• Why is your organization called "the Society for the Universal Religion Brotherhood"?
• What are the teaching of your organization?
• These values above are simple moralism. Can they really help us solve problems?
• Today's high-tech society is based on solid material. How can you cure the illness of the world with an empty promise?
• According to your answer above, material and spirit may combine together. Then why do we still have Materialism and Spiritualism?
• When did your society begin to advocate your curing methods? Whom do you derive it from?
• Why did your founder want to cure diseases without using medicine?
• Are these words able to cure illness?
• Why do you put forward these words at this moment, not in the past or in the future?
• How can you change the trend or destiny of the world?
• How do you cure disease through a few words?
• Buddhism emphasizes sympathy and that all creatures have a common origin. Do you apply Buddhism to treatment?
• Since everything derives from the same origin, according to your words, why do you allow only the members of your society to practice your curing methods?
• Buddhism is more spiritual. But why did your answer sound so secular?
• Right now those who join a group to learn a skill normally have to pay tuition. Besides, some groups require their members to repeat "Buddha" or magic words for thousands of times. Why do your organization not require these?
• Do you have confidence in curing without using medicine?
• How can you cure diseases through moral words?
• Why do you only teach your members the curing secrets?
• Are the 20 moral values magic words?
• Do you advocate for your Society through treatment?
• Why do you want your patients to convert to your group?
• Do you ask for any rewards?
• Since you do not receive rewards, how do you make a living?
• Which particular curing principle do you follow?
• Isn't it too complicated?
• You say that all religions come from the same origin. But different religions or sects have different books and viewpoints. Are you able to study all of them?
• Despite this, some Buddhists still say that your teaching is not simple and clear. How about your opinions?
• It is usually hard getting to know the secret of other groups. Why is it so easy to get an access to yours?
• Can you treat all diseases with your methods?
• How come you relate treatment to destiny. Isn't it superstition?
• Why do you use light when you practice treatment?
• Is this superstition?
• Why do some people see the universe light, but others do not?
• Why do you set a piece of yellow cloth, not a statue of Buddha, in your temple?
• Why don't other religions adopt similar manners? Are you a false sect or related to evil spirits?
• What are the differences between Buddhism, Christianity, Daoism, Confucianism and Islam?
• Which sect do you emphasize the most?
• So your members may hold different viewpoints?
• Do you practice Zu-Ting (meditation)?
• Isn't eating meat an act of killing that is against the principle of sympathy?
• Other groups mark their sects. Why do you try playing it down?
• What is your daily exercise?
• Why do your members have to Ta-Chuo (meditation)?
• According to your description, isn't life boring and dreadful?

Why is your organization called "the Society for the Universal Religion Brotherhood"?

Answer:

We know that all religious teachings are based on goodness instead of evil. However, owing to traffic inconvenience or other reasons, they divided into different sects and their followers have been involving themselves with strifes. Religious wars sometimes became even more devastating than national wars, because religions usually may prompt a person to fight (unreasonably enthusiastically) to death for his belief.

We have heard that some monk worked really hard to collect the fund for building temples. Some of them even pierce through their collar bones or cut off their fingers to show their determination. There was once a monk who was illiterate and burned his fingers to worship Buddha; finally he became a wise monk, understanding the most difficult teachings of Buddhism. These examples mark the huge impact of religions upon men. Thus, if one religion wants to destroy another religion, the war will turn out a catastrophe.

With the greatest sympathy for human suffering, we founded this organization to promote religious harmony. We believe that people have the freedom to join any sects and to worship their "God" or "Gods", as long as they do not infringe the laws of their countries. There is only one Rule but many ways to reach it. "Every road leads to Rome". There is a man, there is a religion for him. We wish to promote this idea to everyone so that he will finally understand the Rule which leads him to eternity. Affirming this viewpoint, we may get rid of any types of wars and consequently people with different religious beliefs may try to love each other; so do people from different countries. At that time our world may turn into a paradise or heaven.

Our goal is to save the human society from the vicious cycle of killing. Before it is achieved, we will not stop working toward this direction. After we succeed in achieving it, it is easy to proceed to the study on the issue of life and death. When there will be no cheating nor killing, then the world will be in harmony.

