Nevertheless, if Buddhism emphasizes imperma-nence{1}, that no phenomenon in this world is eternal and unceasing, how can karma exist through out the three lifetimes and continue like an endless cycle Ac-cording to the Buddhist sutras, Buddha once compared karma to a seed and habit:

1)Karma is like a seed

Take a soybean for example, once it is sown, sprouts, grows, flowers, and fruits, it will leave behind more seeds. After a while, even though the old seed may have wilted, the new seed, once subjected to the right conditions, will sprout, grow, flower and fruit a-gain. The manifestation{2} of our karma also works in the same manner.

2)Karma is like a habit

Once a bottle has been filled with perfume, the fragrance will remain even when the bottle is empty. This “lingering habit” reflects the functioning of karma. Therefore, once karma has been created, when presented with the right conditions, its fruit will surely ripen.

The theory of cause and effect spanning the three periods not only promises a future, hope and bright-ness to our life, it also proves that Buddhism is not a religion of fatalism{3}. Buddhism advocates that our life is determined by our own deeds. A person’s for-tune or misfortune is determined by his own karma. Whether wholesome or unwholesome, we all suffer or benefit from our own actions. As the saying goes, “The frequent commitment of unrighteous deeds will only result in one’s downfall. The constant action of virtue will accrue fortune and wisdom.”{4} Therefore, instead of accumulating wealth, one may as well practice more good deeds, because nothing but karma will follow us to our fu-ture lives. Thus, true and eternal wealth comes from our kind deeds.

【Key Words】

{1} impermanence 無常
{2} manifestation 現前
{3} fatalism 宿命論
{4} The frequent commitment of unrighteous deeds will only result in one’s downfall. The constant action of virtue will accrue fortune and wisdom. 多行不義必自斃，常作善事福慧增。