A Terrifying Event That Could Cause the Disappearance of the True Dharma

Does "fear" always bring harm? Not necessarily.

Often, it is precisely the driving force that guides us to uphold the right path and strive tirelessly. In the “Sutra on the Five Terrors of the World”, the Buddha spoke of five other terrors that are even more alarming than "living in hardship, infamy, death, evil paths, and the power and prestige of the masses." In the future, if a monastic practitioner does not engage in practice, does not uphold the precepts, acts without restraint, and lacks wisdom in dealing with others, he will bring about the Five Terrors. Firstly, he may slander the precepts, the Dharma, and wisdom. Secondly, he may believe that without upholding the precepts and violating the sacred teachings, he can still approach liberation, but actually he is moving further and further away from the other shore. Thirdly, he will not encounter a true spiritual teacher, receiving teachings that are not in accordance with the right path, and will be unable to grasp the true meaning of the Dharma and the precepts. Fourthly, because he has not practiced the precepts himself, when interpreting them, he will be incoherent and selective in his interpretations, completely unaware that he has deviated from the true Dharma. Fifthly, he will enjoy worldly clever and witty words and readily believe them, but will have neither interest in nor desire to understand the principles of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination, suffering, emptiness, and impermanence.
 
"Bodhisattvas fear the cause, sentient beings fear the effect"—these five things are the five great fears that practitioners should deeply be mindful of and deeply fear! (Editorial Office)


Related articles: 

Understanding Fear: What Are You Afraid of?

Cultivating the Four Powers to Transcend the Five Fears

A Terrifying Event That Could Cause the Disappearance of the True Dharma

Story Section: What Is Truly Worthy of Fear

[Practice Section] Practices for Letting Go of Fear

Resource: Issue 430 of Humanity Magazine, Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Photo: Venerable Chang Duo (常鐸法師)
Translation: James 
Editing: Keith Brown, Patricia Yang