The Manifestation of Sentient Beings' Afflictions

The affliction of evil is relatively coarse and heavy, manifesting quite evidently; it should not arise, hence it is intolerable to both oneself and others. Unwholesome states are slightly lighter; they frequently arise in everyone, and people possess a certain tolerance for them. Sentient beings harbor more evil and unwholesome states than wholesome ones, thus they often perceive the unwholesome as normal. Yet, sentient beings do not realize that what everyone considers normal phenomena are, in fact, abnormal and should not occur. The fact that people regard the unwholesome as normal indicates that all sentient beings possess unwholesome states, their minds being impure. The more one tolerates evil and unwholesome states, the fewer wholesome states reside in the human heart. The tolerance of sentient beings is fundamentally different from that of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. The tolerance of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is an expression of wisdom and compassion, while the tolerance of sentient beings is a manifestation of afflictions. When many people engage in unwholesome actions of body, speech, or mind, and you point it out to them, they will become displeased, devoid of shame or remorse.

Dedication Verse: By the merit of all Dharma propagation and group practice conducted on our online platform, we dedicate the merit to all beings throughout the Dharma realm, to the people of the world. We pray for world peace, the cessation of wars; may conflicts not flare up, and weapons be forever laid down; may all disasters completely subside! We pray that the people of all nations unite in mutual aid, treating each other with kindness and compassion; may the weather be favorable and the harvests abundant, the nations prosperous and the people at peace! May all beings deeply believe in cause and effect, harbor compassionate hearts and refrain from killing; may they widely forge wholesome connections and extensively cultivate wholesome karma; may they believe in the Buddha, learn the Buddha's teachings, and increase their wholesome roots; may they understand suffering, abandon its origins, aspire to cessation, and cultivate the path; may they close the door to the lower realms and open the path to Nirvana! We pray that Buddhism may eternally flourish, the true Dharma forever abide; may the burning house of the three realms be transformed into the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss!