Pháp trong phật giáo là gì năm 2024

Truyền thống Theravāda liệt kê chỉ một pháp không điều kiện đó là Niết-bàn, và 81 pháp điều kiện: bốn đại, bốn đại phái sinh; năm căn; năm trần; hai khía cạnh giới tính (nam và nữ); trái tim là yếu tố duy trì đời sống; hai loại vô biểu sắc (avijñaptirūpa); một sức mạnh vật chất; không gian; ba tính chất của thân (nhanh nhẹn, linh hoạt và uyển chuyển); ba đặc tính của các pháp có điều kiện (hình thành, duy trì, và suy tàn); thực phẩm vật chất; 53 yếu tố tâm, bao gồm 25 thiện, 14 bất thiện và 13 trung tính; và thức.

Nhất thiết hữu bộ khẳng định rằng tất cả pháp điều kiện là thực có (chúng có mặt vì chúng xảy ra) và rằng chúng có đặc tính tồn tại, kéo dài trong một khoảng thời gian ngắn, và lại biến mất để tái xuất hiện trong một hình thức mới được quyết định theo nghiệp. Họ cũng cho rằng các pháp tồn tại trong ba thời kỳ: quá khứ, hiện tại và tương lai.

Thuyết xuất thế bộ (Lokottaravāda), một chi phái thuộc Đại chúng bộ (Mahāsāṃghika), xem tất cả pháp là không thật và cho rằng chỉ những pháp vô vi là thật. Thuyết giả bộ (Prajñaptivāda), một chi phái khác thuộc Đại chúng bộ, cho rằng 12 xứ là không thật bởi vì chúng là sản phẩm của các uẩn, là những thực thể thực có duy nhất. Những người Kinh lượng bộ (Sautrāntika) thừa nhận sự hiện hữu của suy nghĩ nhưng bác bỏ phần lớn những pháp tương ưng và tất cả những pháp bất tương ưng hành, phủ nhận thực tại của quá khứ và tương lai, và khẳng định rằng chỉ hiện tại có mặt. Họ cũng bác bỏ sự có mặt của những pháp không điều kiện, xem chúng chỉ là những thứ không có mặt. Trung quán tông (Mādhyamika) bác bỏ hoàn toàn thực tại sau cùng của các pháp. Duy thức tông (Vijñānavāda) thừa nhận tâm như là thực tại duy nhất (cittamātra) và xem tất cả sự có mặt hiện tượng là sự phản chiếu ảo ảnh của tâm. Cuối cùng, một thể thức Phật giáo nổi tiếng thể hiện khía cạnh triết học liên hệ với việc phân tích chúng sanh theo các pháp: “Bất kỳ những gì sinh khởi từ một nguyên nhân, Như Lai nói đến nguyên nhân của chúng, và cũng giải thích sự chấm dứt của chúng”.

Đăng Nguyên

____________________

TÀI LIỆU THAM KHẢO

- Vasubandhu, Abhidharmakośa.

- Stcherbatsky, The Central Conception of Buddhism and the Meaning of the Word “Dharma”, Delhi, 1970.

- A Buddhist Manual of Psychological Ethics: Dhammasangani, translated by C. A. F. Rhys Davids, London, 1923. A.

- K. Warder, “Dharmas and Data”, Journal of Indian Philosophy 1 (1971), tr. 272–295.

Bhuti, Tsewang. “Klong rdol bla ma’s List of 108 Dharmas of Prajnaparamita and the Commentary.” Tibet Journal 25, no. 3 (2000): 48–68.

- Cox, C. Disputed Dharmas, Early Buddhist Theories on Existence: An Annotated Translation of the Section of Factors Dissociated from Thought from Sanghabhadra’s Nyayanusara. Tokyo, 1995.

- Dessein, Bart. “Dharmas Associated with Awarenesses and the Dating of the Sarvastivada Abhidharma Works.” Asiatische Studien 50, no. 3 (1996): 623-651.

- Frauwallner, E., S. F. Kidd, and E. Steinkellner. Studies in Abhidharma Literature and the Origins of Buddhist Philosophical Systems. Albany, 1995. Ganguly, S. Treatise on Groups of Elements: The Abhidharma-dhatukaya-padasastra: English Translation of Hsüan-tsang’s Chinese Version. Delhi, 1994.

- Mejor, M. Vasubandhu’s Abhidharmakosa and the Commentaries Preserved in the Tanjur. Stuttgart, 1991.

