
Good evening to all Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and the fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Tao Academy! Today, the Orthodox Chairman of our lineage, the Ancient Buddha of the Void, Supreme Virtue of Humanity and Heaven, has descended to compose the thirty-fifth chapter of "The Causality of the Great Tao." This chapter provides a detailed analysis of how the methods of "care and communication" can give rise to the karmic retributions of good and evil, fortune and misfortune.
The methods for increasing one's benefactors and reducing one's detractors have already been written within. How to apply them is for everyone to learn and grow together—this necessity is essential. Such conditions and opportunities are quite rare, so I hope everyone will cherish them well. It also requires your own efforts to attain them. Thank you all for your hard work. May all be auspicious. Farewell.
2015, 0308, 2022◎＃※  OK;
Namo to the manifestation of all sentient beings as Tathagatas;  
The Ancient Lamp-Lighting Buddha descends to bestow karmic connections.
Thirty-sixth Chapter of the Great Dao's Cause and Effect: The Chapter of Perfect Accomplishment and Virtuous Intent
Chapter Thirty-Six: Perfect Accomplishment (Karmic Accounts Settled)
The karmic cycle is fully settled and perfectly fulfilled.
Sentient beings in the human realm often find themselves trapped in predicaments from which it is difficult to extricate themselves. Among these, human factors play a role in all aspects of worldly existence, giving rise to the cycle of cause and effect: Why do human actions lead to the cycle of karmic retribution, and how do they bring about the accumulation of karmic blessings?
This is one of the most difficult things for human beings to comprehend: we neither know when retribution for karma will arrive, nor when blessings will be added. No one has ever been able to tell us when such circumstances will arise due to these causes and conditions—it is all shrouded in confusion and beyond our understanding! We can only wait, with no other recourse, uncertain whether what lies ahead will be good or bad.
In the human world, there exists this kind of retribution and reward of karma, as well as the accumulation of karmic blessings. Sentient beings observe all their actions, deeds, and creations. The law of cause and effect is an invisible force, and the power it accumulates is something that even supernatural abilities cannot contend with, nor is it easily transformed.
The Buddha said, "Supernatural powers are no match for karma, and karma is no match for the power of vows!" If even truth cannot be compared to the law of cause and effect, this is the most difficult for humanity in the vast universe to comprehend. In such circumstances, how can one achieve perfect fulfillment? The retribution of cause and effect follows like a shadow, affecting all actions and deeds of sentient beings.
Perfect accomplishment, all karmic debts settled.
Regardless of time, space, environment, religion, or nation, it remains the same: all actions and orientations of human beings in the vast world carry with them a corresponding karma that follows them like a shadow. This karma, shaped by past deeds, accumulates and manifests in the present life.
In the actions and behaviors of oneself, there are invisible forces at play. These forces represent the most difficult obstacles of ignorance for humanity to comprehend, and they are also a form of karmic retribution and blessings. Human beings often believe themselves to be extraordinary, unaware that within these invisible forces, such intangible karmic retribution is being exacted upon the human world.
Furthermore, these can be distinguished by the addition of blessings. If blessings are added, regardless of one's own abilities, many talented individuals will come to assist you in expanding your endeavors, accumulating wealth, broadening connections, and creating prosperity... All such favorable rewards in the human world are attributed to you.
This will greatly enhance one's abilities, both tangibly and intangibly. If we consider human factors: why is it that even if one's abilities are not the most outstanding, one can still achieve exceptional success and wealth, and be supported by interpersonal relationships in various ways? It is precisely due to the merits accumulated in one's previous lives or over many lifetimes that one possesses such favorable conditions in this present life.
The calamity of evil causes and evil consequences.
The good deeds and virtuous actions you perform bring blessings and rewards, which are added to your present life, offering you greater fulfillment. This is the additional grace bestowed by Heaven. Do sentient beings desire it? I believe the majority do! Sentient beings, through their actions in past lives and across lifetimes, bear the consequences in their current existence.
In this life, we endure all evil causes, evil consequences, and evil retributions. It is believed that most sentient beings are unaware of what they did in their past lives. As a result, they often accept these evil causes, consequences, and retributions with reluctance, frequently blaming heaven and others, venting their frustrations, and deepening their resentment toward the problems at hand.
It is indeed difficult to willingly accept the retribution from karmic creditors with a heart of gratitude. Instead, one often refuses to acknowledge their debts and even responds with harsh words. Can such denial dissolve these karmic debts? Impossible! When facing the retribution from karmic creditors, one often feels utterly helpless, while humanity tends to prefer a life of comfort, ease, and enjoyment.
However, amidst the pursuit by these karmic creditors, there is also much bitterness and suffering. Their constant following and protective actions are to prevent other karmic creditors from seeking retribution. These creditors, enduring the blows of wind and rain, persist in their relentless pursuit of you at all times.
All karmic obstacles in the human world can be completely dissolved.
This is also a protective action. How do you feel about it? A mix of complex emotions! If the roles were reversed, and you became someone else's karmic creditor seeking repayment, following them relentlessly day and night without rest, what would you do to yourself? At first, you would surely feel tense, but after some time, you would come to understand the nature of karmic retribution.
This is not something that ordinary people can comprehend, nor is it easily achieved in a single stroke. At times, one must also evade the obstruction of common deities, as well as malevolent spirits and door gods. Moreover, when the opportunities for such endeavors are dwindling, if there remain numerous other karmic creditors who also seek to contend for the very target of your pursuit, the challenge becomes even greater.
