Reflecting on five Degenerations

As expounded by the great protector Khuenkhen Pema Karpo, the protector and guardian of the teachings of past, present and future times, lord Shakyamuni appeared towards the end of the fourth era, "the era of strife" in which beings all quarrel with one another.

Each of the thousand buddhas of the fortunate Aeon will appear within these four eras. But among all these thousand Buddha's, Buddha shakyamuni appeared appear during the era of strife, at a time when the five degenerations are flourishing. It is this period in which we presently find ourselves.

The five degenerations are the:

Degeneration of lifespan;

Degeneration of Time;

Degeneration of Affliction;

Degeneration of Sentient Beings;

Degeneration of Actions

During the golden age (the age of perfection), there was no need for sunlight or moonlight for beings radiated light form their own bodies. They could move miraculously through space and they lived without needing any solid food. All creatures naturally abided by the ten virtues. But as time passed, they began to harm each other and gave way to their desires to steal lie and kill. Hence their desires to steal lie and kill. Hence their natural luminosity diminished and had to depend on sun and moon for light; they lost their ability to fly, they began to need solid nourishment. People were ill intentioned and full of deceit. They put themselves first and disregard the needs of others. Whoever flatters them they regard them as friends and whoever contradict and oppose them enemy. These attitudes gradually distorted their views, word and actions the cumulative effect of all negative activities has transpired into the current time period known as the "five degeneration". This is the period when five degeneration are flourishing like never before.

The degeneration of time refers to the era of strife like our time in which beings are tormented by famine, illness and war. The degeneration of sentient beings refers to the situation of begins born during the era of strife and also implies that the character of beings has progressively deteriorated through the course of the four eras. The degeneration of lifespan refers to the fact that during the era of strife, the lifespan of beings decline from one hundred years all the way down to ten years. Note that Buddha shkyamuni appeared at a time when the lifespan was at the limit of one hundred years. No Buddha in the fortunate anon ever appears when the lifespan of beings is less than one hundred years. The degeneration of actions means that during the era of strife all sentient beings will engage in the ten non-virtuous actions. The degeneration of afflictions indicated that in the era of strife the afflictions of ignorance, desire, anger, jealousy and pride are so strong that worldly remedies cannot overcome them. The degeneration of views means that people in the era of strife the regard to existence of triple gem. Life after death, case and effect (karma) etc will doctorate.