Is the "cause and effect" often mentioned in Buddhism really superstition?

All kinds of religions and philosophies in the world, ancient and modern, Chinese and foreign, all admit the existence of "cause and effect" explicitly or implicitly. In the eastern world, such as China and India, people have a deeper recognition of "cause and effect". In particular, the main theory of Buddhism is based on the theory of "three generations of cause and effect, six points of karma" At the end of this article, I will make a simple explanation of the truth of "cause and effect" with my own humble opinion.

What is "causality"?

What is "causality"? Cause and effect are two independent but closely related things. In short, "cause" is a starting factor or function, and "fruit" is a result or phenomenon caused by the function of this "cause", and this "fruit" may become another "cause" of "fruit" and continue. Causality is often complicated, interlocking and endless. One reason may lead to many fruits, and many reasons may also lead to one fruit. The mind is in the category of cause and effect, and it changes endlessly. Matter and spirit can be intertwined, and there is no fixed law to be found. I'm afraid even the fastest computer equipment in the world today can't be easily calculated.

The "cause and effect" that is often said in the western civilized world is also related to cause and effect.

"Causality" in the Material World

For example, if you hit a ball hard on the ground, it will rebound immediately after landing. In this process, hitting the ball down is the "cause" and the rebound of the ball is the "result". Because the spare capacity is not exhausted, the ball will continue to rebound until it is exhausted, so we can also see a series of causal reactions.

We planted a cucumber seed in the soil, after fertilization, watering, sunbathing and so on, after a period of time, the melon seeds began to sprout, grow into herbs, then bloom, and finally the cucumber matured. Sowing here is the cause, and in order to get the expected effect, other chain causes such as fertilization and watering have been added. These follow-up reasons or chain reactions (fertilization and watering, etc. The initial cause (sowing) is usually called "fate", and the final fruit is "fruit". This example of causality is not so obvious.

In fact, we are experiencing "cause and effect" anytime and anywhere. When we clap our hands on the desktop, we will immediately cause a sensation. Clapping your hands on the desktop is "cause" and the echo is "effect"; When the temperature drops below freezing point, the water on the ground will gradually freeze. If there is enough water in the sky, it may snow. The temperature drop is the "cause", and the ground freezing and the snow in the sky are the "results". Eating unsanitary food is the "cause" and diarrhea is the "result"; Drifting trees are the "cause" and debris flow is the "result"; Airflow (cause) is wind (effect); One plus one (cause) equals two (result); The poem "seeing cattle and sheep at the wind and grass" is a standard causal expression. The wind is the cause, the grass is low and the grass is low, which forms another cause, thus contributing to the result of watching cattle and sheep. There are "reasons" everywhere, "results" everywhere, and the list goes on.

The initiation of any action at any time and place is a "cause", and the reaction produced by this action is its "result". After careful scrutiny, it is not difficult to find that any phenomenon has its reasons, that is, the "causal" relationship. Nothing is an exception and it is not mysterious at all.

"Causality" in the Spiritual World

Everything in the material world has its "cause" and its "effect", and the spiritual world is no exception! Because spirit and matter are closely related and inseparable. It's just the "cause and effect" of the spiritual world, which is not so immediate and obvious. Although it is often difficult to detect or confirm, we cannot deny its existence.

What we usually call "good is rewarded with good, and evil with evil"; "There must be Qing Yu in a good house, and there must be many disasters in a bad house"; "Those who are near the ink are black, and those who are near the ink are black"; "Skynet is long, sparse but not leaking"; "Young people don't work hard, but the elderly are sad"; "Use books, hate less"; "Don't bother. One point of harvest "; "There is no such thing as a free lunch" and so on. , are explaining the cause and effect, so as to persuade people to do good.

Give a few obvious examples. For example, if you study hard, you will get better grades. Having a big temper (cause) leads to a heart attack (result); Everywhere with people haggle over every ounce (cause), the result is still their own (fruit); I did a good thing outside today and I felt very happy when I came back. Doing a good deed is the cause, and feeling happy is the initial result. Maybe there will be follow-up results later, but we are not aware of them.