All saints and philosophers sympathize with other creatures. Buddha had said, "If all creatures are not able to become equals of Buddha, I would rather be with them in the same level." Likewise Jesus Christ will not enjoy himself in heaven if the world continues to be a hell of wars. We hope that everyone learn to be as merciful as Buddha. If one can reach this stage, he is Buddha. If everyone can reach this, everyone is Buddha and the world will be in peace and harmony.

During his eternal life, Buddha had suffered much in order to save other creatures; he had turned himself into a man, a woman or even animals just for saving them. We believe that Buddhism is better than the teachings of ancient Chinese leaders, Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang. Buddha treated all creatures equally; he adored them, just as parents adore their children. His kindness had been shared to everything in the world. It is with such borderless love that our organization focus on propagating religious peace. Below is a paragraph of maxim: All religions are the same. Except for deserting one's ego, he (she) cannot integrate into the universe nor enjoy the greatest freedom and happiness.

What are the teaching of your organization?

Answer:

We do not have any unique teachings. We take the best parts from the teachings of other religions, such as loyalty and caring from Confucianism, sympathy from Buddhism, love from Christianity and truth and clarity from Islam. These are the moral values we want to hold: loyalty, caring, honesty, justice, perseverance, kindness, piety and humbleness. The doctrine of the "Twenty Characters" (twenty moral values) we teach are 1) Zhong (Loyalty), 2) Shu (Altruism), 3) Lian (Integrity), 4) Ming (Straightforwardness), 5) Der (Magnanimity), 6) Zheng (Uprightness), 7) Yi (Righteousness), 8) Xin (Trustworthiness), 9) Yen (Forbearance), 10) Gong (Impartiality), 11) Bo (Universal Brotherhood), 12) Xiao (Filial Piety), 13) Ren (Benevolence), 14) Ci (Mercifulness), 15) Jue (Comprehension), 16) Jie (Temperance), 17) Jian (Frugality), 18) Zhen (Genuineness), 19) Li (Propriety), 20) Her (Harmony).

These values above are simple moralism. Can they really help us solve problems?

Answer:

They surely do. They are effective not only on solving physical problems but also on handling psychological crisis. The world get sick because people have lost their original moral values. We believe that reimmersing in these values will reclaim the world from the vice.

Today's high-tech society is based on solid material. How can you cure the illness of the world with an empty promise?

Answer:

Modern science emphasizes on material, which causes our contemporary problems. Materialism is physical; while Daoism focuses on Metaphysics. Both of them should be regarded as equally important and should be integrated. If we stress only one approach, problems will immediately come up.

According to your answer above, material and spirit may combine together. Then why do we still have Materialism and Spiritualism?

Answer:

Actually both of them are not completely different, but closely related to each other. We hope that both of the schools may work together to avoid unnecessary clashes or even wars.

When did your society begin to advocate your curing methods? Whom do you derive it from?

Answer:

During ancient times, people had tried to cure disease through praying. The founder of our Society worried that most people would get confused and misled, so he decided to follow the saints of all sect to redeem the universal order. By curing people by Metaphysics, they may be awakened to recover their moral origin.

Why did your founder want to cure diseases without using medicine?

Answer:

Our founder sympathized with those who suffer any types of diseases.

In different stages of our lives we suffer from old age, sickness, loss, tortures, temptation, wantonness impure desires and confusion. Our founder had studied the process of human life and put forward the values which we mentioned formerly. These moral values, or maxims, may not only cure physical illness but turn people into saints or philosophers.

Are these words able to cure illness?

Answer:

Yes. They are able to cure various types of illness, physically, mentally, morally, and ethically. These words are the utmost virtue and energy of the cosmos. This energy surely can cure illness. There have been numerous examples and investigations which demonstrate that mental power is beyond the current knowledge of human beings.

Why do you put forward these words at this moment, not in the past or in the future?

Answer:

We bring the words forward right now, because modern people have been gradually losing their traditional moral values. A human being is like a mini universe, which reflects the tendency and changes of the outside world. If we succeed in changing a person's thought. We are likely to succeed in transforming the trend or the general mentality of the world. Once we achieve this final goal, peace may finally come down with us.

