There are four stages to everything: formation, dwelling, deterioration, and emptiness. They are also called the four great eons. Formation takes twenty small eons, dwelling takes twenty small eons; deterioration takes twenty small eons, and emptiness lasts twenty small eons. One small eon is a long period time, even computers cannot calculate it. Twenty small eons is a medium eon, hence the sum of twenty eons each for formation, dwelling, deterioration, and emptiness make up four medium eons. Four medium eons together make up one large eon. Throughout this time period, we go through many complicated and inconceivable experiences.

According to Buddhism, there is the Proper Dharma Age, Image Dharma Age, and Decline of Dharma. The Proper Dharma Age is when dhyana samadhi is at its height; during the Image Dharma Age, the temples flourish; during the Decline of Dharma, fighting is most severe. There are often wars in the world now because "Conflict over territory leads to death that cover the wilds; conflict over a city leads to death that cover the city."

"People who occupy other people's land and act like cannibals deserve to die!" There are fewer meditators and although there are people who fix temples, they are also competing and wrestling for power. You claim that the temple you built is prettier and more expensive; he will compete and say how his temple is splendid in green and gold. They expend their efforts on the superficialities. There are people who fight everywhere. Look at scientists nowadays who squeeze their brain, using their worldly knowledge and cleverness, using fake wisdom to invent killer weapons to destroy humanity. What kind of phenomenon is this? This represents how this world is about to deteriorate and become empty, disappear.

During the Proper Dharma Age, however, the decline of Dharma and image Dharma also exist. During the Proper Dharma Age, there are also people who like to build temples and hermitages, but the majority of the people meditate, while a small group of people make Buddha images and temples. There are even fewer people who fight. The proper Dharma is central during this Age. During the Image Dharma Age, there are more people who build temples and fewer people who practice meditation. There is a larger number of people who fight than during the Proper Dharma Age, hence it is called the Image Dharma Age, during which there are also the proper Dharma and the decline of Dharma. We are now in the Age of the Decline of Dharma, during which there is the proper Dharma too. If you do not fight, are not greedy, do not seek, are not selfish, do not pursue self-benefit, and can keep to the Buddha's basic precepts and meditate, then this is the Proper Dharma Age too. If we build monasteries on the one hand and enjoy combats on the other, that will mean more people are fighting and fewer people are building temples and meditating. When contention is central, it is the Age of the Decline of Dharma. Within every age there are sub-stages of Proper Dharma, Image Dharma, and Decline of Dharma.

Unfortunately we are born during the Age of the Decline of Dharma and so far away from the time of the Buddha. We do not know how to cultivate the real Proper Dharma. When the Buddha was about to enter nirvana, the Venerable Ananda was so sad that he forgot everything, but Venerable Aniruddha reminded him to ask the Buddha four questions. Everyone at the Nirvana Dharma Assembly wanted to make offerings to the Buddha for the last time, but the Buddha quietly refused. Demon King Possin came too and wanted to make offerings to the Buddha. He recited a mantra which was quite vague in meaning. He did not say that people who make mistakes need to change for the better; he only said that this mantra helps to relieve people of their fear. He was telling people not to be afraid of cause and effect, denying cause and effect. He was not even afraid of cause and effect.