Zen Wisdom 249

DHARMA ENDING AGE


QUESTION:

What is the meaning of the Dharma Ending Age? Does it mean the world is getting worse? Are there realms where there are no Buddhas at all? If bodhisattvas return to help sentient beings, how can there ever be a Dharma Ending Age? Are there people who cannot be enlightened?

SHIH-FU:

Everything, including our world, goes through a process of creation, abiding, decay and destruction. All that comes into being eventually disappears. Furthermore, we must admit that in many ways the world is not as good as it used to be. Yes, people today live longer and there is better technology, but people today have more vexations than did people in the past; and obviously, the environment is in bad shape.