White Tara said:
“Taking another person’s money or property for oneself, whether by force, theft, or fraud, all violate Buddhist precepts. Most people who commit this precept will be reborn in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts.”
I said:
“In particular, stealing from temples, taking money from the Sangha, or fraudulently using the name of one’s Root Guru to solicit donations from others are all unacceptable.”
In the past, a dharma propagator set up a bank account under the name of “Offerings to Grandmaster Lu.” The account, however, was under the propagator’s own name.
Disciples believed their offerings were going directly to Grandmaster Lu, but in fact the person managing the account was taking all the offerings for themselves.
This continued until one day a disciple asked whether I had received their offerings.
I was speechless.
That was how the deception of this dharma propagator was exposed.
In the past, another dharma propagator deceived us by taking money from a temple under the false pretense that it was for offering to Grandmaster Lu.
The propagator misappropriated all the money.
It was only later, when a temple staff member informed me of the matter, that we realized we had been fooled again!
...
On another occasion, a distinguished guest came from a distant city. This guest was of great importance to the future of our True Buddha School.
We received and attended to him with great courtesy.
However, someone stole his wallet while he was listening to my dharma teaching.
He said:
“There are thieves in your temple!”
I broke out in a sweat.
I would like to ask the thief:
What kind of dharma teachings are you listening to?
***
People without wisdom.
People without conscience.
People without morals.
People without shame.
Only such people would commit robbery, theft, and fraud.
As Buddhist practitioners, we abide by the Five Precepts, and one of them prohibits stealing. We must not violate this precept, and we should avoid any actions that invite suspicion, let alone stealing. Those who engage in theft are not practicing spiritual cultivation and are committing offenses that will lead them to the lower realms. Their names will be listed in the Highly Confidential Register of Those Fallen into the Three Lower Realms.
I, Grandmaster Lu, would say:
“To everyone accumulating wealth: please reflect on your actions. Take a moment to consider these questions in the quiet of the night. Have you gone too far? Have you taken what you do not deserve? Have you been too greedy? Are you still truly pursuing spiritual cultivation?”
Do not deceive yourself.
Do not deceive others.
If you deceive yourself and others, you will fall into the three lower realms, and your name will be on the list.
White Tara said:
“Those who commit theft will end up in the Realm of Hungry Ghosts. Even if they are reborn as humans, they will remain penniless throughout their lives. Because of this, the tendency continues, and they repeat these transgressions over many successive lives.”
I said:
“Some dharma propagators also engage in this kind of misconduct. What kind of dharma are they teaching?”
I said:
“All disciples should be cautious and mindful of dharma propagators who are too greedy!”