According to Buddhism, dharma means Buddhist doctrine or teachings. The teaching of the Buddhas which carry or hold the truth. The way of understanding and love taught by the Buddha doctrine. The Buddha taught the Dharma to help us escape the sufferings and afflictions caused by daily life and to prevent us from degrading human dignity, and descending into evil paths such as hells, hungry ghosts, and animals, etc. The Dharma is like a raft that gives us something to hang onto as we eliminate our attachments, which cause us to suffer and be stuck on this shore of birth and death. The Buddha’s dharma refers to the methods of inward illumination; it takes us across the sea of our afflictions to the other shore, nirvana. Once we get there, even the Buddha’s dharma should be relinquished. The Dharma is not an extraordinary law created by or given by anyone. According to the Buddha, our body itself is Dharma; our mind itself is Dharma; the whole universe is Dharma. By understanding the nature of our physical body, the nature of our mind, and worldly conditions, we realize the Dharma. The Dharma that is the law of beginningless and endless becoming, to which all phenomena are subject according to causes and conditions. The Dharma, which comprises the spoken words and sermons of Sakyamuni Buddha wherein he elucidated the significance of the Unified Three Treasures and the way to its realization. The Dharma, the teaching imparted by the Buddha. All written sermons and discourses of Buddhas (that is, fully enlightened beings) as found in the sutras and other Buddhist texts still extant. Also according to Buddhism, the teachings of the Buddha are divided into three periods (of Dharma): The Correct Dharma, the Period of Semblance Dharma, and the Degenerate Age of Dharma.

Generally speaking, dharma means things, events, and phenomena. Dharma also means duty, law or doctrine. The Dharma also means the cosmic law which is underlying our world, but according to Buddhism, this is the law of karmically determined rebirth. The Dharma that is the law of beginningless and endless becoming, to which all phenomena are subject according to causes and conditions. When dharma means phenomenon, it indicates all phenomena, things and manifestation of reality. All phenomena are subject to the law of causation, and this fundamental truth comprises the core of the Buddha’s teaching. Dharma is a very troublesome word to handle properly and yet at the same time it is one of the most important and essential technical terms in Buddhism. Dharma has many meanings. A term derived from the Sanskrit root “dhr,” which” means “to hold,” or “to bear”; there seems always to be something of the idea of enduring also going along with it. Originally, it means the cosmic law which underlying our world; above all, the law of karmically determined rebirth. The teaching of the Buddha, who recognized and regulated this law. In fact, dharma (universal truth) existed before the birth of the historical Buddha, who is no more than a manifestation of it. Today, “dharma” is most commonly used to refer to Buddhist doctrine and practice. Dharma is also one of the three jewels on which Buddhists rely for the attainment of liberation, the other jewels are the Buddha and the Samgha. Etymologically, it comes from the Sanskrit root “Dhri” means to hold, to bear, or to exist; there seems always to be something of the idea of enduring also going along with it. The most common and most important meaning of “Dharma” in Buddhism is “truth,” “law,” or “religion.” Secondly, it is used in the sense of “existence,” “being,” “object,” or “thing.” Thirdly, it is synonymous with “virtue,” “righteousness,” or “norm,” not only in the ethical sense, but in the intellectual one also. Fourthly, it is occasionally used in a most comprehensive way, including all the senses mentioned above. In this case, we’d better leave the original untranslated rather than to seek for an equivalent in a foreign language.

According to Buddhism, dharma means Buddhist doctrine or teachings. The teaching of the Buddhas which carry or hold the truth. The way of understanding and love taught by the Buddha doctrine. The Buddha taught the Dharma to help us escape the sufferings and afflictions caused by daily life and to prevent us from degrading human dignity, and descending into evil paths such as hells, hungry ghosts, and animals, etc. The Dharma is like a raft that gives us something to hang onto as we eliminate our attachments, which cause us to suffer and be stuck on this shore of birth and death. The Buddha’s dharma refers to the methods of inward illumination; it takes us across the sea of our afflictions to the other shore, nirvana. Once we get there, even the Buddha’s dharma should be relinquished. The Dharma is not an extraordinary law created by or given by anyone. According to the Buddha, our body itself is Dharma; our mind itself is Dharma; the whole universe is Dharma. By understanding the nature of our physical body, the nature of our mind, and worldly conditions, we realize the Dharma. The Dharma that is the law of beginningless and endless becoming, to which all phenomena are subject according to causes and conditions. The Dharma, which comprises the spoken words and sermons of Sakyamuni Buddha wherein he elucidated the significance of the Unified Three Treasures and the way to its realization. The Dharma, the teaching imparted by the Buddha. All written sermons and discourses of Buddhas (that is, fully enlightened beings) as found in the sutras and other Buddhist texts still extant.

