Clouds Parting and Mist Clearing: The Wisdom of Ashvaghosha Bodhisattva

The Veils of Perception and the Clarity of Truth

Are the clouds and mists seen by the ancients the same as those seen by people today? They can be the same, and yet they can also be different. The arising and ceasing of clouds and mists are governed by the law of impermanence. Today, we know that clouds and mists are composed of water vapour. Scientific research into water crystals has revealed that water molecules show signs of life. They interact with the external environment and manifest in different shapes, expressing their own spiritual nature and emotional changes—joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. It is simply that our physical eyes are limited by the Six Roots, unable to perceive these subtle changes. We see only water, unaware of the profound transformations occurring within.

The Buddha’s Vision and the Unfolding of Reality

When Shakyamuni Buddha was in the world, He used His Buddha-eye to perceive that a single bowl of water contained eighty-four thousand living beings. The number eighty-four thousand is a symbolic figure, representing a quantity so vast it is difficult to count. Such a phenomenon was impossible for the human eye to perceive at that time, and even today, it remains invisible to the naked eye. It requires modern high-magnification technology to reveal these minute organisms. This allows people to witness the truth for themselves, confirming that the words of the Buddha were never empty or false.

In truth, the various phenomena perceived by the Buddha-eye far exceed what has been recorded in the sutras passed down to us. This is because the scope of what the people of that era—and even the esteemed disciples—could comprehend was vastly different and truly inconceivable. Had the Buddha spoken of everything, the masses would not have been able to accept it. Therefore, the teachings Shakyamuni Buddha provided were those relevant to the lives and spiritual cultivation of the people of His time. Now, two or three thousand years later, in this age of the Dharma’s decline, people have used various scientific research methods to verify that the Buddha’s words were indeed true. This has transformed many, leading them to believe in and accept the Buddha’s teachings.

The Timeless Resonance of the Dharma

Facts confirm that these truths and the reality of existence do not change with the passage of time or the shifting of space. From this, we can understand how rare and precious the Buddha’s teachings are. Faith is the most important matter. Once you believe, you must believe truly—with sincerity and earnestness. Only then can the Buddha’s teachings truly enter your heart. Only then can you achieve the stages of right faith, right understanding, practice, and realisation. By following the guidance of a virtuous teacher, you can correct your erroneous views, personal ego, and selfishness. Only then will you have the opportunity to break through delusion, attain enlightenment, realise the Truth, and rediscover the original face of your true self. You will then possess the same Buddha-heart, Buddha-nature, and various capabilities as the Buddha, truly gaining the ability to save yourself and other beings, helping them leave suffering behind and find happiness, and guiding them to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

So, are the clouds and mists seen by the ancients the same as those seen by people today? Some believe that clouds and mists, like the sun and moon, belong to the natural order—composed of water vapour and unchanging across time and space. Others believe that in the same location, the changes in clouds and mists shift according to the environment and terrain. Still others believe that water vapour itself is a form of sentient being, subject to birth and death, and that the composition of these beings changes every time clouds and mists form. Therefore, both perspectives are correct, depending on the observer, the era, the time and space, and the level of meditative concentration one has attained. Regardless, the true self and the reality of the Truth do not change because of these factors.

The Magnificent Work of Deliverance

Today, Practitioner Su of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, using the various capabilities of an awakened being, carries out the great task of saving the world and delivering sentient beings. The skillful means and inconceivable power displayed during lectures, the invitation of spirits to resolve karmic conflicts, the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies, the Dharma Body Chao Du for beings in the six realms of existence, the fourfold assembly, and the Milky Way to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and the manifestation of the Pure Land Dharma Gate—which teaches that there is no illness and no death—are all truly rare and difficult to encounter. They are so extraordinary that they are hard for some to believe!

Ashvaghosha Bodhisattva believes that one day, these phenomena will be fully understood, the dark clouds and mists will part, and the truth will be revealed. Just as the various teachings manifested and spoken by Shakyamuni Buddha remain the guiding principles for the six realms of existence and the fourfold assembly today, many things that were once difficult to believe have been verified one by one. Everyone should treat the teachings of Practitioner Su with the same respect as the teachings of the Buddha, follow them, and practise accordingly; you will surely receive great benefits.

A Rare Opportunity for Spiritual Liberation

Today, the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, led by Practitioner Su, guides the fourfold assembly in Taiwan and Hong Kong in delivering lectures and participating in Thrice Yearning Ceremonies. Those who have the karmic affinity to participate share in a rare and precious spiritual connection. This allows ancestors, ancestral spirits, the karmic creditors within one's body, and attached spirits to listen to the Dharma together. The Buddha-light shines everywhere, and Namo Amituofo appears at the ceremony site. During these assemblies, the spirits receive Chao Du and are guided by the Buddha to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. We welcome everyone to participate in this magnificent event and share in the benefits of the Dharma.

This interview message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.