The Most Profound Evil in This World: Stealing Another's Faith in the Dharma

**Summary:** Stealing money or organs may be recoverable, but stealing one's faith in the Dharma—belief in goodness and the law of cause and effect—is to steal everything, leading a being to a permanent fall into the hell realms.

On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, after time spent with loved ones, devotees return to the temple to hear the first Dharma talk of the year. Everyone exchanges wishes for blessings. But have you ever wondered: are wishes like "may you prosper in the New Year" or "may all illness vanish" truly effective? Or are they merely kind intentions? What is the most important thing we must safeguard in our lives?

**New Year Wishes and Cause and Effect** Thay Thich Chan Quang shares that New Year wishes are an expression of goodwill, but whether they manifest depends on our own karmic actions and the virtue of the person offering the wish.

He explains that when we offer good wishes to one another, the primary value lies in demonstrating our heart and care for each other. Whether the wish comes true, however, depends on two things: first, the wholesome or unwholesome karma we have created over the past year; second, the spiritual virtue of the person making the wish.

Therefore, when receiving a wish, we should appreciate the kind intention but also reflect upon our own karma. Above all, we need a steadfast faith in the Dharma so that our minds remain unwavering.

**What is Truly the Most Profound Evil?** How many kinds of evil exist in the world? Robbing cars and maiming, burning dogs alive for meat, kidnapping children—these are horrifying, yet they are not the most profound evil. Why? Because victims can still recover and rebuild their lives. However, there is an evil that causes a person to fall into the hell realms forever, beyond salvation: stealing another's faith in the Dharma.

He states that the one who steals another's faith in the Dharma commits the most profound evil. They need not spill a single drop of blood; by simply taking away that faith, they cause one to lose everything.

This faith is the ideal one lives by—the belief in the law of cause and effect, in enlightened beings, and in goodness. With this faith, we overcome hardships and build a virtuous life. Without it, we become indifferent, reckless, and malicious, ultimately falling into the hells.

**Three Ways We Lose Our Faith in the Dharma** First, losing faith personally when facing suffering. When in dire circumstances, we may blame heaven and earth, crying, "What evil have I done to deserve such hardship?"—without taking responsibility. The teacher recounts a story of a restaurant owner who enshrined a Buddha statue for business success. When the business failed, he threw the statue into the trash. Because he did not understand karma, he lost his faith.

Second, being led astray by others' overwhelming promises. Someone may approach us, promising billions or high status, making us believe and then betray our teachers or homeland. The teaching warns: "Do not trust promises that are dazzling and spectacular. Most are false."

Third, seeing others act wrongly and following suit. The teacher gives an example of someone seeing a traffic officer accepting a bribe, then using that as an excuse to violate traffic laws themselves. But how many good officers are there? He mentions an old policeman at Chuong Bridge in Hanoi, known for his integrity and compassion, who fined little but taught much. That is the true role model.

**How Can We Protect Our Faith in the Dharma?** The teacher advises: "When walking the spiritual path, embrace simplicity. Do not crave money, fame, or luxury." Wealth cannot be taken when we die; only our merit and karma remain. We must firmly believe in cause and effect, refrain from blaming heaven, ignore sweet-talking deceivers, and refuse to let others' wrongful actions drag us down.

He concludes: "We may lose everything, but do not lose faith in the Dharma. That is what is truly fearsome."

**In the New Year, Let Faith in the Dharma Be Our Anchor** Thus, in the coming year, let us collectively safeguard our faith in the Dharma. No matter how life suffers, no matter who deceives us, or how we see others err, let us hold firm to our belief in goodness. This is the most precious virtue and our provision for future lives. May all devotees find peace and practice diligently, and never let anyone steal this treasure from you.