How can you change the trend or destiny of the world?

Answer:

By changing the mentality of the people! The evil of our world was not caused by God or the Rule, but results from hatred in human mind. To end killings and to remove mutual animosity, we have to deal with ourselves and clean up the evil thoughts in our mind.

How do you cure disease through a few words?

Answer:

A doctor should treat his (her) patients with kindness and understanding. We have mentioned that modern people have been overwhelmed by material proofs and fail to feel abstract things. This symptom virtually results from our ways of thinking. The methods invented by our society highlights spiritual level more than on physical areas. We want not only to cure physical diseases, but also to treat spiritual illness and furthermore to save the world or misfortune. Spiritual willing and calmness is essential to fight decease and the results from which are often not explainable by modern science.

Buddhism emphasizes sympathy and that all creatures have a common origin. Do you apply Buddhism to treatment?

Answer:

Buddhism focuses on limitless kindness and acceptance. We pick up and follow the teaching to prompt our ideals. Those who join our society may represent our organization to cure illness.

Since everything derives from the same origin, according to your words, why do you allow only the members of your society to practice your curing methods?

Answer:

Before the world began, Buddha and other creatures are within one unit. After the world began, Buddha and other creatures split into two groups. Those who realize the truth and work to carry it out will become equals of Buddha. Yet those who do not work toward it remain as common creatures, still puzzled and troubled by various types of problems, and do not acquire the ability to cure illness.

Those who join our organization and follow our moral values will, in theory, turn out to be equals of Buddha. The most significant teaching of Buddhism is sympathy. For people who are willing to sympathize with other creatures and do not care whether he (she) will become Buddha's equal or not, their dreams will finally come true. The difference between Buddha and Non-Buddha relies mostly on will power and action, instead of appearance.

Buddhism is more spiritual. But why did your answer sound so secular?

Answer:

Although Buddhism focuses on spiritual spheres, Buddha does not divide the world into a spiritual part and a secular part. To rescue the world, Buddha has to secularize whenever it is necessary. Buddhism is not limited to any proper names or forms. Thus those who follow Buddhism should ignore any rituals but pay attention to its fundamental teachings. Those who believe in Buddhism (Dao) are the seeds of Ru-Lai, that is, harbinger of Buddhism. Buddhism exists in all facets of things throughout the universe. We may try to become equals of Buddha from different approach, sacred or secular.

Right now those who join a group to learn a skill normally have to pay tuition. Besides, some groups require their members to repeat "Buddha" or magic words for thousands of times. Why do your organization not require these?

Answer:

One of our most important objectives is to save all creatures. Gaining profit by receiving tuition has never been our intention. We just want to help people and save as many lives and pains as we can.

Secondly, we want to save the time spent on repeating "Buddha" or magic words for rescuing actions. We focus on actions rather than language. If a person wants to become an equal of Buddha, he (she) does not have to practice any rituals. It is more important that he (she) follows the teachings of Buddhism in daily life and help others. To do is much more important than to say.

Do you have confidence in curing without using medicine?

Answer:

Yes. We absolutely do. Even if we cannot cure them, we will not worsen their conditions. We are able to cure 80% to 90% of our patients. Those whom we cannot cure are destined. Even a magic doctor like Chueh-Pian will not be able to cure all diseases. Diseases may be cured, but lives doomed to death can never be saved.

How can you cure diseases through moral words?

Answer:

The cosmos is not born by accident. It comes from an origin with insurmountable power (Dao, Rule) which governs from the harmony of cosmos to the life and death of individuals. If one follows Dao, he will be physically and mentally healthy. If one disobeys Dao, all kind of trouble will come after him. The 20 Characters are the representation of the Dao, therefore, they can cure the problem of human beings and the cosmos.

Why do you only teach your members the curing secrets?

Answer:

In the history of science development, phonograph was invented earlier than radio was. According to Daoism, feeling comes before correspondence. In terms of Buddhism, only those who have the Predestined luck will be saved. But in Ta-Tseng Buddhism, all creatures are born with the character of Buddha and will all be saved. Some of them may be aware of this, while others may not be so sensitive. According to Buddhism, all things, including rocks and fire, are basically the same. A saint does not necessarily understand the Rule earlier than a pebble.