If viewed from this perspective, what thoughts arise within you? This is beyond the imagination of sentient beings. How much bitterness and suffering is contained within it? Alas! Alas! The words and actions of sentient beings, in their reliance on their own speech and conduct, are precisely what create grievances. Thus, in this life, their suffering tends to be greater.
To discern the nature of one's actions, observe whether they bring joy through kindness or inflict pain through tyranny. All actions of sentient beings arise from their thoughts and beliefs. If one cannot face the suffering and torment of the present with a heart of gratitude...
The Formation of Blessings and Misfortunes
Moreover, whether it is enduring suffering or enjoying blessings, both are merely fleeting moments shaped by the circumstances of time and space. What can truly allow one to endure such torment or relish such fortune over the long term is determined by the karmic consequences of past actions. All causes and effects from previous lifetimes manifest as the karmic burdens and rewards one must bear in this present life.
Whether the outcomes are favorable or adverse, if one can understand the actions taken in the present moment, these will inevitably shape the virtuous or calamitous conditions encountered in the latter half of this life, the next life, and across countless lifetimes. This is the result of human actions and choices. As an ancient saying goes: "To know the causes of past lives, observe what one experiences in this life; to know the fruits of future lives, observe what one does in this life."
Truthfully reflecting on all actions and behaviors of sentient beings, one finds oneself amidst blessings or misfortunes. It is believed that all sentient beings would prefer blessings over misfortunes. If this is the case, then in every action taken in the present moment, one should first ask oneself whether it is excessive or inhumane. If so, it is essential to make proper corrections.
Can one live according to the Three Bonds and Five Constants, the Four Principles and Eight Virtues? To be a person, one must be upright and proper, but not "rigidly square" to the point of harming others. Being rigidly square makes it difficult to achieve harmony; damaging others from every angle is why one should be "upright and proper" rather than rigidly square, so as not to harm oneself or others.
Perfectly accomplished, completely dispelling the karmic fruits.
Those who hold such beliefs often consider themselves upright and virtuous individuals. However, they frequently fall short in their interpersonal conduct and may have unknowingly offended many people. Since everyone's actions stem from their own thoughts and beliefs, leading to varied behaviors, it is uncertain whether they can achieve harmony and flexibility in their own lives.
In the human realm, religious practitioners must hold a fundamental understanding: for sentient beings to be reborn as humans is an exceedingly rare opportunity. Sentient beings often naively believe that "in twenty years, I will return as a hero," but such thinking is far too simplistic. This is simply impossible; it often requires a long period of time to come to fruition.
And there is no guarantee of another chance to be reborn as a human; the notion that one can return as a hero or a brave soul after twenty years in the human realm simply does not exist. According to the laws of heaven and earth, thirty years of yin and thirty years of yang combine to form one sexagenary cycle. In this cycle, each being’s entire lifetime may only span twenty to thirty years.
Moreover, in this very life, it is fundamentally difficult to have the opportunity to ascend and transcend. You all may carefully reflect: since coming into this human world in this lifetime, have you changed any of your behaviors and actions? Have you transformed your temperament? Have you elevated your knowledge and wisdom? Have you raised your level and realm?
The Golden Lotus Throne differs from the Nine Grades of Lotus Thrones.
Have you applied the great truth of the Heavenly Dao in accordance with reality? Have you eliminated your own ignorance? All of these will inevitably manifest around you in the present moment. As the ancients said: "One must cross over by one's own nature; even the Buddha cannot ferry one across." If the Buddha could guide all beings to liberation, then all sentient beings would have returned long ago. Why then, in this age, do myriad teachings arise together?
For sentient beings who have fallen into degradation, there exists the potential for upward elevation through causes and conditions. As each individual’s circumstances and conditions differ, the key lies in whether the religious faith one chooses and the practices one undertakes can truly lead to liberation. Or is it merely that one’s religious faith and cultivation will only lead to another cycle, another lifetime, entering once again into religious practice and belief in the next existence?
For you, this means it will remain the same across lifetimes—merely entering and exiting religious faith and practice, never truly advancing or transcending. For those who hold steadfast faith, this is profoundly sorrowful! Are there such beings among humanity? The majority of religious believers are indeed like this.
Can sentient beings, through religious baptism and discipline, transform their peculiar temperaments and odd dispositions, emerging reborn and unstained from the mud? The pursuit of religious faith is precisely the necessary ascent toward the "Nine-Grade Lotus Throne," which is what the immortal and buddha teachers of the Chongxin lineage refer to as the "Golden-Grade Lotus Throne."
One's destiny is shaped by the mindset with which one embraces each cause and condition.
In contemporary religions, there is a consistent advocacy for individuals to attain the "Nine Grades of the Lotus Throne," which is indeed entirely correct. The question then arises: have you chosen the right religion to place your faith in? If one's blessings and opportunities are particularly great, the likelihood of making the correct choice is indeed higher than that of others—this is an undeniable truth. After entering a religion, the key lies in whether one can proceed through:
1. The Stage of Accumulating Provisions.  
2. The Stage of Practical Cultivation.  
3. The Stage of Vigorous Progress.
IV. The Stage of Perfection.  
V. The Stage of Accomplishment.
These five levels of hierarchy represent whether sentient beings can truly ascend and transcend after their existence in the human world. This depends entirely on whether, in this lifetime, one can bring to a conclusion and settle all the karmic causes and effects accumulated over countless past lives. By doing so, one will be able to receive the protection and guidance of immortal and buddha teachers in this very life.
Religion imposes limitations on human thought and perspectives.
Under the care and support, we must confront all karmic creditors and adversaries truthfully to settle the karmic retributions. I wonder if you can accomplish this? It is necessary to give it a try! If sentient beings can fully repay and eliminate all their karmic consequences, the path of your future cultivation will become smoother.