To Buddhist theories, nothing is real and permanent, the five aggregates make up beings, pillars and rafters make a house, etc. All is temporal and merely phenomenal, fallacious, and unreal. Names are only provisionary symbol or sign. All dharmas are empirical combinations without permanent reality. All things are false and fictitious and unreal names, i.e. nothing has a name of itself, for all names are mere human appellations. In the Lankavatara Sutra, the Buddha reminded Mahamati: “Mahamati! As they are attached to names, images, and signs, the ignorant allow their minds to wander away.” Things which exist only in name, i.e. all things are combinations of other things and are empirically named. All things or phenomena are combinations of elements without permanent reality, phenomena, empirical combinations without permanent reality. The phenomenal which no more exists than turtle’s hair or rabbit’s horns.

According to the Prajnaparamita Heart Sutra, the basic characteristic of all dharmas is not arising, not ceasing, not defiled, not immaculate, not increasing, not decreasing. The Buddha says: “He who sees the Dharma sees me.” Dharma means the teaching of the Buddha. Dharma also means the doctrine of understanding and loving. Dharma means the doctrines of Buddhism, norms of behavior and ethical rules including pitaka, vinaya and sila. Dharma also means reflection of a thing in the human mind, mental content, object of thought or idea. Dharma means factors of existence which the Hinayana considers as bases of the empirical personality. According to Prof. Junjiro Takakusu in The Essentials of Buddhist Philosophy, the word “Dharma” has five meanings. First, dharma would mean ‘that which is held to,’ or ‘the ideal’ if we limit its meaning to mental affairs only. This ideal will be different in scope as conceived by different individuals. In the case of the Buddha it will be Perfect Enlightenment or Perfect Wisdom (Bodhi). Secondly, the ideal as expressed in words will be his Sermon, Dialogue, Teaching, Doctrine. Thirdly, the ideal as set forth for his pupils is the Rule, Discipline, Precept, Morality. Fourthly, the ideal to be realized will be the Principle, Theory, Truth, Reason, Nature, Law, Condition. Fifthly, the ideal as realized in a general sense will be Reality, Fact, Thing, Element (created and not created), Mind-and-Matter, Idea-and-Phenomenon, reflection of a thing in the human mind, mental content, object of thought or idea, and factors of existence which the Hinayana considers as bases of the empirical personality. According to the Madhyamakas, Dharma is a protean word in Buddhism. In the broadest sense it means an impersonal spiritual energy behind and in everything. There are four important senses in which this word has been used in Buddhist philosophy and religion. First, dharma in the sense of one ultimate Reality. It is both transcendent and immanent to the world, and also the governing law within it. Second, dharma in the sense of scripture, doctrine, religion, as the Buddhist Dharma. Third, dharma in the sense of righteousness, virtue, and piety. Fourth, dharma in the sense of ‘elements of existence.’ In this sense, it is generally used in plural. The Teachings of the Buddha are divided into three major periods (of Dharma).