Are the 20 moral values magic words?

Answer:

These moral values or terms were selected by our organization after we studied hundreds of religious books. Our moral terms are much more powerful than common magic words. These magic words of one sect cannot solve all the human being's problems. Nevertheless, thousands of people have been yearning for them and willing to do anything to get knowing them, such as worshiping gods, or looking for a holy preacher. Most magic words are, however, confined within its sect. Our organization does not focus on magic words; we would rather refer to actions to solve any kinds of problems. We believe our moral values are the most effective in this sense.

Besides, sympathy with all creatures is one of our most important principles. Such broad sympathy will integrate Confucianism, Buddhism, Daoism, Christianity and Islam, enabling us to return to the original human nature. With sympathy, not only shall we be liberated from all forms and doctrines, absorbing ourselves into the universe, but we shall enjoy the furthest freedom and happiness.

Do you advocate for your Society through treatment?

Answer:

Yes. We make good use of curing to advocate our moral values. We treat not only physical symptoms but also psychological problems. When patients and their families came at first, they might suspect us. But after being cured repeatedly, they would trust us and believe our principles.

Why do you want your patients to convert to your group?

Answer:

We have never insisted on converting people to us. We just share our sympathy with any suffering persons.

In spite of this, people who do not have the same insight like ours can never become our members. Sympathy should be advocated as a universal value and be poured into any creatures. Diseases cause pain. How can we ignore the painful cry of our patients when we are able to help them relieve from their illness? Furthermore, people who lose their Virtue suffer even more pain in his deep heart. We treat good people as well as evil ones, bodies and souls. We are not partial.

An immoral person will do anything to hurt others. He (She) may earn lots of money or power, but disasters follow him (her) closely. We have seen that killers always be killed by other killers or imprisoned in jail. We want to stop such a vicious cycle. Due to this understanding, we would like to be with evil people and try our best to change them.

Do you ask for any rewards?

Answer:

No, we don't. We have never asked for rewards. We are glad to spend a little bit of time on treatment purely for conscience sake.

Since you do not receive rewards, how do you make a living?

Answer:

Each member of our society has a career, so we do not need any rewards.

Which particular curing principle do you follow?

Answer:

We follow the teachings of all great saints and philosophers.

Isn't it too complicated?

Answer:

Not at all. I have mentioned that the teachings of all sects are generally the same. Their common rules are sympathy and goodness. If we admire the deeds of saints and heroes, we shall follow the examples they have set.

You say that all religions come from the same origin. But different religions or sects have different books and viewpoints. Are you able to study all of them?

Answer:

Despite a huge amount of religious books, we select the best parts of them to study. Some people say that our teaching is too complicated, but actually it is very simple. We follow Buddha's teaching of ultimate sympathy which spread over all creatures and has no limitation. We pick up the concepts of loyalty and caring from Confucianism, and do our best to make others enjoy what we enjoy. We appreciate the absolute liberation and self-fulfillment of Daoism. We learn the values of repentance, redemption and the virtue of humbleness from Christianity. Real humbleness means that we should always serve others instead of being served. As to Islam, we select its teachings of clarity, truth and the recovery of our innocent nature, which corresponds to the concept of emptiness of Buddhism.

Despite this, some Buddhists still say that your teaching is not simple and clear. How about your opinions?

Answer:

Well, I assume that those people have not read through Buddhism books. The foundation of Buddhism theories lies on overturning all forms and limits, such as egoism and phenomena, the equal status of all creatures and their access to turning themselves into equals of Buddha. Is this complicated and confusing? Since we transcend the limit of phenomenal things, there should be no more barrier between Buddhism and other religions, and no more comparison or standard of judgement. If a person still insists to tell the right from the wrong, he (she) will definitely confuse himself (herself).

Here is a paragraph of maxims: "At the beginning of the world there was nothing right or wrong, no difference between self and others. The ultimate sympathy was the greatest wisdom and all religions share this recognition and were devoted to the redemption of the world. All creatures were equal at the time. They co-existed peacefully and there were no fights. We want to recover this world, skipping away from the cycle of life and death and the argument of right and wrong. We look forward to returning to the old golden days and recover the real us.

