Diligent Practice Is the Hard Truth for Avoiding the Creation of Evil Karma and the Reception of Evil Retribution

What did the Buddha do when King Virūḍhaka led his army to exterminate the Śākya clan?

This time, we Buddhists have encountered the viral disaster. Although we did not personally go out to treat the sick and save lives, or kill the virus, we used the distinctive method of our Buddhism for delivering sentient beings—for example, dedicating the merit of reciting sūtras, reciting the Buddha's name, and studying the Dharma—to help bring the pandemic to an end as soon as possible. In this way, we have made our due contribution to the nation and, to a certain extent, delivered sentient beings. Exactly how great this extent is cannot be specified, but we can only say that the effect of this dedication of merit (pariṇāmanā) is not small. Now, the merit of all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is immeasurable. When they encounter natural disasters and human calamities, do they not have many, many skillful and expedient means to resolve the disasters of sentient beings—without killing living beings and creating bad karmic affinities with them—so as to dissolve all calamities?

When sentient beings lack sufficient merit and wisdom, the only ways they can think of to resolve disasters are killing and hostility; they cannot think of a better solution. But when merit and wisdom are sufficient, a single thought can dissolve a disaster. Therefore, as soon as sentient beings encounter a disaster, they naturally think of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, because the wisdom of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas is lofty and vast, and they can resolve these problems without the slightest effort.

So each of us must still strive to cultivate. Only cultivation is the true principle; without cultivation, one can never avoid committing evil karma and then suffering its evil retribution.