The law of cause and effect is a remarkable form of absolute fairness

We are here in this life because of causes rooted in the past; it is not by chance. Our being here now will in turn be a cause for the future, and something fitting (an effect) will happen. When we come to the temple with reverence for the Dharma and respect for the Sangha, we create "merit". This merit will give rise to many different results.

It is like planting a seed in the ground: it does not produce just one fruit. When we plant a mango seed, of course it does not simply grow into a single mango and stop. Before a mango appears, a seedling sprouts, then branches, then flowers, and only then the mango. Even then it does not end with the mango, because there are other young fruits and other ripe ones. And inside the fruit there is again a seed. In other words, many things come from the original seed. So we cannot say, "I planted a mango seed and I got a mango"; it is not that simple. We planted a mango seed, but what did we get? We get shade from the mango tree. When the tree grows large, we can prune its branches for firewood, gather the fallen leaves to burn in the stove or to enrich the soil, and keep the flowers to admire or to write a poem about, for example. We can eat the fruit when it is green or when it is ripe, and we will plant its seed again... From a single mango seed that has sprouted, we enjoy many benefits of that planting, not merely one mango.

In the same way, when we listen to the Dharma, we do not later enjoy just one result of merit; many other results of merit follow. The simplest example: when we go to the temple to study the Way, our mind becomes noble and saintly, our character complete, and every word we speak carries a virtuous authority that makes our children and grandchildren look up to us and obey. In a future life, we do not yet know what specific blessings we will enjoy, but now, when our children and grandchildren are better behaved, more obedient and more respectful, we already have happiness and joy. It is just like planting the mango seed: the tree has no fruit yet, but we can already sit in its shade on a scorching summer day. Likewise, although we are not yet wealthy, honoured or prosperous, having well-behaved children and grandchildren is already a joy in our hearts.

As our character grows through going to the temple, relatives and neighbours trust and cherish us more and more. When we call on them to do meritorious work, such as: "There is an elderly man who is poor and ill, and his children and grandchildren live far away. Let us take turns to help him in his last years, because caring for the elderly is a noble human principle." We had said such things before and no one responded. Now that we have been going to the temple for some time, practising and creating merit, and our character and authority have grown, many people agree and support us. The immediate result is that a lonely old person is helped until the end of their life and spends their final days in joy and peace.

We begin to see that neighbours are also closer and more trusting of one another than before. For example, when we have to go away on business, we used to have no idea who might be lurking to break into our house. But since the neighbours began doing meritorious work together, we can trust them and ask them to look after our house while we are away. We see that of the merit we have created, we have not yet enjoyed the mango itself, but we have enjoyed the shade of the mango tree and the falling mango leaves; that is, the affection of our neighbours.

Thus we see that the law of fair cause and effect in Buddhism runs all the way from the Way of Being Human to the Way of Becoming a Saint. If we want to improve our character, to have a more honoured and prosperous life, to have greater power and influence, to have a more beautiful appearance, there is also a way to plant the causes. We plant causes in accordance with moral principle and ethics, not by using tricks. If we want to practise for liberation and to have the standing of a Saint, there are likewise a cause and an effect. We have a proper method of planting causes to reach the fruit of a Saint, although it takes a very long time.

Even someone who has attained sainthood cannot simply speak and expect others to listen when helping sentient beings. For example, a person who has attained the Way and has supernatural powers, who knows the past and the future, and who can heal another person's grave illness with a wave of the hand, does not necessarily find that people listen to whatever is said; without the affinity, others will not listen. So even a Saint who wishes to teach sentient beings still needs cause and effect and a suitable affinity. From ordinary people to lofty Saints, and even Bodhisattvas who teach millions upon millions of beings, all are silently governed by the law of cause and effect. When we believe in and understand the law of cause and effect, we will strive and make an effort to practise and serve throughout our lives. Only those who do not understand the law of cause and effect are idle and unwilling to strive.

If we are superstitious and do wrong things yet want to receive a true, good result, that is not right. Because we know cause and effect, we will not be superstitious; we will diligently create good causes so that our lives rise higher and we can help the people around us. For example, a student who does poorly does not have to remain poor at learning for the rest of their life. If they know how to plant causes, within a year or two they will do better, and this is very effective. A good student can plant causes to become an outstanding one. There are ways to do it, though it is not simply a matter of working hard and studying a great deal.

When we have the causes of morality and of the teachings, everything will change in ways that are strange, unexpected and good. That is the wonder of the law of cause and effect.