Moreover, it can be accomplished with great ease, reaching the sublime state of growth and learning. This involves confronting the karmic consequences in the human realm, willingly offering oneself to bring about fulfillment. For those karmic creditors and adversaries who have long been contested, allow them to achieve mutual fulfillment, transcendence, and completion. I wonder if you all can accomplish this? Furthermore, each person attains this through their own efforts of fulfillment.
Only through complete fulfillment can one attain elevation, while also fully resolving and clearing all karmic consequences and retributions. By honestly achieving a future free from debts, one fulfills the hopes and expectations of the immortal and enlightened teachers. Progressing from the familiar "Nine-Grade Lotus Throne" of the human world to the sublime "Golden-Grade Lotus Throne" represents the true and complete transcendent achievement.
The cause and condition for perfect accomplishment,  
A sublime celestial secret is revealed.
Karmic causes, karmic effects, and karmic retribution —  
Cleared and settled in one lifetime, dissolving karmic debts.
The great Dao's cycle of cause and effect is now complete;  
All sentient beings shall witness a renewal of moral order.
Interconnected as one, they disseminate teachings to enlighten the lost and guide the way.
This verse! It encourages all sentient beings to support one another, to achieve mutual success through human efforts, and to resolve all karmic entanglements from past lives through the virtuous causes and conditions of karma and retribution, thereby eliminating evil causes, evil consequences, and calamities. It is for your greater growth and learning in this human world, hoping that we can all join together to accomplish and cultivate. Thank you for your hard work, and may all be auspicious. Farewell!
Wuji Purple Robe Silver Sage, Guanyin Bodhisattva
Thirty-Six Chapters on the Great Dao's Cause and Effect  
The Infinite Purple Robe and Silver Saint Manifest
Guanyin Bodhisattva Ascends the Platform,  
The Great Patriarch's Works Receive Divine Selection.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and the scholars of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today, the presiding immortal of "The Great Dao Cause and Effect," the Grand Patriarch of our lineage, the Ancient Buddha Nāmo Dipaṃkara, has descended to compose the thirty-sixth chapter of "The Great Dao Cause and Effect." This chapter offers an analysis and revelation on the complete resolution of all karmic causes, guiding sentient beings toward perfect fulfillment and achievement.
To provide sentient beings with greater fulfillment and elevation, this is the repeated and emphatic demand from the immortal and buddha teachers, who require you to proceed step by step, achieving each accomplishment in turn. The thirty-six chapters of "The Great Dao's Cause and Effect" have now been completed. The following section will consist of the epilogue and explanatory notes. With this, we conclude for today. Thank you all for your diligent efforts. Farewell.
2015, 0308, 2023◎＃※ OK;
Void, the Great Celestial Mother of Limitless Infinity
The Void and the Limitless descend to the mortal realm;  
The Wuji Sovereign Mother ascends to Chongxin.
Preface to the Great Dao's Cause and Effect — Celebrating the Completion of Chongxin's Celestial Texts
◆ Postfaces & Praises ◆
跋     一
The Great Dao manifests in response to all things.
Therefore, taking all beings in the vast universe as its foundation, and genuinely elevating all original spirits, the Heavenly Providence grants even greater fulfillment to the lives of humanity. Observing the Celestial Books of the Great Dao series, authored by the Chongxintang under the sacred decree of the Mother's Heart, each volume and every chapter contains profound truths, bestowed upon the human world as abundant resources for nourishment.
Through all original spirits in the human world, greater abundant resources are bestowed, elevating themselves to ascend beyond the fundamental causes and conditions. For all original spirits in the human realm, it is through causes that effects are reaped—utterly truthful and real. This serves as the dividing point between uplifting oneself through one’s actions and sinking into degradation.
The Impartiality of Cause and Effect
In truth, how do human factors grow and learn through the principles of daily life? Why does the human world have "karmic cause and effect" to distinguish between blessings and misfortunes, and the retribution of good and evil causes? All original souls tend to believe that entering the cycle of karmic retribution is something negative and undesirable.
However, it is little known that such recompense is divided into two categories: "retribution and reward." This distinction between fortune and misfortune, good and evil, gives rise to the law of cause and effect, manifesting as either reward or retribution. For all primordial spirits in the human world, it is essential to cultivate virtuous causes, as only then can they attain favorable outcomes in the future.
The Fulfillment of the Great Dao's Cause and Effect:
In the human world, throughout the course of life, one may come to understand "what is cause, what is condition, what is effect, and what is retribution?" In the interplay of cause and effect, retribution and recompense, by integrating the cycle of cause, condition, effect, and retribution, it gives rise to "the recompense of good fortune" and "the retribution of evil misfortune." Yet, it is exceedingly difficult for the myriad spiritual beings across the vast cosmos to fully comprehend this.
Why is it that the rewards of "blessings from virtuous paths" and the retributions of "misfortunes from evil paths" manifest as they do? This is precisely the original intent behind the work "The Great Dao's Cause and Effect." Today, your mother has specially descended to the Chongxin Lineage system to offer a congratulatory epilogue, hoping that Chongxin, within the human world, will foster good and virtuous causes and conditions to flourish, thereby upholding the righteous path.
虛空無極皇母　親降跋一於
The Sacred Teachings of Confucianism, the True Heart School of Buddhism, the Great Dao Academy of the Wuji, and the Chongxin Hall of Imperial Decree.
On the twenty-first day of the tenth lunar month in the year of Wuzi, at the hour of Xu.
