Bennie Master’s Lecture（31）The Law of Cause and Effect in Departing from Anger

Dear friends, greetings to you all! Today, I’d like to share with you “The Law of Cause and Effect in Departing from Anger.” As the saying goes, “A person without integrity cannot stand.” If we resolve to cultivate our minds, we must uphold our commitment and follow through, not be spineless like tofu. Through practice, we can transform anger and reap joy and purity.

1. The Root of Anger

Anger is like a fire—a illusory beast we’ve nurtured through habitual conditioning, acting like a virus that flares up and causes us to lose control. Yet, the one who perceives this fire is our清醒的自己. A wise person, when anger arises, retreats to a solitary place and quietly observes what this fire is doing. Once aware, the fire finds no fuel to burn, for it is merely an illusion of the mind.

2. The Eight Joys of Departing from Anger

The Sutra of the Ten Wholesome Deeds states that by departing from anger, one attains eight joyful states of mind:

1. No Mind of Harm: Free from personal suffering and causing no harm to others.
2. No Mind of Anger: Not spreading negative emotions.
3. No Mind of Contention: Refraining from disputes with others.
4. A Gentle and Upright Mind: The fundamental quality of practice.
5. The Compassionate Mind of the Sages: Compassion as the antidote to anger.
6. A Mind Constantly Benefiting and Comforting Beings: Directing body, speech, and mind toward helping others.
7. A Dignified Appearance Respected by All: Anger uglifies, while its absence beautifies.
8. Swift Rebirth in the Brahma Realm through Harmony and Forbearance: Forbearance leads to the fruit of purity.
   If this practice is dedicated to supreme enlightenment, one will, upon becoming a Buddha, attain an unobstructed mind, delighting all who behold it. This is the law of cause and effect: cultivate the cause, reap the fruit.

3. Methods of Practice

First, Resolve and Uphold Integrity: Vow to depart from anger and honor that commitment.
Second, Cultivate Causes and Conditions: Frequently make vows to plant good causes and respectfully offer support to nurture conditions; when they ripen, the fruit manifests.
Third, Observe the Fire and Let It Dissolve: When anger flares, watch its rise and fall without engaging—it will extinguish itself.

4. Conclusion

Departing from anger requires perseverance. With each step away from anger, we gain a measure of joy. Dedicating this to supreme enlightenment, we will, as future Buddhas, attain an unobstructed mind. This is the law of cause and effect and the goal of practice. From today, let us uphold our resolve, extinguish the fire of anger, and cultivate both blessings and wisdom!

Thank you all!