The First Period Is the Correct Dharma: The correct dharma age is the era when the Buddha dwelled in the world. At that time the Buddha taught the Dharma, and there were genuine Arhats, great Bodhisattvas, and the sages who appeared as great disciples of the Buddha. The real period of Buddhism which lasted 500 years (some says 1,000 years) after the death of the Buddha (entered the Maha-Nirvana). Although the Buddha was no longer in existence, His Dharma and precepts were still properly practiced and upheld. Furthermore, there would be many Buddhists who had light karma and their mind were intrinsically good, therefore, many of them would attain enlightenment in their cultivation. From eighty to ninety out of one hundred cultivators would attain enlightenment. That is to say there were true and genuine practitioners who attained enlightenment. In the Lankavatara Sutra, the Buddha said: “Mahamati! When the right doctrine is comprehended, there will be no discontinuation of the Buddha-family.” The Correct Dharma Period is also a period when the right or true doctrines of the Buddha are utilized in cultivation such as the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. In the Mahamaya Sutra, the Buddha prophesied: “After I enter the Maha-Nirvana, one hundred years later, there will be a Bhikshu named Upagupta who will have the complete ability to speak, elucidate, and clarify the Dharma similar to Purna Maitrayaniputtra. He will aid and rescue infinite sentient beings. In the following one hundred years (two hundred years after the Buddha’s Maha-Nirvana), there will be a Bhikshu named Silananda, able to speak the crucial Dharma discerningly and will aid and save twelve million beings in this Jambudvipa continent (the earth). In the following one hundred years (or three hundred years after the Buddha’s Maha-Nirvana), there will be a Bhikshu named Hsin-Lien-Hua-Ran, who will speak the Dharma to aid and save five hundred thousand beings. One hundred years after Hsin-Lien-Hua-Ran (four hundred years after the Buddha’s Maha-Nirvana), there will be a Bhikshu named Niu-k’ou, who will speak the Dharma and rescue ten thousand beings. One hundred years after Niu-K’ou (five hundred years after the Buddha’s Maha-Nirvana), there will be a Bhikshu named Bao-T’ien, who will speak the Dharma to aid and save twenty thousand beings and influence infinite others to develop the Ultimate Bodhi Mind. After this time, the Proper Dharma Age will come to an end. Six hundred years after the Buddha’s Maha-Nirvana, ninety-six types of improper doctrines will arise, false teachings will be born to destroy the Proper Dharma. At that time, a Bhikshu named Asvaghosha will be born. This Bhikshu will use great wisdom to speak of the Dharma to combat these false religions. Seven hundred years after the Buddha’s Maha-Nirvana, there will born a Bhikshu named Nagarjuna; he will use the power of the Proper Prajna or great wisdom to destroy false views to light brightly the Buddha’s Dharma’s torch.” In the Dharmapada Sutra, the Buddha taught: “Long is the night to the wakeful; long is the road to him who is tired; long is samsara to the foolish who do not know true Law (Dharmapada 60). Eagerly try not to be heedless, follow the path of righteousness. He who observes this practice lives happily both in this world and in the next (Dharmapada 168). Follow the path of righteousness. Do not do evil. He who practices this, lives happily both in this world and in the next (Dharmapada 169).”

The Second Period Is the Semblance Dharma: The Semblance of Law period, or the formal period of Buddhism which lasted 1000 years after the real period. In this period, Monks, Nuns and Lay Buddhists still continue to practice properly the Dharma as the Buddha taught and are still able to penetrate the spiritual realm of samadhi even though fewer will attain enlightenment. The period of Counterfeit Law is the time when the truth preached by the Buddha still exists but is learned and practiced as a matter formality, and there is no longer enlightenment. In this period, Buddhist monks devote themselves to gaining a thorough knowledge of Buddhist doctrines and formalities and are proud of themselves for being learned. Some of them only keep the precepts and practice them with indifference to others, and lead religious lives aloof from the world. The rest are weak followers. In such a period, Buddhist monks have lost touch with the true life and soul of Buddhism. However, in this age, the Buddha’s Dharma and precepts left behind are destroyed by Evil-monks and Non-Buddhists who disguise themselves as Buddhist monks and nuns to destroy the teaching by falsely explaining and teaching the Buddha Dharma. Thus, the Dharma still exists and there are still cultivators, but very few attain enlightenment. Only seven or eight out of one hundred cultivators will attain enlightenment. According to the Mahamaya Sutra, about eight hundred years after the Buddha’s Maha-Nirvana, the majority of ordained Buddhists will be greedy for fame and fortune, will be lazy and not control their minds and consciences, lacking of self-mastery. About nine hundred years after the Buddha’s Maha-Nirvana, in the order of Bhikshus and Bhikshunis, the majority will be servants who abandon the secular life to become ordained Buddhists. One thousand years after the Buddha’s Maha-Nirvana, when Bhikshus hear of the practice of ‘Envisioning Impurity,’ and the dharma of ‘Breathing Meditation,’ they will get depressed and disenchanted having little desire to cultivate. Therefore, in one hundred thousand cultivators, only few will penetrate the proper Meditation State. From that time, gradually those of religious ranks will destroy the precepts, whether by drinking alcohol, killing, selling possessions and belongings of the Triple Jewels, or practicing impure conducts. If they have a son, they will let him become a Bhikshu, and if they have a daughter they will let her become a Bhikshuni, so they can continue to steal from and destroy Buddhism as well as using the good name of the Triple Jewels to reap self-benefits. These are signs of warning that the Buddha Dharma is nearing extinction. However, there are still some people who know how to uphold the proper precepts and conducts by diligently trying to maintain and propagate the proper doctrine.