Very well, congratulations to the Chongxin Sect lineage system. This year’s teachings can be genuinely promoted, providing all favorable conditions of good causes and conditions, offering all sons and daughters a truly excellent opportunity to elevate, return, and transcend. Thank you for your hard work, virtuous sons and daughters. Until we meet again, we shall remain with the Chongxin Sect for some time!
Void and Infinity, the Supreme Mother of Earth.
From the Void and the Infinite descends the auspicious presence,  
The Supreme Earth Mother ascends the sacred platform.
跋     二
The Primary Causes and Conditions of the Great Dao
For the four billion Buddhist disciples of the great universe and the ninety-two original spiritual children who descended to the mortal world, after entering the mundane realm, they have long been trapped in this turbid and evil age. The concern of the heavens is not without reason; after descending to the mortal world, these spiritual beings often forget their original roots, lose their direction, and remain unaware of the path to return home.
Although the sages of the five teachings have come to guide and enlighten the lost, many who enter religion fail to genuinely elevate themselves due to a lack of earnest reflection and diligent effort. Thus, the number of those who sink into obscurity is great, while those who return are few! This is what Heaven finds most troubling and concerning, as it earnestly hopes to guide all souls back to the eternal celestial homeland as soon as possible.
To further fulfill the teachings of the five doctrines, the Mother’s Heart Peach Garden Yichong Chongxin Hall now composes the "Heavenly Book of the Great Dao and Karma." This work aims to help the mortal world understand the "Karma of Sentient Beings in the Great Dao of Affection," enabling fallen original souls to truly return to the heavenly ladder of the Great Dao and achieve transcendent growth.
The principles of cause and effect must be clearly understood.
Through human effort to accomplish all actions, in this process, one judges their own merits and virtues based on the deeds of the myriad souls, and seeks the path of their own return. The Chongxin lineage's "Dadao Series Celestial Books" are volumes that provide greater clarity to the souls lost in the mortal realm on how to achieve their own return.
It is precisely because the heavens hope that all beings in the mortal realm can comprehend the profound care and effort of the heavens, the divine mothers, and the celestial immortals and buddhas, that there exists a true opportunity to return to the heavenly mysteries. The heavens’ expectations for the religions of the human world lie in those who undertake the sacred missions, that they may grow with unwavering determination to guide the original spirits back to their origins—this is truly rare and precious.
Works and Propagation of the Great Dao's Cause and Effect:
The Chongxintang system, in its dedication to the divine mission, tirelessly endures all hardships to guide and enlighten the four hundred million sentient beings, as well as the ninety-two original spirits, helping them understand: What is the inherent cause of humanity? What initiates it? What triggers its conditions? What results does it yield? What retribution follows? Through these processes, the obstacles faced by all original spirits are revealed.
How should one conduct oneself, act, behave, and grow? Although only a part of this can be understood, it is often the case that actions run counter to the right path, making it difficult to truly transcend and elevate. Now, Heaven has bestowed upon the Chongxin lineage the sublime opportunity to compose "The Cause and Effect of the Great Dao," initiating all personal karmic connections relevant to oneself.
Moreover, the results of actions and the retribution of karma, the distinction between good and evil causes, and the division of fortune and misfortune will influence the separation of future blessings and calamities. It also admonishes all sentient beings on how to avoid committing evil, creating negative karma, and bringing harmful consequences upon themselves. In this way, it becomes easier to one day return to the origin. The Mother’s heart is greatly pleased, and She specially descends to Chongxin with encouragement and congratulations.
Endlessly spreading the teachings far and wide,  
Advancing the Great Way through a series of opportunities.
Humanity understands the foundation of cause and effect;  
Blessings and misfortunes return according to one's own deeds.
虛空無極地母至尊　親降跋二於
The Sacred Teachings of Confucianism, the True Buddha Heart School, the Great Dao Hall of the Wuji, and the Chongxin Hall of the Imperial Decree.
On the twenty-first day of the tenth lunar month in the year Wuzi of the Tianyun cycle, at the hour of Xu.
Excellent! Excellent! We shall remain within the Chongxin Sect lineage system to jointly discuss the future matters of guiding and delivering beings. We will trouble you for some time, and everyone has worked hard. Farewell for now!
Void and Infinity, the Golden Mother of the Jasper Pool
From the Void and Infinite, descending to the mortal realm,  
The Golden Mother of the Jasper Pool gives life to all spirits.
跋     三
The benevolent functions of the Great Dao:
Naturally, in the course of life for sentient beings, within the human world, aside from oneself, there exists the dynamic of the marital relationship. Through the gradual influence of Western culture, the descendants of Yan and Huang in the Central Plains have found it difficult to break through the bottlenecks and barriers between husband and wife. In this world, apart from one's spouse, there are few who share a mutual karmic connection with you.
As the old saying goes, the concept of "being faithful to one partner unto the end" is gradually being submerged by the tides of this era. Yet it is precisely through the practice of the way of husband and wife—as the great principle of human relations—that one labors through thick and thin for the family, regardless of its circumstances, good or bad, and devotes oneself to sacrifice for the sake of the household. This is what embodies true authenticity.
This is the most fundamental function that Heaven takes pride in, which is to grant all original spirits, amidst all good and virtuous causes, the ability to maintain a harmonious and enduring marital bond, free from discord. It enables them to achieve a more complete, sweet, and blissful life, where they cherish one another and remain devoted to each other for a lifetime.