It is usually hard getting to know the secret of other groups. Why is it so easy to get an access to yours?

Answer:

Other Groups probably have top secrets, but we don't. You know, the one easiest to get is usually the hardest one to carry through life. Contrarily, the one hardest to get is usually the simplest way to reach eternity. Most people treasure the one hardest to get. However, for a wise person, he (she) will treasure anything, whether it is easy to get or not.

Can you treat all diseases with your methods?

Answer:

We have answered a similar question before. Not all diseases are curable. There is "destined illness" which is contributed to a certain reason. For example, Wei-Mo-Jeh used to get badly sick in order to clean up the sins of people. Other "destined illness" may result from evil spirits. To treat it we have to overcome evil spirits.

We would like to bring forward another paragraph of maxims: "Wei-Mo-Jeh had suffered for the redemption of the world. To defeat evil spirits, we have to remove the evil thoughts within ourselves. We hope that all of you will develop ultimate sympathy, liberate yourselves and integrate with the universe."

How come you relate treatment to destiny. Isn't it superstition?

Answer:

Is is not superstition. It is true that causes and effects are interacted. According to Buddhism, the course of our present life depends on what we did during our former life. And our present behaviors will affect our future lives. Even scientists agree with the cause-effect theory. For instance, if we do not produce electricity, how can we receive them and use them?

Below is a paragraph of maxims: "Things of the world are interdependent. One is a cause, another may be a result. And they form a string of events. Retrospecting this, we expose our interior ego openly and realize our own longings, anguish and happiness."

Why do you use light when you practice treatment?

Answer:

We treat "destined illness" with universe light. If the bad luck is removed, the patients' conditions may improve. The light will find the spirits a new approach to start their own new and better lives, and the patient will get better. This benefits both the patients and the spirits.

Is this superstition?

Answer:

Certainly not. There are people who had seen our treatment and serve for witnesses.

Why do some people see the universe light, but others do not?

Answer:

It depends on individual accomplishments. Those who have better insight and better understanding of Buddhism may see the light, whereas those who do not know much about Buddhism may fail to see the light. But if they work on it, they may see the light someday.

Why do you set a piece of yellow cloth, not a statue of Buddha, in your temple?

Answer:

It indicates that we do not focus on Buddhism only. We are open to all religions, sects and saints.

Why don't other religions adopt similar manners? Are you a false sect or related to evil spirits?

Answer:

Have you ever read that Buddha had picked a particle of sand and displayed numerous worlds through it? This episode is compiled in Hua-Yeng Book. Did you doubt it when you read the story? We have illustrated our treatment, explaining each step, but still you suspect us. We welcome you to join us and find it out yourself.

Buddha and evil spirits co-exist in our world. You may get close to either of them. This completely depends on you. If you do what Buddha had taught, then you will become an equal of Buddha. But if you turn to evil spirits, you will become a peer of them. Look up carefully in Buddhism books, please.

What are the differences between Buddhism, Christianity, Daoism, Confucianism and Islam?

Answer:

Although the religions above have different rituals, their teachings are quite similar. We select the best parts from them, such as "non-self and non-others" of Buddhism, love of Christianity, correspondence of Daoism, fulfillment of Confucianism, clarity and truth of Islam. Their teachings are universal, not confined to a certain region or a certain group of people.

We select the most significant parts of their teachings to form our moral values. We believe that anyone who follow these values will become a saint. Suppose everyone becomes a saint, there will be no more sinners and all of us will enjoy permanent peace and security, and there will be no more killing or injustice.

It is impractical to compare these religions and conclude which one is the best. If we do so, we will break the rule of ultimate harmony and sympathy. Buddha said that we should relieve ourselves from all limits and return to the original point of our nature. Lao-Tze also said that Dao or the Rule is like water flowing downwards and collecting all water drops from streams and make ocean, containing all good and dirty materials without rejecting them. We should also follow the teachings of humbleness and repentance advocated by Christians. To be brief, humbleness means that we should get rid of our arrogance and bias so as to absorb various good teachings.

