The good person is beguiled and fooled into thinking that the other is a Bodhisattva. He believes the other’s teachings and his mind is swayed. He breaks the Buddha’s moral precepts and covertly indulges his greedy desires.

The good person who cultivates samadhi is beguiled and fooled at this point, into thinking that the other is a Bodhisattva. When he sees how the person can appear as a Bhikshu, as Shakra, as a lay woman, and as a Bhikshuni, suddenly changing from one appearance to another, he thinks the person must be a Bodhisattva.”

He then deeply believes the other’s teachings and his mind is swayed. He breaks the Buddha’s moral precepts. What should you examine in a cultivator? See whether or not he keeps the Buddha’s precepts. If he doesn’t, then he is certainly a demon. If he strictly adheres to the precepts without violating them, then he is a genuine Buddhist. However, someone may claim to be a Buddhist, call himself a Venerable Elder, and assume other titles as well, and yet he covertly indulges his greedy desires. He engages in a clandestine affair and tries to keep people from knowing about it.

The other person is fond of speaking about calamities, auspicious events, and unusual changes. He may say that a Tathagata has appeared in the world at a certain place. He may speak of catastrophic fires or wars, thus frightening people into squandering their family wealth without reason.

The other person is fond of speaking about calamities, auspicious events, and unusual changes. What does the person who is possessed by the demon like to speak about? He likes to talk about calamities, which are unlucky events. He may say a calamity is going to occur in a certain place, or that something auspicious is going to happen somewhere, or that an unusual event is going to take place. He may say that a Tathagata has appeared in the world at a certain place. He may say, “You know what? Such-and-such a Buddha has now appeared in the world at such-and-such a place.”

He may speak of catastrophic fires or wars. He may say, “The three disasters—flood, fire, and wind—and the eight difficulties are upon us.” Or, “The kalpa is coming to an end!” Or he might warn people, “Be careful, war is about to break out there.” Or, “The Soviet Union is about to go to war with a certain country!” He speaks in this way, thus frightening people into squandering their family wealth without reason. He always says things that capture people’s attention and causes them to be alarmed. When people hear what he says, they panic, “Oh no! There’s going to be war. Will my life be in danger?” He might say, “The war is starting. If you give me some money immediately, I’ll guarantee your safety. If you don’t pay me, you will lose your life!” He is always saying such things to cheat people.

If you want to determine whether a person is genuine or phony, whether he is a Bodhisattva or a demon, you can look for the following things: First, see whether he has any desire for sex; and second, see whether he is greedy for money. If he cheats people to satisfy his lust and greed for wealth, then he is not genuine. How might he be greedy for wealth? For example, he may say, “A great calamity is nearly upon us! The world is coming to an end. An atomic bomb is going to explode at such-and-such a place. A hydrogen bomb will be set off at another place.” He says such things to frighten people into giving him their money. If you wake up to his tricks, then even if he emits light, makes the earth quake, or does something else spectacular, you wouldn’t believe in him, because he is greedy. A person without greed is true; a greedy person is a phony. My method is a practical and effective truth-detector.

[January 1983]
If we had no greed or desires, then we would have no trouble. If you have greed and desire, then all sorts of things will happen. All the myriad things, beings, and species in the world are born from greed and desire. Thus it is said, “When not a single thought is produced, the entire substance manifests.” If you don’t have thoughts of greed and desire, then the Buddha-nature will appear.

“When the six sense faculties suddenly move, one is covered by clouds.” Once the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind become attached to a state, it’s like the sky clouding over so that the sun’s light is no longer apparent. Fundamentally, what causes the six sense faculties to move? Greed and desire. Because you are unable to give up greed and desire, the six sense faculties turn into the six thieves and the six consciousnesses come into being. If you had no greed and desire, then the thieves of the six sense faculties would no longer be thieves, and the six consciousnesses would no longer be consciousnesses. Everything would return to the source, and all troubles would disappear. Everyone should pay attention to this. It all depends on whether or not you have greed and desire. If you do, then you have not separated yourself from the demons yet. If you do not, then you have joined with the Buddhas.

To be continued