Someone asked the Buddha, “ Since you are the Buddha endowed with compassion, wisdom and psychic powers, why are there still people suffering in this world?”
The Buddha said, “ Although I possess compassion, wisdom and psychic powers, there are 4 things I cannot do. Firstly, karmic effects (cause and effect) cannot be changed. The karmic effects that arise from the karmic causes, one must bear himself and cannot ask another person to bear for him. Secondly, Wisdom cannot be given by another. The process of awakening wisdom has to be done by the person himself. He has to go through the challenges himself and overcome them himself. Third, true dharma cannot be spoken of. The truth of the universe cannot be spoken of using words. To understand this truth, one must learn, cultivate, realise and liberate himself. Lastly, I cannot liberate someone who has no karmic affinity with me. If one has no karmic affinity with me, he will not listen to my truthful words. Such a person will have very strong ego and will not believe my teachings will enable him to be liberated and be free from suffering. “
有人問佛陀：「您既然是佛，慈悲，充滿智慧，又擁有神通，為何這世間還有這麼多人受苦呢？」
佛陀說：「我雖有慈悲、智慧和神通，但依然有四件事情沒辦法做到。〖因果不可改〗：自己造的因，因此而產生的果，別人代替不了。 〖智慧不可賜〗：任何人要開智慧，離不開自身的磨練，自身的成長； 〖真法不可說〗：宇宙真相用語言講不明白，只能靠各人自己學習、修行、證實和體驗； 〖無緣不能度〗：無緣之人，就是他聽不進你的好話，我執甚重，不相信你的建言能夠讓他離苦得樂。」
Translated to English by: Dr Jerome