Expert: Bodhicitta - 3/25/2006

Question
I have these questions..again..

1. Does Buddha forgive all sins like what christianity says about their god?

2. If there always never too late to turn back? For example if a 15 year old guy made his 13 year old girlfriend pregnant, or if a person kills and murders a lot,or other bad things, if these people wants to turn back and do good things, can they be forgiven? Is it too late to turn back for them?

Answer
<<I have these questions..again..

1. Does Buddha forgive all sins like what christianity says about their god?

2. If there always never too late to turn back? For example if a 15 year old guy made his 13 year old girlfriend pregnant, or if a person kills and murders a lot,or other bad things, if these people wants to turn back and do good things, can they be forgiven? Is it too late to turn back for them?  >>

Hi Lee
thanks for your questions.

The first thing you should know is that in your heart
there is a Buddha which is your true nature. In fact in everyones heart. This is the most amazing thing. So
we are all pure and perfect and wise. The problem is
that we dont believe it or realise it. Buddhism
is a path of meditation to discover our own hearts.

the concept of sin, guilt and god is a whole trip of
christianity and in particular catholics. In the ancient
wisdom of India, China and asia there is nothing like this.

If you screw up and do something negative it causes waves.
It causes bad karma which flows out into the world
and screws up our worlds. What we need to do when that happens heal the problem as best we can and reconnect
with our heart, with our buddha nature.

You ask if its ever too late. Well it is not only never too
late it is always just the right time. You can only
finally reconnect with your heart there is no eternal
damination, hell or people who can escape their destiny.
Everyone is on a quest to discover true , to discover their
own hearts. There is no escaping this.

If you screw up, if you do negative actions. You need to
heal your bad karma. It can take a long time to escape
from the waves and the negativity you have caused . But
it is always possible to escape.

So what should you do when you do something negative?

Think about it carefuly. Realise you screwed up . Regret it . Take a lot of time doing all this. Also try and heal it as best you can. Maybe confess to what you have done, say your sorry. Give a gift to anyone you have injured
or their families. Imagine in the universe there are Buddha's great beings who are not confused like you imagine - that the whol sky is full of them - full of light
and power. Confess your negativity to them and resolve to change. You then learn meditation and meditate regularly .

This is the path to freedom

I wish you well Lee - and hope you find your path to freedom

Bodhicitta