Clarity of Cause and Effect and Action:
Beloved spouses, parents, children, siblings, and all other relatives are the result of the good and evil karma, as well as the blessings and misfortunes, accumulated in your past lives. Regardless of whether these relationships are favorable or unfavorable, virtuous or unwholesome, or bring blessings or hardships, they all serve as opportunities for greater personal growth and learning. It is through these connections that we can cultivate and advance in our daily lives.
Then, there will be the favorable conditions of good causes and virtuous karma, completely resolving all the retributions and consequences of cause and effect accumulated over countless lifetimes? All are the accumulations from one’s past lives, and also lie in the present moment of this life. In this lifetime, one must courageously face all the misfortunes and evils that arise, enabling oneself to truly and completely resolve and repay them.
Thus, for all sentient beings within the vast universe, if they can fully repay and resolve their karmic debts in this lifetime, they need not repeat the same mistakes in the next. Otherwise, life after life and cycle after cycle, they will be forced to repay once more—a loss that outweighs the gain. It is essential to remain steadfast in completely resolving negative retributions in order to attain true elevation.
And by not creating causes for the next life, nor perpetuating evil causes and their resulting consequences, one can more genuinely bring greater benefits to all karmic relationships—whether good or evil—with spouses, parents, children, siblings, nephews, grandchildren, relatives, friends, and peers.  
Mother, overjoyed, specially descended to the Chongxin Sect lineage system to bestow her congratulations—adding three exhortations of encouragement.
虛空無極瑤池金母娘娘　親降跋三於
The Sacred Teachings of Confucianism, the True Heart School of Buddhism, the Great Dao Academy of the Wuji, and the Revered Heart Hall by Imperial Decree.
On the twenty-first day of the tenth lunar month in the year of Wuzi, during the Xu hour.
Mother Heart extends special congratulations to the Chongxin system on the completion of the great work on karma. Having disturbed the Chongxin lineage for some time to jointly discuss the future direction of salvation, very well! Thank you all for your hard work. Farewell!
The Void, the Boundless, the Venerable Mother of Mount Li
Vast and boundless, truly extraordinary,  
The scenery of Mount Li brings joy and ease.
The Old Mother descends to establish the rules;  
The Goddess and the Universal Great Dao abide.
Guide to the Reader
The Great Dao is the foundation upon which all things rely and to which they return.
It is with the sentient beings of humanity as the foundation that every action and interaction is guided by the law of cause and effect inherent in this world. By aligning one’s conduct with these principles, greater elevation is made possible, offering increased opportunities for growth and fostering a future where human beings may thrive in a life of comfort and well-being.
The Great Dao arises from causes and conditions.
All worldly connections are fulfilled through mutual support between husband and wife, parents and children, siblings, relatives, peers, and friends, who bestow upon one another the blessings of kindness and virtue. This is inherently the way of the Great Dao. In the realm where sentient beings with emotions exist, there will always be good and virtuous connections.
The Dao governs fortune and misfortune.
Human actions and behaviors, within the web of causes, conditions, and karmic retribution, are distinguished as good or evil, blessings or misfortunes. Many beings may thus believe that entering the cycle of cause and effect is inherently unfavorable. Yet they may not realize that there are also blessings to be added, precisely through reverse reinforcement, enabling all sentient beings to grow and learn, and to enjoy the enduring shelter of virtuous blessings.
Those who follow the Great Way receive its benefits.
The propagation and transformation within the human realm rely on education and cultivation as their foundation. Within this framework, it is essential to apply the Three Bonds, Five Constants, Four Virtues, and Eight Ethics. Only through these principles in the human world can one truly benefit oneself and one’s family more profoundly, elevating the wholesome norms for all spiritual beings of humanity, thereby benefiting both oneself and all sentient beings.
Sentient beings of cause and effect:
In the realm of human conduct, actions are distinguished between good and evil, leading respectively to blessings of fortune and calamities of misfortune. This reflects the impartial and equitable nature of cause and effect. All virtuous individuals in the world hope that sentient beings may cease to commit evil within this cycle of karma, transforming misfortune into great blessings to come.
Karma: Good and Bad
In the dynamics of interpersonal relationships and the course of one's own life, involving one's family members to provide mutual support and care is essential. For all relatives, whether they come to repay kindness or to settle debts, it is important to know how to nurture positive connections and swiftly resolve negative or hostile ties. This approach should yield practical and functional benefits.
Karma: The Campaign of Retribution
All blessings and misfortunes are distinguished in this present life within the human realm, where one may encounter various forms of good and adverse karma. How, then, can the inherent goodness and alignment with the Dao within these circumstances be brought to their fullest expression and greatest benefit? Sentient beings must understand the efficacy of the celestial scripture "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect," which enables the resolution and exhaustion of karmic retribution in the human world.
Furthermore, in encouraging each other regarding all blessings of karmic retribution, one can truly remain vigilant throughout all cycles of cause and effect. This prevents the continuous creation of "evil calamities, misfortunes, and bitter fruits," which would become exceedingly difficult to alter—such a path is not one that the wise should follow.
The Meaning Behind the Works on the Great Path of Cause and Effect
This applies to all sentient beings without distinction of nation, religion, sect, or race. All who dwell in this human world are subject to this law of cause and effect. It is the impartial and equal "Great Dao—Cause and Effect" as recorded in the celestial scriptures, and it is the benevolent grace bestowed by Heaven and all enlightened beings.
The Sublimity of the Great Dao's Cause and Effect
This work aims to complement the causal theories not addressed in the "Jade Calendar Treasury" and the "Journeys to Heaven and Hell," enabling all sentient beings to understand where their shortcomings lie. In doing so, they may achieve greater elevation and fulfillment in their own lives, and transform all past mistakes.
