Many people understand that being born as a human being is very hard, so once it's realized, what are the benefits of being humans? Ability to change. They can change a cause; they can change a consequence; they can change poverty; they can change suffering; they can change afflictions; they can change misery.

The weight of one's sins determines how long they must remain in Hell and how much suffering they must endure. People may not understand all the reasons behind this. Those who do understand will commit fewer wrongs, accumulate greater merits, and perform good deeds instead of evil ones.

How can you change your karma? How much strength does it require? Even the power of gods and immortals cannot move it; at times, even the Buddha's power may not suffice. Then, whose power can move it instead? It is not hard to guess—ghosts, demons, or other evil forces can easily pull you to their side.

Zhongyuan Festival (Ghost Festival), to beings in both Yin and Yang Realms, is an important day. We hold this Dharma convention to bless the alive and to redeem the dead...

Your heart can be illumined through listening to the Dharma and contemplating the Way. Without listening to the Dharma, your direction and your clarity of thought will be uncertain. Therefore, listening to the Dharma is the very beginning of wisdom, especially in this Dharma Vanishing Era.