Q&A: If Nothing Changes, Why Do We Still Try? | Buddhist Teaching

Added: 2026-05-22

[00:00:00]about doing something about the cruelty to animals and dogs and elephants.

[00:00:07]And I'm just wondering how how far do you think that that will that there will will be improvement and um because I'm very I'm very concerned about the treatment of elephants particularly.

[00:00:23]And I I don't know if this is appropriate to ask now, but Um but do you think that that could happen where where they could where the treatment of stray dogs, animals, elephants will, you know, occur?

[00:00:43]I think I see this way. This is the way that I see and the way that I do.

[00:00:49]And our team always when we try to spread the peace message, when we try to walk that this way, we never expect the turn out.

[00:01:03]We never expect there will be people follow us and do and practice in with us and walk with us and so on. We never expect that way.

[00:01:11]Simply just walk.

[00:01:14]Just do the thing that we need to do.

[00:01:17]And the results will come after, but we never expect it.

[00:01:23]Same way as animals, elephants, stray dogs. We have been receiving so much request around the world for our local guidance to support the elephants and stray dogs and so on.

[00:01:41]And we have been doing that. Aloka now has uh his own foundation to support and it's already launched um and people are supporting so much for him.

[00:01:53]And then we went to Sri Lanka and we talked about that.

[00:01:57]And now that we still have many more many more things to do. Um but if today today talk at the UN Visa I mentioned about animals.

[00:02:10]I talk about animals.

[00:02:13]And during the uh lighting the at the 24,000 candles at our event, I also talk about animals.

[00:02:24]It doesn't mean that whenever we talk about it and whenever we raise our voice, then everything will be changed.

[00:02:30]It's not It doesn't mean that way.

[00:02:33]But we just need to do what we suppose and we need to do.

[00:02:39]Just do it without any expectation.

[00:02:43]The results will comes when we don't expect.

[00:02:47]The more we expect the more we be suffer without the results.

[00:02:54]For that reason, we just go ahead and do what we need to do and then waiting for the result. If all that we have done and the sto- the result is still not with what we expect.

[00:03:11]It didn't turn out the way that we expect.

[00:03:14]Then we see this way, the way of karma leading all beings to their uh um to their life the way the place where they be be they belong to, right?

[00:03:32]As human beings and animals, same thing.

[00:03:35]We have our own karma. Let's say we try to save so much people. We try to to help so much people, but then there's a lot of people doesn't want it.

[00:03:46]And even if they listen to the talk, they still cannot practice. That's why when we come back to the four type lotus if you remember I talked about the four type of lotus.

[00:03:56]The type of lotus that already rise high when when receiving the sun rises bloom right away. But the type of lotus always under the the surface of the water then this just become food for all all the creatures.

[00:04:12]Right?

[00:04:14]And so when we walk there will be people who benefits from this walk, this talk.

[00:04:21]But there are so many other people they just come out for fun.

[00:04:27]Right?

[00:04:28]And so we cannot expect anything. Same thing as the animal.

[00:04:32]We just have to do what we need to do, raise our voice for them and try try every way all the way to help them, but at the end every beings have to go with their own karma.

[00:04:46]So if we believe in that way then we will not suffer.

[00:04:50]Because if we try to do something to the other beings but makes us suffer then we we choose the wrong way.

[00:05:00]That is not the Buddha teachings.

[00:05:03]The Buddha said, "Do anything that is benefit the others and ourself then go ahead and do."

[00:05:10]But the benefits of the others but not for us then don't do it. Benefits for us but not for the others then don't do it.

[00:05:19]Anything that benefits both sides then we should do it. If we want to save the animals while we are suffering then we shouldn't.

[00:05:29]Because when we suffer we cannot save anyone.

[00:05:34]Right?

[00:05:35]So just do what we supposed to do and wait for the results. My dear friends, many of us feel deep sadness when we see animals suffering, especially elephants, stray dogs, and other innocent beings.

[00:05:49]Sometimes we wonder, will things ever change? Will the world become kinder?

[00:05:55]The Buddha's teaching reminds us that we should do what is good without attachment to results.

[00:06:01]When we raise our voice for animals, help them, feed them, protect them, and spread compassion, we should do it with a peaceful heart, not with anger or hopelessness.

[00:06:12]Change does not happen overnight.

[00:06:14]Even when we speak at large events or try to inspire others, the world may not immediately transform.

[00:06:21]But every act of kindness plants a seed.

[00:06:24]We must continue doing what is right without expecting quick results. The more we cling to expectations, the more suffering we create within ourselves.

[00:06:33]So, let us walk the path of compassion calmly and wisely. Help animals, care for all beings, and do your part with love. If our actions bring benefit to others and peace to ourselves, then we are following the true path of the Buddha.

[00:06:49]Thank you.