Preface

At the end of this twentieth century, science has advanced by leaps and bounds compared with previous centuries. Yet reports of the appearance of flying saucers (UFOs) have challenged humankind with the prospect of an extremely superior civilisation of beings from space. True scientists feel that humans need to be more humble, because there is still so much we do not know, and the truth of the universe remains distant and mysterious. Today's advances have let people enjoy the conveniences of life and the pleasures of the world. Yet on top of that, too many films have spread thoughts of hatred, violence and desire. Good and evil are still tearing at each other within the human heart. Moral teachers representing the traditional religions continue to urge people to go beyond evil in search of perfect goodness.

Sometimes people feel that the gods have vanished, because there seems to be no one left to shelter what is good, while evil continues to exist and spread throughout this life. It is as if the gods have left people to decide their own fate. If they want a good life, let them find their way back to goodness; if not, they must bear suffering.

No one brings goodness to human beings. People themselves must make themselves holy. Every person is born longing for happiness, and they have the right to enjoy happiness.

This is an important axiom that no one can deny. But what happiness is remains a question still under consideration. Some say happiness is food and clothing. Some say happiness is honour and position. Some say happiness is a mighty homeland. Theologians say happiness is eternal life beside God in Heaven. Eastern spiritual teachers say happiness is an inwardly pure and still mind after all desires and afflictions have ended. Philanthropists hold that happiness truly exists only when we forget ourselves in serving everyone.

If we take the question of what happiness is to the law of karma, this law will answer that what we do to others returns to us fairly. What happiness is depends on each person's point of view.

Each person, according to their state of mind, circumstances and fixed views, chooses a definition of happiness for themselves. For a hungry person, a bowl of rice is happiness. For a lowly person, power and privilege are happiness.

Yet very few people know how to seek a noble happiness. Most bury themselves in fame and material things. People destroy and snatch from one another. Blood continues to flow. So much blood has been shed since people lived a wild existence. Blood is still shed even though people have now entered a civilised life.

The scientist Gamov, in his science-fiction short story "The Dead Planet", predicted that the true civilisation humankind will reach is not a material civilisation but surely a spiritual one. At that time people may no longer have a small, temporary form but only one essence, "united with the universe, attaining omnipotent will and boundless freedom".

Even before the Buddha was born, the Law of Karmic Cause and Effect had been spoken of in India in the traditional Vedic scriptures. The Buddha reaffirmed the reality of this law and removed every hand of the gods from governing it. No god rewards good and punishes evil.

Only the objective Law of Cause and Effect silently governs everything. The Law of Cause and Effect is a truth, a principle of the universe.

If the Law of Cause and Effect were widely accepted on this planet, social ethics would change strongly, people would be happier and there would be more joy.

Those who believe in and understand the Law of Karmic Cause and Effect will never seek happiness for themselves selfishly and cruelly. They will seek happiness by bringing joy to everyone. And naturally the Law of Cause and Effect will bring them joy many times over.

Out of that wish, we have the ambition to present something of the Law of Karmic Cause and Effect with logical reasoning in keeping with science. And what is presented here may serve as a suggestion for those who later want to prove the Law of Cause and Effect rigorously, like a complete multidimensional mathematical equation.

The views recorded in this small book hope to contribute something to the ethics of humanity today. And if there is any merit, that merit belongs to the teachers who taught us, the brothers who loved and sheltered us, the fellow practitioners who helped us, and finally to everyone in the Dharma realm.

With respect, the author

Âm Thanh Lương, the year of Nhâm Thân

Chân Quang