It’s crucial to remember that in practising Buddhism, we should avoid greed, anger, and ignorance. If someone offers to help you acquire wealth, be cautious and deeply reflect on whether their motives are genuine. Bodhisattvas won’t assist us in acquiring material wealth. Wealth comes as a result of your past acts of generosity and deeds from previous lives. Our aim in practising Buddhism is to find the correct Dharma Door (method) and path, one that fosters both physical health and spiritual well-being. Only with a healthy body and a clear mind can we sincerely engage in cultivating our mind, reciting scriptures, and following Buddhist teachings.
Some might argue, “Isn’t desiring good health also a form of craving?” What’s your opinion? In reality, our bodies are gifts from our parents. These bodies inevitably face many karmic obstructions and adversities in life. Keeping healthy not only honours our parents but is also essential when experiencing the karmic consequences of our past actions, whether good or bad. Desiring such health is a proper wish. In contrast, yearning for wealth or pursuing fame and power is misguided. If you seek wealth or influential positions, the Bodhisattva won’t manifest their divine presence to assist you. Yet, if your wishes are for health, a fulfilling job, success in learning, or a harmonious family life, the Bodhisattva, in their compassion, will help you. It’s vital for everyone to remember that as Buddhists, we mustn’t stray from the right path. When you stray in your Buddhist practices, the actions you take determine the outcomes you’ll face. As followers of Buddhism, every word and deed should be undertaken responsibly.
If you’re constantly drawn to every new Dharma Door you come across, you won’t make genuine progress in your Buddhist practice. True dedication means identifying a specific Dharma Door and persistently pursuing it. This mirrors the principles of Buddhist practice; you need to fully comprehend a Dharma Door to truly commit to it. If you keep switching from one Dharma Door to another simply because a new one seems appealing, you’ll find yourself entangled in confusion. For instance, if you’ve been devoted to Master Lu’s teaching but suddenly find another that seems appealing, walking away from your original practice can stir internal conflicts. You might wonder: “What about all that I’ve learned previously? Should I continue or adopt this new method?” Hence, always remember: in practising Buddhism, select one Dharma Door, delve deeply into it, and refrain from being constantly distracted by alternatives.
Delving deeply into a single Dharma Door is also referred to as “Mastering one method.” What does this mean? It implies that each Dharma Door, once mastered, becomes universally applicable. Each Dharma Door encourages diligence, promotes doing good deeds, and practising virtue. When you find the Dharma Door most suitable for you, you’ll derive increasing joy and benefits from it, leading you to the Buddha’s teachings. However, many stubbornly adhere to a Dharma Door that brings them neither joy nor enlightenment. In reality, they’ve strayed from the true path.
Many people have studied various Dharma Doors, but why do some feel joy upon encountering my teachings? It’s because they’ve discovered the method that suits them best. Upon finding it, one must strive to master this one method. As the saying goes, ‘Mastering one leads to understanding all.’ For instance, during my Dharma Talks, I don’t solely discuss the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door that I teach, but also highlight the essence of other Dharma Doors. As you diligently follow this Dharma Door, you’ll eventually understand all Dharma Doors, ensuring you don’t deviate from the right path. This is because you’ve grasped the essence of the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door and can complement it with the benefits of other Dharma Doors.
If the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door resonates deeply with you, then you should strive to practise it diligently. By focusing on one method, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of all methods. This is similar to how parents teach their children: from a young age, they’re taught manners, instructed not to insult others or tamper with other people’s belongings. Once children internalise these teachings, they benefit for a lifetime, reducing the likelihood of engaging in disputes. Doesn’t this illustrate how ‘Mastering one leads to understanding all’? However, many children grow up in tumultuous environments, perhaps due to parental separation or family discord. These children are more likely to deviate, associating with poor company, leading to bad decisions. This analogy emphasises the idea of understanding one principle, mastering one method. Therefore, it’s essential to find the most suitable Dharma Door for yourself and persistently practise it to make meaningful progress.