The Third Period Is the Degenerate Age of Dharma: The Degenerate Age of Dharma means the final stage of Buddhist existence in the world, during which practice and adherence to monastic rules will gradually decline, even the external symbols of Buddhism will also disappear, and other signs in monasteries such as the appearance of evil monks, or married monks, or monks only in appearance, etc. However, some Buddhists still believe that during the “ending dharma age,” if you just remember one sentence of “Namo Amitabha Buddha,” and sincerely pratice it, you can be welcomed by such Buddha at the end of your life at the Western Paradise. The conditions at that paradise are optimal for sentient beings to continue to cultivate until they attain BuddhahoodDegeneration Age of Dharma means the final stage of Buddhist existence in the world, during which practice and adherence to monastic rules will gradually decline, even the external symbols of Buddhism will also disappear, and other signs in monasteries such as the appearance of evil monks, or married monks, or monks only in appearance, etc. However, some Buddhists still believe that during the “ending dharma age,” if you just remember one sentence of “Namo Amitabha Buddha,” and sincerely pratice it, you can be welcomed by such Buddha at the end of your life at the Western Paradise. The conditions at that paradise are optimal for sentient beings to continue to cultivate until they attain Buddhahood. The final period of teaching of Buddhism which lasted 3000 years after the formal period. Toward the end of this period, there won’t be any more teaching of Buddhism which means the Buddhadharma will end (vanish from the world) one day. However, Buddha Maitreya or Laughing (Happy) Buddha is to appear to restore all things. The last of the three periods (The Proper Dharma Age, The Dharma Semblance Age, and The Dharma Ending Age), the age of degeneration and extinction of the Buddha-law. In this age, the Dharma and precepts are weakened significantly. Many othe religions, non-Buddhists, and evil spirits will enter and blend in with Buddhism, destroying the Buddha Dharma. Thus, the Dharma still exists and there are cultivators, but very few practitioners are able to grasp fully the proper Dharma or awakened to the Way, much less attain enlightenment. In the Great Heap Sutra, the Buddha made this prophecy: “In the Dharma Ending Age, in hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands of cultivators, as the result, no one will attain enlightenment.” In the Dharma Extinction Sutra, the Buddha prophesized: “In the future, when my Dharma is about to end, in this world of the five turbidities, false religions will arise to become very powerful. During those times, the evil’s relatives will take form, appearing as Bhikshus, to destroy the Buddha Dharma. They will eat, sleep, and wear ordinary clothing of lay persons, fond of five exotic assorted colorings worn on their robes, instead of the three solid indigo blue, brown and gold colored robes which Bhikshus are supposed to wear. They eat meat, drink alcohol, kill, lust for fragrances and aromas, with non-helping conscience. Instead, they will become jealous of and hateful toward one another; this monk will hate or be jealous with the other monk, this monastery will hate or be jealous with the other monastery. At that time, Bodhisattvas, Pratyeka-buddhas, and Arhats who had vowed previously to protect and defend the Buddha-Dharma, will appear in life, taking on human form as Bhikshus or lay people. These saints will be devoted cultivators; their religious conduct and behavior will be very honorable, earning everyone’s admiration and respect. They will have virtuous qualities such as kindness and peace, have no impure thoughts, great tolerance, good will, help the old, the weak, the lonely, and often bring statues and sutras to encourage everyone to worship, read, and chant. They will teach sentient beings in a fair and objective manner and will cultivate many merits and virtuous practices. They will be altruistic always practicing the concept of ‘self-loss for others’ gain.’ With the appearance of such religious and virtuous people, other demonic Bhikshus will develop much hatred and jealousy. They will slander, make wicked and false accusations, do everything possible so these kind and virtuous people cannot live in peace. From that point forth, those demonic Bhikshus will become even more reckless and wild, never practicing Dharma, leaving temples to rot, ruined and desolate. Their only interest will be to build their private fortune, having careers that are unacceptable in Buddhism, such as burning mountains and forests, without a good conscience, killing and hurting many sentient beings. In such times, there will be many servants taking the opportunity to become Bhikshus and Bhikshunis; they will be neither religious nor virtuous. Instead, they will be lustful and greedy, where Bhikshus and Bhikshunis live with one another. The Buddha-Dharma will be destroyed in the hands of these people. Also, there will be many criminals entering the religious gate, increasing the consciousness of laziness and laxity, refusing to learn or to cultivate the Way. When the reading of precepts comes around the middle of every month, they will act passively, reluctantly, and refuse to listen carefully. If teaching and expounding the precepts and doctrines, they will go over them briefly, skipping different sections, refusing to state all of them. If reading and chanting