Encouraging Others to Recite — Will I Be Entangled in Their Karma? | Master Jingben
【Q&A Series】
Encouraging Others to Recite — Will I Be Entangled in Their Karma?
I myself, the moment I meet someone, want to share. But fellow practitioners have said that if I am too proactive, I may be entangled in the karma of others — that I should only do “as much as my conditions allow.” I am a bit confused. Kindly request Master’s guidance.
Master Jingben Answers: Namo Amitabha Buddha. That you have come to feel Amitabha’s kindness through studying the Pure Land teachings, and have given rise to the aspiration to “have faith yourself and teach others to believe” — this is a most precious and rare heart.
Master Shan-dao said: “To have faith oneself and teach others to believe is the rarest of the rare.” That you can give rise to such an aspiration is truly rare and precious.
As for the saying that “proactively sharing may entangle one in others’ karma” — please set aside such worry and fear. Those who recite the Name are protected and embraced by Amitabha Buddha’s compassion. To share the Dharma, to encourage others to recite the Name — these are among the greatest of all virtuous acts. Far from drawing in negative karma, they accumulate the most supreme merit, both for oneself and for others. If even sharing the Dharma were to be feared, how could the Buddha and the patriarchs of every generation have tirelessly taught and delivered sentient beings?
That said, “having faith oneself and teaching others to believe” does call for some skillful means:
When you meet someone with affinity, naturally share your own experience of reciting the Name and the joy of the Dharma — this is the best way. There is no need to force the other person to accept; simply plant the seed of this single Name, “Namo Amitabha Buddha.” When the conditions ripen, it will naturally sprout.
At the same time, what we live often speaks louder than what we say. When you yourself, through reciting the Name, become more and more at peace, more and more joyful, those around you will naturally feel it. They will grow curious about why you have changed — and when you share with them at that moment, they will more readily receive it.
Your fellow practitioners’ words about “doing as much as your conditions allow” are also not wrong. But “doing as much as your conditions allow” does not mean we cannot be proactive. When the time comes to share, share joyfully. If the other person does not yet accept it, do not force them — this is “following conditions without grasping at them.”
Please keep this precious aspiration. Recite the Name peacefully yourself, and also joyfully share Amitabha’s compassionate deliverance with those who have affinity with you. Namo Amitabha Buddha.
微信分享
扫描二维码，或复制链接分享