Once you’ve mastered one method, you’ll come to understand all methods. And when you understand all methods, it’s as if you’ve established a connection with all other methods. Today, I also establish connections with all other Dharma Doors. You can think of it this way: I might not practise other Dharma Doors, but I can still form a bond with them. All Dharma Doors aim to guide and liberate sentient beings, similar to how all doctors aim to heal. I might not consult every doctor, but I respect them all.
You should strive to practise the ‘Dharma of association’, which involves correspondingly adapting to all teachings. For example, if you’ve learned a bit from other Dharma Doors and have adapted to some foundational teachings before practising the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door, that’s perfectly fine. By ‘foundational,’ I mean basic understanding—before meeting me, you undoubtedly had some awareness of concepts like Bodhisattva, Buddha, positive karmic affinities, or negative karmic affinities. Without this groundwork, how could you resonate with my teachings and immerse yourself in the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door? Prior to follow my teachings, you already had a foundational knowledge, such as how to pray to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and understanding their mission in the world, which is to awaken and liberate sentient beings. However, don’t delve too deeply into other Dharma Doors. A basic comprehension to complement your primary practice suffices. If I were to discuss Dharma Doors without even basic knowledge of other Dharma Door tenets, how could I help guide and awaken more sentient beings? I regularly explain to followers of different faiths how our belief system aligns with, yet differs from, theirs. Indeed, at the core, most religions converge on the same foundational truths.
Everyone should understand the principle of ‘Mastering one leads to understanding all.’ If you’re truly proficient in one Dharma Door, you will gradually come to comprehend the others. Once you’ve mastered one, a Bodhisattva will descend upon you, granting their protection and guidance. If you dabble in multiple Dharma Doors without devoting yourself to any particular one, it’s possible that no specific Bodhisattva will bestow their blessings upon you, making it difficult to delve deep into one Dharma Door and ultimately achieve Buddhahood. Currently, as you practise Buddhism under my guidance, you turn to me for assistance when you encounter issues. If you keep shifting from one teaching to another, who will you turn to when you’re confronted with challenges? It’s important to grasp this concept.
If you diligently practise a single Dharma Door, a Bodhisattva will descend to bless and protect you. So why would you need to seek assistance elsewhere? The Buddha dwells within you. When you’ve mastered one method, your being becomes an embodiment of emptiness. Once you’ve attained this state of emptiness, everything naturally falls into place, and a Bodhisattva will descend upon you. When you frequently practise the deeds of a Bodhisattva, you essentially become a Bodhisattva yourself.
Consider this analogy: When a storage room is full of clutter, there’s no way through. Clear the clutter, and it becomes accessible. Now, if you try to study every Dharma Door, can you truly achieve emptiness? Without emptiness, understanding can’t be reached. Similarly, if the body has many ailments, its meridians (energy pathways) are obstructed. If your mind is constantly overshadowed by sorrow, anxiety, and distress, you may become ill. If your mind is cluttered with the three poisons of greed, anger, and ignorance and you can’t achieve mental clarity, how can you expect to understand? Only by letting go of everything can you attain emptiness. Once empty, Bodhisattvas will descend upon you. For instance, why is it that many Bodhisattvas visit the Guan Yin Hall? It’s a sanctuary, free from disorder, attracting visitors with pure intentions. When you’re unburdened by distracting thoughts and impurities, Bodhisattvas will descend upon you. But if your mind is always troubled by sorrow, discomfort, worries, and negative thoughts, would Bodhisattvas approach? Therefore, emptiness is the key.
Whether you’re in a state of emptiness or obstruction, it all reflects on your face. If someone wears a constant expression of worry, can they truly be empty? If you try to explore every Dharma Door, a lifetime wouldn’t be enough. Given the profound depth of each method, how could you possibly grasp them all? The Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door I now teach you is one that, once comprehended, gives insight into all other Dharma Doors. I impart to you the essence of all methods, pointing out the most beneficial path to practice. I never criticise any Dharma Door. Instead, I harness their collective strengths to address weaknesses. These “weaknesses” refer to the challenges in your spiritual practice, educating you, awakening people, and on your path of practising Buddhism. If you’re grappling with negative karma, health issues, family disputes, career obstacles, or other misfortunes, I offer guidance to alleviate and resolve them. This is the unique strength of the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door.
