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Question 83: IN WHAT WAY DOES MERIT MANIFEST?
Answer: Good karma, blessing or merit, manifests in the following aspects: These are the general aspects in which merit may manifest in one’s life. Read more ⇢
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Question 82: ACCORDING TO BUDDHISM, CAN HUMANS EVOLVE INTO HIGHER SPECIES?
Answer: Influenced by the evolution theory of Charles Darwin (1809–1882), we often believe in a process of evolution from simpler organisms to more complex ones, with humans being the pinnacle of this evolution as of today. However, according to the Law of Karma, the existence of a species is determined… Read more ⇢
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Question 81: ACCORDING TO THE LAW OF KARMA, ANYONE WHO SOWS THE SEEDS OF KARMA WILL REAP A CORRESPONDING AND JUST CONSEQUENCE. SO, IS THE LAW OF KARMA ALWAYS RIGID, OR IS THERE SOME FLEXIBILITY?
Answer: If the Law of Karma were rigid and fixed, it would no longer truly be the Law of Karma, as each person would merely be the product of past Karma, with all circumstances predetermined – even their actions would be regulated like those of a machine. For example, if… Read more ⇢
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Question 80: MANY THINK THAT TO ATTAIN INNER PEACE, ONE MUST NOT BE CONCERNED WITH ANYTHING. DOES THIS LEAD TO IRRESPONSIBILITY?
Answer: This is a crucial point in the practice of meditation and the path to liberation. When the mind becomes tranquil, a subtle wrong view can arise – that one no longer needs to be concerned with anything in the world. This is why many practitioners gradually lose their merit… Read more ⇢
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Question 79: WHAT KARMA LEADS TO HOMELESSNESS?
Answer: Homelessness is a pressing issue in many developed countries. Despite their strength and prosperity, these nations still struggle with a large number of homeless people, which is a distressing sight. The economic reason for homelessness is often due to the loss of a job, which makes it impossible for… Read more ⇢
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Question 78: WHAT IS BUDDHISM’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE CURRENT UNEMPLOYMENT ISSUE IN THE WORLD?
Answer: In the past, unemployment was less of an issue because the natural environment – rivers, forests, and fields – belonged to everyone. Anyone who puts in effort could find a means of living through natural resources. Today, however, society has become more organized, with strict regulations and systems, people… Read more ⇢
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Question 77: THERE ARE HERMITS WHO PRACTICE IN SOLITUDE, AND ASCETICS WHO SUBJECT THEMSELVES TO A LIFE OF DEPRIVATION (AUSTERITY). WHAT VALUE DOES THIS HAVE FOR ENLIGHTENMENT?
Answer: Human life typically requires the support of companions to ease the burdens of life and a certain level of material comfort to reduce hardships. Therefore, solitude and material deprivation are generally seen as forms of suffering for people. Some ascetics, after attaining certain spiritual abilities, demonstrate a greater capacity… Read more ⇢
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Question 76: THE WORLD TODAY IS MORE STRESSFUL THAN IN THE PAST DUE TO TECHNOLOGY DRIVING PEOPLE TO WORK AT A FAST PACE. PEOPLE ARE CONSTANTLY SEEKING WAYS TO RELAX AND REDUCE THEIR ANXIETY. WHAT IS BUDDHISM’S PERSPECTIVE ON HUMAN STRESS IN THIS MODERN ERA?
Answer: We experience stress for two main reasons: first, due to our desires, and second because our merit is insufficient to meet the demands of life. Stress and anxiety caused by desire are fundamental aspects of psychology. One of the purposes of Buddhist practice is to address this. By eliminating… Read more ⇢
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Question 75: IF WE BELIEVE THAT WEALTH AND POWER COME FROM HAVING DONE MANY GOOD DEEDS IN PAST LIVES, WHICH IMPLIES HAVING A GOOD HEART, THEN WHY ARE SO MANY WEALTHY AND POWERFUL PEOPLE ALSO RUTHLESS AND CRUEL?
Answer: Great merit comes from doing things that benefit many people. One might perform such good deeds because of their genuine virtues, but sometimes these deeds are done unintentionally without a strong moral basis. For example, imagine you are an officer required to follow orders from a superior to build… Read more ⇢
ABOUT THE AUTHOR JANNA
JANNA is the pen name of a certain monk who does not wish to use his real name. He is likely mature enough to understand that fame, wealth, and glory are as fleeting as morning mist.
In Pali, “JANNA” means purity, so it’s unclear which country he’s from. However, he seems to have studied the Nikaya scriptures.
Although he writes about Buddhism, he appears to desire unity with other religions to contribute to the cause of world peace. He attempts to demonstrate how differences can complement one another…
BUDDHISM FOR BEGINNERS 