In the book Highly Confidential Register of Those Fallen into the Three Lower Realms, several notable people were listed, whose names I will not disclose.
One was a “treasurer,” who was in debt and consequently embezzled the trust fund and fled. My goodness! The money he misappropriated belonged to a cultivation venue!
One was a “chapter chairperson,” who changed the shared ownership of the cultivation venue to a private ownership, which meant that the entire cultivation venue was taken over as personal property.
One was a “dharma propagator,” who devastated an entire temple, left True Buddha School, and disappeared into the unknown.
The list goes on.
All of them are listed in the Highly Confidential Register of Those Fallen into the Three Lower Realms.
In the past, I have mentioned in my dharma talks:
“Public security is comparatively better in Japan, there are relatively fewer robbers and thieves. Why is that? It is because the Japanese are educated from a young age not to take things that do not belong to them!”
It is that apparent.
It is that simple.
It is that pure.
However –
Why is it that some people can never learn?
***
I have once said this to people:
“One is Buddhadharma that liberates one from life and death, another is a gilded shining temple. Which of these two would you choose?”
Those with wisdom, would choose “release from life and death.”
Those with a malfunctioned mind, would choose “temple property.”
Thus, I would say the key points of Buddhism are:
A transcendental mind of renunciation.
A mind of bodhicitta.
Right views and the Middle Path.
If cultivators in this world quarrel endlessly over temple property or even take them illegally, should they not feel ashamed? This is really absurd.
Temples are material objects.
Temples are situated on the great earth.
Temples are no longer in your posession after death.
Temples, chapters, organizations, wealth, and assets are all like this.
Hence, in the heart of Grandmaster Lu, there exists only the teachings of Buddha; the mind rests on the extraordinary unsurpassed enlightenment. Apart from this, what else truly matters?
All beings should understand the importance of not becoming attached to worldly affairs, material possessions, money, and property.
If one fails to cultivate a transcendental mind of renunciation, and instead craves for these worldly desires, then it signifies a breaking of the precepts!
White Tara mentioned in the book, “In particular, the karmic consequences from stealing public resources and property intended for spiritual growth will be far more severe.”
In hell:
That “treasurer” will be made to swallow molten copper, scorching his throat.
That “chapter chairperson” will be immersed in a pot of boiling oil.
That “dharma propagator” will have to undergo the daily torture of a flywheel cutting his brain open, due to his malfunctioned mind.
……
Have you not heard this verse?
If a single grain of rice carries such weight, how would you possibly be able to pay back the money and property belonging to a cultivation venue, a whole chapter, or an entire temple?
Please sincerely reflect during the quiet hours of the night. The things that you enjoy in the secular world, the things you use, eat, and sleep upon – are these what you deserve?
Are you really cultivating?
Do you have a conscience?
Or, are you pretending to cultivate as a way to amass wealth? Are you deceiving others by wearing a facade while engaging in dishonest practices? If so, this would sow the seeds for a future existence in the three lower realms.