Such is the Cause, Such is the Effect2013-01-10
A Dharma Talk given by DM Heng Rung
English Translation By Lotus Lee
Today we are having a Buddha Recitation Ceremony. If we recite the Buddha’s name and are always mindful of the Buddha, then we will definitely see the Buddha in the future. As we recite the Buddha’s name here today and plant this cause, we will have hopes of becoming a Buddha in the future.
The basic principle of Buddhism is cause and effect. We reap what we sow. Today I am going to tell a short story for everyone. All of you kids please listen carefully, this is a very good story. It is said that when the Buddha was alive and was at Shravasti, one day, after the Venerable Ananda had finished eating and was strolling in the woods, he thought of a question. Does everyone know about Ajnatakaundinya and the other four Bhikshus? They are mentioned in many sutras. The Venerable Ananda thought, when the Buddha first became enlightened and spoke the Dharma for the very first time, why did he cross over these five Bhikshus first? What was the reason? And what was the cause and conditions? The Venerable Ananda then left the woods and went to find the Buddha to ask his question.
At this point, after the Venerable Ananda had bowed to the Buddha, he asked, “World Honored One, please tell me what is the reason for this. Why were Ajnatakaundinya and the other four Bhikshus so lucky? Why were they the first five people to hear the Buddhadharma and to realize fruition?”
The Buddha then told about this cause and condition. A long, long time ago, the world system of Jambudivpa had 84,000 countries. All of these countries were ruled by a king, whose name was Compassionate Power. This king was very compassionate and kind, and often cultivated the Buddhadharma according to the Buddha’s teachings. In the 84,000 countries that he ruled, he set a law that all of the citizens had to be vegetarians and uphold the ten wholesome deeds.
Since all of the citizens in the countries cultivated the ten wholesome deeds, there were no bad and evil people. At that time, there were five yakshas. Do you know what yakshas eat? They feed on the blood and energy of bad people. Since all of the people in these 84,000 countries were good people, the yakshas were unable to get close to them, so they had nothing to eat. They came to see King Compassionate Power and told him, “Because of your benevolent way of ruling the countries, all of your people are law-abiding citizens, so we don’t have anything to eat. Since you are so compassionate, you should rescue us too!” After the yakshas had told the king their request, the king sympathized with them, and agreed to fulfill their request.
Do you know what the king did? He cut himself on five different spots on his body, and the blood began to flow out from these five spots. The five yakshas used containers to catch the blood, and drank it. After the yakshas had finished drinking the king’s blood, the king expounded the Dharma for them and told them not to do evil; and instead, to learn the Buddhadharma and practice the ten wholesome deeds. He also told the five yakshas, “Not only did I give my blood and energy to you, but I hope that when I become a Buddha, I will also use the Buddhadharma to cross over you.”
If any of you guessed that the king Compassionate Power was the World Honored One in one of his past lives, then you’re right. The Buddha vowed to cross over these five yakshas in many lifetimes, so when he became a Buddha, he naturally crossed over the five yakshas first. This is an example of “Such is the cause, such is the effect.” As Buddhists, we have to know what is cause and effect. When we have the concept of cause and effect in our minds, then we will not make unnecessary mistakes.
