Whichever religious and social group one joins, there is a rite of joining. The purpose is to warn oneself and others that I am already a member of the group and that there is bound to be a code of conduct. In Buddhism, the joining ceremony is called “conversion,” and after conversion one becomes a full-fledged disciple of the Three Jewels. The terms “white robe”, “monk”, “Upasai”, “Upasai”, etc. are all used to refer to the home-study Buddhists after their conversion.
If you are sincere in your belief in Buddhism, why do you need to be converted? This concept is incorrect. Conversion is like the formalities required for a student to enroll in school, or the oath taken by a party member before joining the party, etc., which is the only way to really obtain some kind of identity certification. Students advance in their studies step by step; it is not possible for them to finish elementary school and then go to university. There is also a gradual progression in the study of Buddhism, and the Three Conversions are the first step in entering the Buddhist discipline, and it is only after taking the first step that one can take the second and even the third step.
From the point of view of the differences in the precepts in Buddhism, conversion to the Three Jewels is the first foundation, and there are the Five Precepts, the Eight Precepts, the Ten Precepts, the Bhikkhu-Bhikkhuni Precepts, and the Bodhisattva Precepts, and all the precepts take conversion to the Three Jewels as the foundation. A person who claims to be a Buddhist without being converted, although he or she may derive some benefit from the Dharma, cannot ultimately be stamped with some kind of identity.
In the spirit of compassion and charity, Buddhism does not abandon all sentient beings, so the yardstick for seeking conversion is all sentient beings in the six paths, regardless of sex, age, age, wealth, or poverty, or dragons or gods, or heaven or ghosts, and all those who have the heart can be converted to the Triple Gem. Therefore, the Buddha said in the sutra: Although the world does good deeds, it cannot extinguish the bad karma of the past life, but if one can receive the Three Conversion Precepts, one can extinguish the bad karma of the past life.
There are many merits and benefits to be gained by converting to the Three Jewels:
Firming our faith and becoming a disciple of the Buddha – Conversion to the Three Jewels is the first step we take in learning Buddhism, and at the same time firms up our faith in the Dharma, and constantly improves our self. When a person becomes a Buddha, he or she becomes a Buddha, and as a son of a Buddha, he or she should perform Buddhist deeds.
The Foundation of Precepts – The Three Jewels are also the foundation for future precepts, whether they are the Five Precepts, the Eight Precepts, the Ten Precepts, the Bhikkhu Precepts, the Bhikkhuni Precepts, or the Bodhisattva Precepts, all of the precepts have the Three Jewels as their foundation.
Reducing sinful obstacles – Learning Buddhism is to realize one’s karma and to repent for one’s karmic obstacles since the beginning of time.
Widely cultivate blessings and wisdom – We can accumulate a great deal of blessings and wisdom, and grow our blessings and wisdom.
Not falling into evil paths – Repenting of karmic obstacles, practicing blessings and wisdom, practicing good deeds, and being protected by the dragons and heavens, how can we still fall into the Three Paths?
People and non-people cannot be disturbed – After converting to the Three Jewels, there will be thirty-six Dharma-protecting good deities to protect us day and night.
All good things will succeed – With a pure mind, practicing the Dharma, the Three Jewels will naturally strengthen us.
Become a Buddha and help the masses – Achieve the fruits of Buddhahood, speak the essentials of the Dharma in a good way, and benefit all people and heavens.
Why is it that even those who study Buddhism and are kind are rewarded with evil? And some people who do all kinds of bad things live comfortably?
The Nirvana Sutra says, “The rewards of good and evil follow one another like shadows; the cycle of karma in the three worlds is never lost.” When some people see that good people are rewarded with evil and evil people are rewarded with good, they doubt karma. In fact, in the final analysis, it is because they do not understand the truth that cause and effect permeate the three lives.
Why does a good person suffer evil retribution?
This is because he has cultivated deep roots of evil in his past life, and the fruits of the “bad causes” of his past life have not been exhausted, while the goodness of his heart and his good deeds in this life have not yet matured. Now, the evil causes have matured first, so they suffer the evil rewards first. If one does not do good deeds in this life, the bad karma will be even worse; on the other hand, the good causes he has planted in this life have not been in vain, and in the future he will receive the corresponding blessings.
For example, many people who are terminally ill are cured by chanting Buddha’s name, doing great worship, and releasing life. There are also some good people whose karma in their past lives made them poor and sickly in this life, but after learning Buddhism, through the blessing of the Triple Gem, they were able to eliminate their sufferings and be reborn in the Pure Land. Therefore, we should not doubt learning the Buddha’s teachings, and we should not think that learning the Buddha’s teachings is useless just because we will be rewarded for learning the Buddha’s teachings.
Why do evil people receive good rewards?
Karma is not false and treats everyone fairly. Some people do all kinds of bad things but live comfortably. This is because of his past life’s blessings; although he has done a lot of bad things in this life, his past life’s blessings are so great that they have not been used up yet, so he can continue to maintain them, and when they are used up, he will surely fall into an evil path. Therefore, one must not doubt or misunderstand cause and effect; cause and effect are incredible and not so easy to understand.
There is no door to misfortune and happiness, but only what one is called upon to do. Good is rewarded and evil is punished. It is not that we will not be rewarded, but the time has not yet come, and when the time comes, everything will be rewarded. We should have an in-depth understanding of karma and believe in it with all our heart. We should do good deeds and not ask questions about our future.
Translated with DeepL.com (free version)