The completion and widespread dissemination of the "Heavenly Book of Cause and Effect in the Great Dao" will bring even greater fulfillment to the "Reading Groups" of the Chongxin System's Great Dao Series Heavenly Books, while also further elevating the "Merit Associations." This reflects the hope of the Heavenly Realm that Chongxin's "Great Dao Series Heavenly Books" may be propagated across the world, enabling practitioners to achieve self-realization and guide all sentient beings.
The Great Dao's Anticipation of Cause and Effect:
In this world, all sentient beings and spirits, hindered by their own ignorance, can find guidance through the Celestial Texts of the Dadao series—specifically, "The Sentient Way of Dadao," "The Beings of Dadao," and "The Causality of Dadao." These three volumes are interconnected and, when studied together, offer greater guidance and profound transformation.
Moreover, the education and teachings imparted by the Chongxin Sect lineage system are being propagated and expanded with utmost sincerity and fidelity. This is precisely what the Heavenly Realm anticipates, as well as the aspiration shared by all divine mothers and the immortal Buddhas and teachers. The Great Dao's Karmic Chronicles are nearing completion, encompassing all contributions to their dissemination—be it through participation, authorship, compilation, sponsorship of printing, interpretation, or the distribution of virtuous connections.
The heavens, in response to your diligent efforts, are redirecting future blessings to grant you greater fulfillment and achievement. This provides you with more abundant resources to aid these four hundred million Buddha’s disciples and the ninety-two original souls in their return and transcendence. This ascent and transcendence arise from your own progress, and it is you who will truly reap the benefits.
The Limitless Void, the Venerable Mother of Mount Li, personally descends to bestow the sacred teachings.
The Sacred Teachings of Confucianism, the True Heart School of Buddha, the Great Dao Court of the Infinite, and the Chongxin Hall of the Imperial Decree.
On the twenty-first day of the tenth lunar month in the year Wuzi of the Tianyun cycle, at the hour of Xu.
Thank you all for accompanying the completion of the editorial guidelines, for taking the time with the Chongxin lineage, and for jointly discussing future guidance and fulfillment. Everyone has worked hard. Farewell!
Great Chairman, Sovereign of the Southern Heavens, Holy Emperor Wenheng
A sublime cause and condition brings this about,  
The Void Mother and all deities now ascend together.
Grand Chair of the Chongxin Lineage,  
Honored to Receive the Divine Decree of Heavenly Grace.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and the fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening! Today is a rare occasion, as the Mother of All Beings from the Void Wuji has descended. She has bestowed upon the Chongxin system the prefaces and guidelines for the work "The Causality of the Great Dao," offering her congratulations and encouragement. We are truly grateful for the Mother’s compassionate grace and benevolence, as well as her care and support for the Chongxin lineage and its system.
It is hoped that the publication of this heavenly book, "The Great Dao of Cause and Effect," will bring sentient beings the ability to perfect their family and interpersonal relationships, allowing them to benefit endlessly and create happy, harmonious families. This is the primary task that the Eternal Heavenly Mother has repeatedly entrusted to Vice-Chairman Ma Xiangu within the Chongxin lineage.
It is essential to diligently practice: cultivating together as husband and wife, achieving family harmony, and blessing future generations. Through mutual encouragement, mutual harmony, and mutual fulfillment, a happy and complete family will be realized, jointly creating future growth and transcendence. Thank you all for your hard work. May all be auspicious. Farewell!
2015, 0308, 2025◎＃※   OK;
Vice Chairperson, Immortal Ma
The Deputy Seat of Magu ascends the platform, presiding over the scene;  
The lineage of Chongxin renews its spirit and vitality.
The Book of the Great Dao's Cause and Effect is completed and submitted,  
All sentient beings are intimately united in perfection.
◆ Decree ◆
完書繳旨
Today marks another auspicious and joyous occasion for the Chongxin Dao Lineage. In response to the expectations of Heaven, we have completed and presented the twenty-fifth volume of the Great Dao series—"The Cause and Effect of the Great Dao." This work, through the Chongxin Sect lineage system, aims to guide sentient beings of the future on how to reduce the entanglements of calamities, evil causes, and evil consequences after their existence in the human world.
Granting sentient beings the opportunity for greater elevation and transcendence within the human realm, as well as enabling them to comprehend the profound significance of the "Heavenly Book of Great Dao Cause and Effect"; and as this auspicious day has now arrived, it is fitting for the Chongxin lineage system, which has received the virtuous grace of Shangcang, to complete the "Great Dao Cause and Effect" and submit it in fulfillment of the mandate bestowed by Shangcang, thereby repaying all the fulfillment granted by the heavenly decree.
By decree, dispatch the following from our lineage: the Heavenly Lord of Virtue Transmitted through the Void, the Heavenly Lord of the Void’s Descending Brush, and the Great Heavenly Lord of the Void’s Silver Brush to respectfully receive the Sacred Decree of the Wuji at thirty li beyond, and escort it to the hall. Dispatch the following from our lineage: the Immortal Maiden of the Void’s Rainbow, the Immortal Maiden of Void Spirit Communication, and the Immortal Maiden of Void Spiritual Aperture to respectfully receive the Sacred Decree of the Wuji at twenty li beyond, and escort it to the hall for proclamation. All other deities, Buddhas, disciples, and cultivating scholars of the Wuji Great Dao Institute shall assemble in ranks to await the arrival, maintaining proper decorum without lapse.
Before the Throne of the Infinite, the Mystic Maiden of the Nine Heavens
Before the Limitless Throne, karmic ties run deep,  
By decree of the Mystic Maiden of the Nine Heavens, all is fulfilled.
