"We
have various options in this world. The universe is not as rigid
and dull as you might think. So, it's really up to you to decide
what you want to do and how much of a load and responsibility you
want to handle. You can do it as long as you don't hurt other people.
God has a few wishes, but we make the choices ourselves. Otherwise,
it would be too boring if everything were predestined. We can change
things, but we must make good changes, and then it is okay.
For
example, this package of tissues in my hand, I can keep it for my
own use, or I can toss the tissues to people in need - two or three
of them. I can toss them in different directions. I can also discard
the packet in the dustbin and then no one can use it. If I keep
it, I am the only one who can use it; however, people can make use
of these tissues if I put some everywhere. In this way, I have many
choices. It's up to me to decide, and that's all right. It's impossible
to say that God has arranged for me to throw this packet of tissues
to a designated person. It can't be like that. The universe isn't
that monotonous; we have many choices.
All
kinds of religions talk about free will, which sometimes brings
harm to many people as well as ourselves and makes us transmigrate.
If we make a good decision, the result will be good, and we'll reap
the benefits. Otherwise, we'll have to shoulder a heavy responsibility
that makes us feel uncomfortable and is very tiresome. Even worse,
we'll have to come back to amend the things we've done wrong, compensate
for the harm that we've done or the losses that all those people
have incurred. That's just the way it is.
It's
true; nothing is really good or bad in the universe, it's only a
cycle. Everyone plays his or her role, and we go back to rest when
the time comes. However, this is not an excuse for us to act irresponsibly.
Certainly, we must choose to do good things because they will benefit
us and others, too; and we won't have to exhaust ourselves with
transmigration. There are many obstacles each time we come here.
It's not definite that we can fix the things we've done wrong within
the periods of time that we're back. Consequently, we have to carry
on this way until all has been amended, and sometimes this takes
thousands of years."
From "Free Will"
News 101, Pearls of Wisdom
Spoken by Supreme Master Ching Hai
3-Day Retreat in Phnom Penh, Cambodia • March 27, 1996
(originally in Chinese)
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