enlightenment, the Buddha discovered three great truths. He explained
these truths in a simple way so that everyone could understand them.
Nothing is lost in the universe
/ The nature of existence
The first truth is
that nothing is lost in the universe. Matter turns into energy, energy
turns into matter. A dead leaf turns into soil. A seed sprouts and
becomes a new plant. Old solar systems disintegrate and turn into cosmic
rays. We are born of our parents; our children are born of us. We are
the same as plants, as trees, as other people, as the rain that falls.
We consist of that which is around us, we are the same as everything. If
we destroy something around us, we destroy ourselves. If we cheat
another, we cheat ourselves. Understanding this truth, the Buddha and
his disciples never killed any animal.
The second universal
truth discovered by Buddha is that everything is continuously changing.
Life is like a river flowing on and on, ever-changing. Sometimes it
flows slowly and sometimes swiftly. It is smooth and gentle in some
places, but later on snags and rocks crop up out of nowhere. As soon as
we think we are safe, something unexpected happens.
of Cause and Effect
The third universal
truth explained by the Buddha is that there is a continuous change due
to the law of cause and effect. This is the same law of cause and effect
found in every modern science textbook. In this way, science and
Buddhism are alike.
The law of cause and
effect is known as karma. Nothing ever happens to us unless we
deserve it. We receive exactly what we earn, whether it is good or bad.
We are the way we are now due to the things we have done in the past.
Our thoughts and actions determine the kind of life we can have. If we
do good things, in the future good things will happen to us. If we do
bad things, in the future bad things will happen to us. Every moment we
create new karma by what we say, do, and think. If we understand this,
we do not need to fear karma. It becomes our friend. It teaches us to
create a bright future.