Last time, we discussed the ‘Dharma of association’, which essentially relies on supportive power. What is supportive power? It is the force that assists and propels you. For example, when you are cultivating your mind, someone might suggest, “Don’t practise this Dharma Door; I know of a better one.” If you become confused, you need a supportive force at that moment, a force that propels you forward. This supportive power stems from a steadfast belief. If you gather all the little moments of your past cultivation, they become a supportive force. For instance, “After I recited this sutra, my fortunes improved; others had the same experience.” All the past efficacies and the compassion of the Bodhisattvas, when aggregated, generate a form of supportive power. “While others may praise different Dharma Doors, I firmly believe in this one and will practise the Dharma Door taught by my Master.” This is the propelling power. Another aspect is the power of truth, which arises from the propelling power. Examples of this truthful power include instances like someone’s cancer being cured or another’s lifespan being extended. Such genuine power will encourage you to utilise this supportive power in accordance with your karmic conditions, addressing your issues correspondingly.
Disciples, remember that any spiritual response demands genuine discernment. If you experience a spiritual response while reciting sutras or practising Buddhism, you should evaluate it with genuine discernment. What is a genuine response? It’s real, not illusory. For example, if you see Guan Yin Bodhisattva while reciting a sutra, and it associates with your genuine experience, it indicates that your recitation has been effective. However, some might hear faint voices while reciting, unsure if it’s the voice of Guan Yin Bodhisattva. This is an example of an unreal response.
In dreams, what is real and what isn’t? Don’t become attached to all the appearances or marks you see in a dream. However, if you see Guan Yin Bodhisattva radiating golden light, it might genuinely be her. If you see a figure of a Buddha or Bodhisattva without any radiance, it might not be them. For instance, many actors portray leaders so convincingly that it’s hard to distinguish reality from performance. Can you grasp the underlying principle? Just as makeup can transform a person, spirits in the spirit world can change forms too. Therefore, when faced with these illusions, you need to discern their true nature, compare them, and apply your wisdom to distinguish, so you can truly understand what’s real and what’s not.
View the world with an ordinary mind and perceive it with a profoundly balanced perspective. Everything in this world is simply ordinary. Whether I have food today or not, I express gratitude. A truly wise individual constantly conveys gratitude; “thank you” becomes not just a phrase but a protective shield within one’s consciousness. This is wisdom. This is the act of observing the world with an ordinary mind — understanding that nothing truly warrants worry or distress; everything in the world is just as it should be.
If you can see all events in life as ordinary occurrences, then sadness, grief, and sorrow will not affect you. By maintaining an ordinary mind when observing the world, the heart finds stillness. Only with such a mind can the heart remain calm, ceasing the operation of worries and troubles. When everything is viewed with equanimity as a natural occurrence, your heart becomes stable, peaceful, and motionless. When the heart is still, it has attained serenity. Before we act, it’s our heart that moves first, leading our actions. Impulsive actions arise from a restless heart, followed by physical movements.
It’s essential to discern unwholesome things and illusions and not be deceived by them. Understand this: appearances can be deceptive. Humans and all things possess dual natures. Thus, do not let worldly illusions mislead you. What you see might not necessarily be the truth, and what remains unseen might not always be illusory. One should rely on their capacity for enlightenment and wisdom.
Practising the Dharma is a form of realisation. It pertains to cultivating our human practices — the Dharma Door in the Human Realm. This encompasses acts of kindness, accumulating merits and virtues, assisting others, and prioritising the greater self over the lesser self. Being benevolent, offering assistance, and practising generosity are integral aspects of these human practices. Practising the Dharma involves gaining insights into one’s feelings and capacity for enlightenment, understanding the principles of the human experience, and helping others. When you assist others, they often return the favour. Once enlightened, you will realise that as you recite Buddhist scriptures, Bodhisattvas will come to your aid and protect you.
Those whose minds are swayed by external marks or appearances tend to confuse their priorities, allowing their minds to be swayed by circumstances. For instance, when everyone is engaging in an action, even if it’s clearly misguided, you might find yourself compelled to join in. Isn’t this getting your priorities wrong? You become captivated by the spectacle of others’ actions, disregarding your conscience and inherent nature, and focus on superficial illusions. Do not let your heart’s direction be dictated by the environment. Just because everyone is doing something doesn’t mean you must follow suit. Remain grounded regardless of external pressures. Remember, do not be deceived by what’s in front of your eyes and always distinguish between what’s false and true. Learn to keep your mind unswayed by circumstances, and let your soul remain unaffected by karmic conditions, which means your soul remains unaffected by karma.
I want you to remember: embed all Buddhas from the ten directions and three periods of time into your heart. Imagine your heart as a garden where flowers bloom perennially, with a perpetual spring. Hold the Buddha in your heart and become one with the Buddha and the Bodhisattvas. In essence, you become a Buddha and Bodhisattva yourself. If you wholeheartedly embrace the Bodhisattva’s image and their teachings, internalising them into your thoughts, body, and soul, aren’t you a Bodhisattva? This embodies the Buddhist concept of ‘attaining Buddhahood in this very body’.
Here’s the Dharma Door of “No-thought”: on the surface, it seems the mind is devoid of thoughts, signifying an absence of thoughts. When one recites Buddhist scriptures, there is no thought arising, isn’t this indeed an effective Dharma Door (method)? This state of emptiness indicates it’s a wondrous Dharma. The Dharma Door of “No-thought” implies that you no longer entertain thoughts, transforming all afflictions into non-afflictions. For instance, when troubled, let go of those thoughts, forget them – that’s the essence of this method. Don’t treat afflictions as such, and don’t dwell on or keep them in your heart. This is crucial. Always remember, when troubles come your way, refrain from revisiting or dwelling on them. A major issue, especially among the elderly, is the tendency to dwell on past regrets. Avoid dwelling on the past; resolve your current afflictions and let them be bygones. Don’t anticipate future troubles. Hollow yourself out, sever all afflictions, and your innate intelligence will evolve into wisdom. Transform worldly intelligence into the wisdom of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
I hope everyone progresses diligently in their Buddhist practice and leads an upright life. Never hold onto afflictions or past regrets. Learn to let go in the present moment and let everything flow naturally.