This time, it’s been three years since we last saw each other. Don’t you feel like people look older now? Especially certain people, like those we haven’t seen in over ten years. We see them as older; likewise, they also see us as older. You are also getting older. Don’t just look at others; look at yourself too. We all change year by year. Even one’s health does not stay the same.

Therefore, the Buddha says that impermanence is a true reality! No-self is also a true reality. There is no self because your past existence has passed, your present existence will soon become the past, and your future existence hasn’t even been born yet. That’s why there is no [real] self.

The Vajra Sutra states, the mind of the past is unattainable, the mind of the present is unattainable, and the mind of the future is also unattainable.

The mind of the past, present, and future cannot be attained; thus there is no self. The past me is already gone, the present me is about to become the past, and the future me has not yet arrived. Who am I? Therefore, the Buddha says, “I” do not stay—self is nonexistent.

In addition, the Buddha emphasizes that the principles of the Origination of Causes and Conditions is Inherently Empty, and the Arising of Affinity is Illusory. Once you understand this as true reality, you cut off all wrong views.

My father used to argue with me. If I said reincarnation exists, he would retort that it’s a joke—nothing is left after death. What reincarnation?! When I said that buddhas and bodhisattvas exist, he challenged me to show him, saying that he would only believe after seeing them. As for heaven and hell, he asserted that if he didn’t see it, he didn’t believe in it. He contended that there is nothing after death, as he didn’t believe in reincarnation or that souls exist. My father and I often argued back and forth. No one won because I could not show any proof to him.

His argument is referred to as the doctrine of annihilationism.^[2] They don’t believe in cause and effect. Instead, they believe when a person dies there is nothing. They don’t believe in cause and effect even when told about it simply because they cannot see it. They think that death is death, so what cause and effect is there to talk about? This is called annihilationism in Buddhism.

The other extreme is eternalism.^[3] When you see this homa hall at the Rainbow Temple, [you think] it really does exist, just as you see other people as real. This is especially so when you see money—it is very real! This peacock feather [dharma instrument]? Real. The towel is real, too, and I can wipe my face with it. Water is real, as you can take a sip when thirsty. Look at this vajra scepter; very real, isn’t it? And it can last for a thousand years. And the vajra bell too, is real. This kind of view is called eternalism. According to the Buddha and the great bodhisattvas, it is the wrong view because none of those has intrinsic reality.

Money seems real; the cash in your hand feels very real, and it gives you courage. With money, you have the courage to go to a dealership and get whichever car you want. So it’s real, right? But money is only real when governments recognize it to be money. Otherwise, it is just paper or polymer. Thus, we say that money is not real. Remember that all originations of causes and conditions are empty.

The self is also not real, as it will change. When I was younger, I looked different—handsome and charming, except my stature perhaps was a bit short. Many girls and female disciples had a crush on me; they wrote letters or complained when I didn’t marry them. But people change, and eventually, there is nothing left.

Similarly, what will happen to this homa hall in the future? What will the Rainbow Temple look like? The Seattle Lei Tsang Temple? What will happen to your houses and cars? Nobody knows, except that it will change since nothing is eternal.

I have talked about Mahabrahma Deva, who has a very long lifespan residing in the first heaven of the realm of form. Mahabrahma—the great creator, Siva—the great destructor, and Visnu—the great protector, make up the Hindu Trinity, of which Visnu holds the highest position. Visnu resides in the highest heaven of the realm of form, the Akanista Heaven, and Siva still resides in the heavenly realm of desire.

The lifespan of Mahabrahma is 10 billion years. The saha world where we live in takes 100 million years through creation, existence, deterioration, and annihilation. And the life span of Mahabrahma is 100 times that. Every 100 million years—one kalpa, the saha world will return to emptiness. The Earth will be gone eventually. The saha world would need to recreate, exist, deteriorate, and annihilate a hundred times before his lifespan ends. It is a very long life. Nevertheless, it will still end one day. It is not forever; it is impermanent!

What about human beings? In the eyes of the Mahabrahma, we are like fireflies, whose lifespan is between 2 to 20 days at most. Yet fireflies feel that they have lived a long time. All the same, we are just like fireflies. It is all impermanent! Ponder on it! 

If you think that what you see is real [and eternal], then your view is called eternalism, which is a wrong view. Annihilationism is also a wrong view; this is what my father believed… that everything—including karma—disappears upon death. But buddhadharma is all-embracing and unhindered. It harmonizes eternalism and annihilationism and combines both worldly and beyond-worldly dharma. It is the middle way—Madyamaka—of Nagarjuna Bodhisattva.

While we appreciate everything worldly, we also revere the beyond-worldly—both are equally important. We don’t go to any extremes, such as eternalism or annihilationism. It does not mean it is exactly in the middle either. 

In sum, the great bodhisattvas with all-embracing and unhindered wisdom can completely cut off all wrong views—such as eternalism, annihilationism, and all other wrong views. Now, you can understand this phrase. 

Om mani padme hum.