The great Dao's cause and effect are now complete;  
All sentient beings embody virtue and sincerity.
Today, with a reverent heart descending once more, I am honored to bring forth the sacred decree of the Wuji to proclaim and affirm to all divine and human beings. This is guided by the divine mission of Heaven, steadfastly advancing the dissemination and promotion of the celestial texts of the Great Dao series throughout the universe. With unwavering determination and perseverance, this achievement is truly worthy of celebration and praise, eliciting profound reverence from both gods and mortals.
Imperial Decree Proclaimed
Humbly and respectfully presented.
The Great Celestial Mother of the Wuji decrees:
The Mother resides in the sacred realm of the Heavenly Principle, devising countless methods to aid all beings of the mortal world in their return and ascension. She bestows upon her children who have descended into the mundane the ability to comprehend the truths of heaven and earth, enabling them to cultivate and transcend. For all beings of Jambudvīpa, she ensures a fair and profound heavenly opportunity, and in particular, she once again brings this extraordinary affinity down to the mortal realm.
The Mother's Heart, Taoyuan Yichong Xintang, has been dedicated with utmost care. Since the establishment of Chongxin Hall in the year of Bingzi, not a single detail has been overlooked in the creation of each volume and chapter of the "Great Dao Series Celestial Books." Moreover, upon the completion of every book submission, all efforts have consistently aligned with the expectations of Heaven, achieved through unwavering determination and perseverance. This is the result of the devoted service of all deities and individuals within the Chongxin lineage.
How can we achieve our own fulfillment and also assist all spiritual beings in their return? Thanks to the efforts of the Chongxin system's sages and Buddhas, as well as all its children, this extraordinary celestial opportunity for transcendent return has been accomplished. The Mother's heart is greatly comforted by the dedication of the Chongxin lineage, which has completed and presented the twenty-fifth volume of the Great Dao series, the celestial book "The Causality of the Great Dao," fulfilling its divine mandate. This is truly moving and gratifying.
This distinguished honor and reward shall be inscribed upon the celestial register and proclaimed throughout the world, so that all deities and Buddhas of the Chongxin lineage, along with their children, may have a foundation for future transcendence and return. This achievement is the result of your unwavering dedication and efforts.  
The Mother’s heart is deeply gratified, and she commends the appointed envoy, the Mystic Maiden Immortal, to respectfully deliver three vessels of the Limitless Nectar.
Upon joining the Chongxin Taoist Center, tea was offered to reward all the sacred Buddhas and virtuous children for their toils. Additionally, three levels of merit were bestowed upon the sacred Buddhas of Chongxin to elevate their rewards. Such a scene is truly exemplary. The Mother’s heart is deeply pleased to have gained such a great pillar, who achieves self-fulfillment and aids all spiritual children in returning, transcending, attaining perfection, and ascending further.
The Imperial Mother of the Wuji issues a sacred decree, proclaiming:
The Sacred Teachings of Confucianism, the True Heart School of Buddhism, the Great Dao Academy of the Ultimate, and the Chongxin Hall under the Imperial Decree.
On the twenty-fourth day of the tenth lunar month, during the Xu hour, in the Wuzi year of the Tianyun cycle.
Alas! I truly feel immensely joyful for the Chongxin Sect lineage system, and I also deeply rejoice and admire the excellent guidance of our Wuji sister, Immortal Ma Gu, and all the immortals and Buddhas of the Chongxin Sect lineage. Truly commendable and admirable! The Wuji Sacred Decree has now been proclaimed. I shall swiftly return to the Heavenly Principle and will visit again another day. You have all worked hard. Farewell for now!
Chairman of the Board: Master Xukong
The Supreme Chairperson of the Chongxin Taoist Sanctuary  
The Ceremony of the Ascension of the Void Sage to the Platform
The Book of Great Dao Cause and Effect is completed and submitted,  
Grateful for the grace and benevolent intent of Heaven.
All Saints and Buddhas, students, and the scholars of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening. Today, an imperial decree has been issued from Wuji, expressing full affirmation and appreciation for the system of the Chongxin lineage, acknowledging the diligent efforts of all deities and practitioners within Chongxin.
Having just reverently received the Supreme Ultimate's Sacred Decree, which has now been fully proclaimed, we further welcome the Jade Edict of the Vast Heaven to this hall. It commands the dispatch of the following from our lineage: the Imperial Lord of the Supreme Ultimate City God, the True Lord of the Supreme Ultimate Director of Destinies, and the Honored King of the Supreme Ultimate Vast Grace, to proceed twenty li beyond to reverently receive the Jade Edict of the Vast Heaven.
By decree, the following from our lineage are dispatched: the Wuji International Guanyin Bodhisattva, the Wuji Eastern Isles Guanyin Bodhisattva, the Wuji Purple Robe Silver Sage Guanyin Bodhisattva, and the Wuji Blue Robe Golden Sage Guanyin Bodhisattva, to respectfully receive the Jade Edict of the Vast Heaven at ten li beyond the hall. All other deities, Buddhas, and disciples shall arrange themselves in order to await the arrival, ensuring no breach of decorum.
Heaven's Imperial Envoy, Immortal Elder Li Taibai
The August Heaven's envoy, Li Taibai,  
The Immortal Elder opens the jade decree with the sacred mandate.
Congratulations to the Chongxin Hall lineage; the great path of cause and effect is now fully recorded in the scriptures.
