M: This is because we don’t understand the words of the Buddha. One cannot become a Buddha for sure just by laying down the butcher’s knife. If we have not found the Buddha, then even putting down a hundred knives would not be of any use. Even people who have never held a butcher’s knife cannot become Buddhas, much less those who have been slaughterers. The real meaning of this statement is: If we have found a living Enlightened Master, and repented and laid down the butcher’s knife, then the Enlightened Master will cleanse us of all karma and sins, and only then can we become a Buddha. We can become a Buddha so easily because we all have Buddha Nature within. Before we recognize this Buddha Nature within, we can never become a Buddha even if we practice for innumerable eons, not to say merely three eons! That is much too soon. Therefore, we should realize that, having found the Enlightened Master, all our sins can be erased and we can become a Buddha immediately. Without finding the Enlightened Master, practicing for eons is futile! It is possible that Sakyamuni Buddha failed to find an Enlightened Master during those three eons, which was why He did not attain Buddhahood.

Q: Is it impossible to be liberated and attain Buddhahood if we do not receive initiation?

M: Liberation might be possible, but attaining Buddhahood is very difficult. People who are not initiated usually don’t know which path to take, don’t know what Buddhahood is, don’t know how to cultivate their Buddha Nature each day and open their wisdom. Suppose you have met an Enlightened Master but did not receive initiation from Him. If you just admire Him, revere Him in your heart and communicate with Him within, you will also get liberation in this way. This is also reckoned as a kind of informal initiation. Receiving the formal initiation means following Him to learn, and then you will become a Buddha. Or, if your relatives or friends have been initiated, then you will also have liberation as a result. However, it also depends on the karma of each person.

Q: Can it be regarded as a kind of compassion when scientists invent something that benefits humans? Is this the same compassion that religious people talk about? Can science really take care of humans?

M: Science can only take care of the material aspects. Nevertheless, we need scientists, because not everyone practices seriously after believing in a religion, and not every religious group teaches people how to practice spiritually. Most religious groups only teach the doctrines, such as you ought to be a good person, and Heaven and hell do exist, etc. They do not teach people how to go to Heaven and how to avoid hell.

Therefore, science is necessary, because it takes care of the material aspects of this world. Many people continue to cling tightly to this secular world and love material things. Other people who pursue spiritual practice but have not yet attained the ultimate Truth still need scientific tools for the well-being of sentient beings. Therefore, science is still necessary. However, if scientists are not doing their job out of love, then we cannot say they are similar to religious people. Sometimes, scientists invent something out of curiosity or because they love to do it, not necessarily to benefit humans. That is why some scientists use their intellectual powers to invent many undesirable things. Religious people are different; right from the start, they do things out of compassion and universal love for the well-being of sentient beings. Therefore, the two are not quite the same.

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