However, some "causes" grow its "fruit" invisibly, and its development direction is not easy to infer with common sense, and it is not easy for ordinary people to detect. For example, a man risked his life to save others' lives, but one day later, he survived a fatal car accident. Or pay money to help the poor treat diseases (causes) and thus get healthier bodies (fruits). This causal evolution is very inferred and confirmed. Moreover, some "causes" take a long time to bear "fruits", often spanning this life and even going through several fates. Such causes and effects are even unknown to ordinary people. Just like planting a vegetable, it takes about a month or two to mature. However, it takes several years to plant an apple tree to bear more mature fruit, although this is a causal example in the material world. It takes the same time to explain the causal relationship between spirit and behavior.

Not only the good and evil of our actions have cause and effect, but also our thoughts and intentions fall into cause and effect. A good idea, a bad idea or an idea without memory has its considerable development.

Here, it is convenient and easy to understand only by separating matter from spirit. In fact, matter and spirit are one, mutually causal and inseparable.

"Three Causes" and "Six Points of Industry Wheel"

In addition to many known "cause and effect" in the field of human physical chemistry, life is full of incomprehensible facts, such as: some people are born beautiful, while others are born ugly. Why? Some people are born rich, while others are born poor. Why? Some people will die, some people will die. Why? Why is there an unfortunate air crash, in which most passengers were killed, but one person survived unscathed? Some people are very happy, while others are bored. Why? . We can write countless strings of "why?" It is not easy to see the answer. Some can be said to be cultivated by the acquired environment, and some are born. How to explain this?

Some people say that God or God created it. Since both were created by God or God, why is there such a big difference? On what basis does God issue different treatments? These problems can be pursued forever, endlessly.

Buddhism is explained by the principle of "three generations of karma". Even from the current scientific point of view, this theoretical basis is more logical, self-evident and more tenable. "Three" refers to "past, present and future", while "past" includes endless years from the end, and "future" also includes endless cycles of cause and effect. In the third part, wave after wave, it continues to extend and never ends. In this way, all the above problems can be logically explained. Everything born in this life is caused by the "cause" created in previous lives, and everything created in this life may not germinate until the afterlife.

After understanding the "three causes and effects", it is not difficult to understand the "six divisions in the wheel of karma". If "cause and effect" only exists in one person's life, many facts will not be explained. For example, some good people have done countless good things in their lives, and they have no good end in the end, while a big traitor has done countless bad things, but he can die a natural death. Where is the "cause and effect" of this kind of phenomenon? Without the "six divisions in the wheel of karma", it is meaningless.

There are two words that are well said, namely, "If you want to know the causes of past lives, you will suffer in this life;": : If you want to know the fruit of the afterlife, you will do it in this life. "The truth of causal reincarnation is all in it!

Therefore, we can also say that "six major divisions in the industry wheel" is the surface of "three causes". Without the "three causes", there is no need for the existence of the "six major divisions of the industry". Therefore, some people say that Thaksin believes in "cause and effect" and does not believe in "reincarnation". Is it not contradictory?

Cause and effect is not fate.

"Destiny" is destiny takes a hand, and it can't be changed anyway. The cursed cannot live, and the living cannot die. Everything is resigned to fate, and there is no room for manoeuvre.

But "cause and effect" is somewhat different. Although, after a "karma" is issued, it will indeed lead itself to the direction of karma, as long as it has not reached the position before karma, we still have a chance to start from karma, and maybe we have a chance to save it, just like after planting the next (karma), plants (fruits) can't grow up without fertilization and watering. Even if the karma is deep and needs retribution, it is possible to reduce the damage caused by the karma, or to do good deeds and get retribution another day. It is definitely not helpless.

In fact, to solve the problem of causality, we must start with "cause" or "fate" in order to be effective. Once the results appear, even the Buddha and Bodhisattva can do nothing.

"Evil is rewarded with evil, and good is rewarded with good."

"Bodhisattva fears cause, ordinary people fear fruit", why? Because ordinary people who don't know the causal interests are always spreading evil causes, but they are unconscious. When the results are presented, it's too late to regret! Therefore, it is afraid of fruit. Bodhisattva knows cause and effect very well. If you accidentally give birth to the slightest evil cause, there will be bad consequences in the future. So, in terms of cause, you are afraid of it, for example.

In dealing with causality, Buddhists have two wise sayings, that is, "don't do evil, do good." Its meaning is simple and everyone can understand it, but it is difficult to do. However, we can't stop doing it because of its difficulties. Everything should be dedicated to me, with a clear conscience. In addition, there are two sentences that can also be used as our motto, that is, "don't do it with the small good, don't do it with the small evil."

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