Which sect do you emphasize the most?

Answer:

We do not emphasize any particular sect. Our members have the right to choose what teachings they like best and follow them.

So your members may hold different viewpoints?

Answer:

We share one point, which is that we have to follow the calls of our conscience. This is the step stone for all our rules.

Do you practice Zu-Ting (meditation)?

Answer:

Yes, we do. Zu-Ting enables us to calm down and focus on one thought. Daoists also have Ta-Chuo (also meditation). Confucianism describe the process as "preparing our hearts as much as we can". Christians have baptism and praying. Muslims have silent worship.

Buddhism highlights in breaking all men-made limits in order to reclaim the origin of things. Daoism marks that Dao or the Rule is like water, which stay low and accommodate everything. Confucianism stresses loyalty and caring, while Christianity advocates unconditional love which demonstrates itself as Jesus died on the crucifix for the sin of the people. Islam emphasizes equality, that is, everyone has an equal opportunity to learn their teaching and to be equal of Buddha.

If the five religions integrate and turn into one new religion, our world will benefit much more than ever.

We hope that everyone may have access to all the wise words and knowledge, and we are trying our best to achieve this goal.

Isn't eating meat an act of killing that is against the principle of sympathy?

Answer:

Neither eating meat nor eating vegetables are against Buddhism. Buddhism is equally open to all creatures, not for vegetarians only. I think whether living on vegetables or not is a personal choice.

Furthermore, both plants and animals are living creatures. If a meat-eater is regarded as a killer, then a vegetarian should also be blamed. Therefore, the point is not on what we eat. If one is forced to change his (her) eating habit, he (she) will feel really uncomfortable, which is indeed against the principle of liberation of our mind and thought.

To hold a religious belief does not mean that we have to follow only certain rituals. We should maintain a broad mind to adopt all kinds of wise words and carry out the spirit of universal sympathy. To be a monk or not, a father or not makes no difference in returning to our origin or Dao.

Other groups mark their sects. Why do you try playing it down?

Answer:

We avoid overheating the topic of sects for some solid reasons. First of all, browsing through nearly all religious books, we have found that their teachings aimed at goodness, peace and integration. When all the religions were just established, their founders did not set any sects. It was the later followers who disagree with one another and divided into different sects, which led to religious clashes and even wars.

Division causes misunderstanding. The followers of Sect A might think that they are the best, while the members of Sect B might not agree with that. As a result, they may fight and forget the highest principle of love or sympathy, which had been the greatest concern of their founders. Now what they want is to defeat the other sect. They were filled with animosity or even hatred and lost their reasoning power.

Therefore we want to play down the differences between sects. Since the earliest teachings of all religions are similar, shouldn't we try to integrate all of them? Shouldn't we manage to avoid religious strife and to create a more friendly environment?

Nowadays, politicians of most countries are trying to avoid wars. As a religious group, we feel that we should contribute to this task, too. When a religious war happens, a lot of people will be killed and so will all sects or religions.

The golden rule of all religions is love. We should not only love followers of all sects, but also help them appease religious conflicts.

Buddha advocated that all creatures and all laws are equal. In accordance with his words, all religions should be equally good. Buddha also prompted people to desert phenomenal limits and to search directly for ultimate freedom. And all sects should put away their prejudice and confinement, opening their minds to a more varied and broader universal religion.

As religious people, we have to look closely at our conscience. If we feel we have done something wrong, we should repent sincerely. We should follow all the wise words and the doings of Buddha, then we will be Buddha.

Human beings have invented advanced weapons to kill their enemies. The hate toward enemies actually results from the fear that enemies will kill us. Now we should propagate the principle of love and sympathy and enhance the establishment of a more peaceful and secure world.

What is your daily exercise?

Answer:

We do not do any special exercise, in addition to reciting our moral terms in the morning and in the evening for ten times, one hundred times or merely once. Whenever we recite the words, we think about their meanings over again. For example, as we recite them in the morning, we shall remind ourselves that we should apply such moral standards to what we are going to do that day. In the evening when we recite them again, we shall reflect on ourselves the deeds we did during the day, repenting our mistakes and making up our mind that we will not make the same mistakes again.