Today, I once again reverently bring the Jade Decree of the Vast Heaven, descending upon the lineage system of the Chongxin Sect. With each issuance of the Jade Decree, I deeply feel that the Chongxin Sect has made substantial progress time and again. Every proclamation of the decree brings profound emotion, as the boundless, far-reaching grace and compassion of Heaven toward sentient beings is manifested through meticulous care and protection.
Now, with the establishment of the Chongxin Sect lineage system, there is an even greater opportunity for fulfillment and elevation. Determined to strive for the upliftment of all sentient beings, the Chongxin Sect has been affirmed by the wise guidance of its sages and Buddhas. It also holds considerable expectations for its disciples, which is truly commendable and praiseworthy. Such rare and auspicious conditions are truly hard to come by! With reverence, the Jade Edict is respectfully received and read, as both deities and humans bow in deep respect.
Imperial Decree Proclaimed
Respectfully Received
The Great Celestial Jade Emperor, the Supreme Sovereign of Mystic Radiance, proclaims by His Jade Decree:
I, the Supreme Sovereign, have observed that among all the religions of Jambudvīpa, those capable of integrating the teachings of the five major faiths are exceedingly rare. Now, by the decree of Heaven, the Yichongxin Hall in Taoyuan, Taiwan, has been established. Since its founding in the Bingzi year, it has been devoted to composing the Celestial Texts of the Great Dao series. Each volume and every edition is dedicated to disseminating the true principles bestowed by Heaven.
To address the deficiencies present in all five major religions today, this initiative offers sincere practitioners who aspire to transcendence an opportunity to seize this divine moment and integrate with the sublime truths. Now, the assembly of saints, buddhas, and disciples at Chongxin Hall are able to serve as the vanguard of the Great Dao—promoting its teachings for the sake of Heaven, the Great Dao, themselves, and all sentient beings.
Expounding the supreme and profound mysteries of the truths of heaven and earth, this is to educate with genuine principles, achieving self-cultivation while also delivering sentient beings. Such conditions are truly worthy of celebration and praise. Moreover, the Chongxin lineage possesses a profoundly significant affinity for the future welfare of sentient beings in the human realm, and it is thus entrusted by the grace of Heaven to serve as an institution for disseminating the new Dharma through the Mahayana tradition.
In the pursuit of greater harmony and integration among Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, and in striving for mutual fulfillment without reservation, the Dadao series has now completed its twenty-fifth volume, "Dadao Causality," which has been submitted as intended. This truly demonstrates the unwavering determination and perseverance of the Chongxin lineage. Each volume has been completed on schedule, and every submission has been made without the slightest omission.
It is highly commendable and praiseworthy, and also acknowledges the dedicated efforts of Master Li Xin Chan Shi, the head of the Chongxin Sect, along with Hall Master Lin Congzhi and Academy Master Lin Meiluan, in their commitment to education and moral guidance. Their work has been further expanded and promoted, benefiting humanity and aiding in its elevation and transcendence. It is hoped that their endeavors will yield even greater harvests and benefits for the return of sentient beings in the future.
Our hearts are filled with joy, and it is only fitting that this extraordinary divine merit be recorded: it shall be proclaimed to the world through the imperial decree, serving as a testament to the future achievements of Chongxin students. For the return of four hundred million future Buddhas and the successful gathering of over two million high-tech talents, there shall be even greater advancement under the wise guidance of Chongxin’s Immortal Buddhism. Accordingly, each merit shall be elevated by three ranks.
It is also affirmed through the implementation of education and culture, which is the system of the Chongxin Sect lineage. In the future, this will bring about another form of dissemination not seen in the past, serving as a great cause in the human world and a foundation for future dissemination. This condition is also meant for you, the vanguard of the Great Dao, as well as for the great sacred duty that should be carried out for the welfare of humanity.
Promoting transformation across the world, achieving self-realization, and guiding all beings toward liberation.
The Supreme Jade Emperor of the Vast Heaven, the Exalted God of Mystical Numinosity, issues a jade decree to
The Sacred Teachings of Confucianism, the True Heart School of Buddhism, the Great Dao Academy of the Wuji, and the Chongxin Hall of the Imperial Edict.
On the twenty-fourth day of the tenth lunar month in the year of Wuzi, during the Xu hour.
Ahaha! The Old Immortal has once again come to Chongxin to bestow the Jade Decree, truly feeling immense celebration and congratulations, and also feeling that Chongxin has received even greater honor. With the Jade Decree bestowed, the Old Immortal swiftly returns to the Heavenly Court to report the completion of the mission. Another day, I shall come again to trouble everyone. Farewell!
Great Chairman, Lord of the Southern Heavens, Holy Emperor of Literary Balance.
Nine cannons resound across the celestial borders,  
As the August Heaven proclaims the jade decree's divine order.
The Immortal Elder of Venus descends in presence;  
The Chairman respectfully escorts, his virtuous intent made manifest.
All Saints and Buddhas, virtuous beings, and fellow cultivators of the Wuji Great Dao Academy, good evening. Today, the Imperial Envoy of the Heavenly Court, Immortal Elder Li Taibai, has descended once again to proclaim the Celestial Jade Edict of the Heavenly Court. This marks yet another occasion, affirming the lineage system of the Chongxin Sect. It is hoped that Chongxin will widely guide sentient beings to return and transcend in the future.
We hope everyone will join together in fulfillment, allowing the Heavens to bestow greater missions upon the Chongxin system. In the future era of technological civilization, may we genuinely elevate and transcend, achieving our own growth to benefit all sentient beings. With this, the twenty-fifth volume of the Dadao series, "Dadao Causality," is now fully completed. Thank you all for your diligent efforts. May all be auspicious, and farewell.