sutra-poetry, and not familiar with the lines, words, or their deep meanings, they will refuse to search or ask for answers from those who have great wisdom, but instead they will be narcissistic and conceited, seek fame and praise, and think they are all-knowing. Even so, on the outside, they will act religious and virtuous, often prasing themselves, hoping everyone will make offerings or charitable donations to them. After these demonic Bhikshus die, they will be condemned into the realm of hell, hungry ghost, and animal, and must endure these conditions for many reincarnations. After repaying for these transgressions, they will be born as human beings, but far away from civilization, places that do not have the Triple Jewels. In the Dharma Extinction Sutra, the Buddha prophesized: “In the future, when my Dharma is about to end, in this world of the five turbidities, false religions will arise to become very powerful. During those times, the evil’s relatives will take form, appearing as Bhikshus, to destroy the Buddha Dharma. They will eat, sleep, and wear ordinary clothing of lay persons, fond of five exotic assorted colorings worn on their robes, instead of the three solid indigo blue, brown and gold colored robes which Bhikshus are supposed to wear. They eat meat, drink alcohol, kill, lust for fragrances and aromas, with non-helping conscience. Instead, they will become jealous of and hateful toward one another; this monk will hate or be jealous with the other monk, this monastery will hate or be jealous with the other monastery. At that time, Bodhisattvas, Pratyeka-buddhas, and Arhats who had vowed previously to protect and defend the Buddha-Dharma, will appear in life, taking on human form as Bhikshus or lay people. These saints will be devoted cultivators; their religious conduct and behavior will be very honorable, earning everyone’s admiration and respect. They will have virtuous qualities such as kindness and peace, have no impure thoughts, great tolerance, good will, help the old, the weak, the lonely, and often bring statues and sutras to encourage everyone to worship, read, and chant. They will teach sentient beings in a fair and objective manner and will cultivate many merits and virtuous practices. They will be altruistic always practicing the concept of ‘self-loss for others’ gain.’ With the appearance of such religious and virtuous people, other demonic Bhikshus will develop much hatred and jealousy. They will slander, make wicked and false accusations, do everything possible so these kind and virtuous people cannot live in peace. From that point forth, those demonic Bhikshus will become even more reckless and wild, never practicing Dharma, leaving temples to rot, ruined and desolate. Their only interest will be to build their private fortune, having careers that are unacceptable in Buddhism, such as burning mountains and forests, without a good conscience, killing and hurting many sentient beings. In such times, there will be many servants taking the opportunity to become Bhikshus and Bhikshunis; they will be neither religious nor virtuous. Instead, they will be lustful and greedy, where Bhikshus and Bhikshunis live with one another. The Buddha-Dharma will be destroyed in the hands of these people. Also, there will be many criminals entering the religious gate, increasing the consciousness of laziness and laxity, refusing to learn or to cultivate the Way. When the reading of precepts comes around the middle of every month, they will act passively, reluctantly, and refuse to listen carefully. If teaching and expounding the precepts and doctrines, they will go over them briefly, skipping different sections, refusing to state all of them. If reading and chanting sutra-poetry, and not familiar with the lines, words, or their deep meanings, they will refuse to search or ask for answers from those who have great wisdom, but instead they will be narcissistic and conceited, seek fame and praise, and think they are all-knowing. Even so, on the outside, they will act religious and virtuous, often prasing themselves, hoping everyone will make offerings or charitable donations to them. After these demonic Bhikshus die, they will be condemned into the realm of hell, hungry ghost, and animal, and must endure these conditions for many reincarnations. After repaying for these transgressions, they will be born as human beings, but far away from civilization, places that do not have the Triple Jewels. In the Great Compassion Sutra, the Buddha taught Ananda: “Look here Ananda! Two thousand five hundred years after I entered the Nirvana, those who maintain, practice according to the proper dharma teachings will gradually diminish; those who violate precepts, engage in activities contrary to the Dharma teachings will increase with each passing day. In such times, many Bhikshus will be mesmerized by fame and fortune, not cultivating their minds, bodies, and for wisdom. They will be greedy for Buddhist robes, bowls, food, medicine, housing, temple, and then become jealous, competing and insulting one another, taking one another to the authorities. In the age of the Dharma’s Decline, we must be true disciples of the Buddha. In the past, the Buddha and Patriarchs did not take it easy in their cultivation. Remember, this body is a stinking skin bag; it is only a false combination of the four elements. We have been slaves to our bodies for so long; we have committed too many offenses on its behalf. Now it is time for us to stop being slaves for this stinking body.