The best way is to call all the members of our families, including our children and employees, and explain the mottoes to them word by word.

Our mottoes encompass with many moral values that people should always keep in mind and apply them frequently. If everyone of us follows the teaching, there will not be any vicious persons and the whole society may prosper in real peace. Eventually, the world will be in peace.

Why do your members have to Ta-Chuo (meditation)?

Answer:

Ta-Chuo is a process of recession, self-examination and refreshment. It aims at cleaning up our vanity and impure desires. Buddhists call this process Zu-Ting. In terms of Daoism, it is Zu-Chuo. Confucians describe it as "deliberate solitude". Christians call it repentance. And our group named it Ta-Chuo.

In colloquial words Ta means sweeping away the "dust" covered over our mind. Chuo means to quiet down our restless life paces. After cleaning up our mind, we will become "refreshed" persons, and all bad desires, such as greed, jealousy, the lust after women and stubbornness, will no longer confuse us. We shall finally recover our pure and original nature.

How can we achieve this spiritual purity? Well, we have to lower the waterial desire. The lust after women often leads to catastrophe. And splendid mansions are usually built with money from unlawful sources. Some rich people spend lots of money building a palace and then marry many wives. They may consider themselves to be very powerful, but in fact may have committed sins and are despised and hated by others.

So we need to Ta-Chuo to reflect upon ourselves thoroughly, repenting deeply for our wrongful doings and trying our best to improve ourselves from inside. Those who are not aware of their sins are most pitiful.

We believe that it is not necessary to build pompous temples. Keeping a clean place will be good enough. The fund for building large temples are usually collected from donation. Some of the donors may earn their money by unlawful manners. If we spend the money they provide to build a temple, it becomes an insult to the gods we worship.

I remember that once I walked outside of a fantastic temple in South Sea one evening. When it was getting dark, all the shining, colorful glasses on the temple turned pitch-black and dirty. In twilight the statues on the wall looked like scaring ghosts. At that moment, I realized that we should transcend all superficial things and look for the real and ultimate goals of our lives.

According to your description, isn't life boring and dreadful?

Answer:

What I just talked about is the joy of life. If everyone carries out our moral values, our world will become a paradise. Will that be boring and dreadful?

Among all the values, I would like to emphasize equality, freedom and love.

Buddha advocated equality among all creatures. In fact all living creatures, including animals, tend to love life and hate death. Even silent plants may enjoy their lives and keep growing. They prosper in the spring and the summer, and may feel bitter about autumn and winter. To this point, all creatures are basically the same and "equal".

Confucius also talked about benefiting both human beings and the other creatures, which put people and all other creatures on an equal level.

In regard with freedom, I mean that most original freedom. When we were just born, we were completely free. But as we grow up gradually, we lose our freedom by and by. The more we learn about the material world, the more we lose.

I believe that human nature has nothing to do with good or bad. It is like water flowing wherever it reaches and needs inducement at times. If a person get good nurture, he (she) will turn out good. If not, the outcome will be different. So parents have to be particularly careful in raising their children.

Freedom must derive from conscience. If our deeds are against the principles of our conscience, we will not enjoy freedom.

The ultimate love is Buddha's sympathy, which extends to all creatures. Buddha had transformed himself into various kinds of creatures in order to save them.

When he intended to save a man, he changed himself into a man. When he decided to save an animal, he turned himself into the same species. Buddha's sympathy indeed marks unconditional love.

Equality, freedom and love compose the joy of our lives. I agree with Charles Darwin's theory of evolution in which he broke down the limits between different species and showed that all creatures are actually equal and closely inter-related, though their appearance may differ a lot. This is exactly what Buddha had said, to establish a world free from the confinement of appearance, differentiation and contradiction. At this moment all creatures are equal and free, able to love each other and this will be the ideal world that the values of love, freedom and equality all come true.

Physical forms are illusions. Life is but a dream. Birth occurs by chance and death hits all of us within one moment. As we realize the truth of existence and free ourselves from the endless cycle of life and death, we shall travel freely around the universe, mingling happily with all creatures.