Coming from Nowhere, Going to Nowhere: Teachings on the Dharma Body

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

On the twenty-sixth of December, 2025, during the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered these profound teachings:

"That Buddha, the Tathagata, comes from nowhere and goes to nowhere. There is no birth and no death; He is not bound by the past, the present, or the future. He manifests solely to fulfil His vows and save sentient beings."

The Eternal Nature of the Buddha

These words are drawn from the ninth chapter of The Infinite Sutra (The Buddha Speaks the Mahayana, Infinite Life, Adornment, Purity, Impartiality, and Enlightenment Sutra), which speaks of the perfect accomplishment of the Buddha. When we speak of "that Buddha, the Tathagata," we are referring to the universal nature of all Buddhas. In the context of our current practice, we are speaking of Namo Amituofo.

The term "Tathagata" means "Thus Come One." It signifies that the Buddha does not truly come, nor does He truly go. He is not constrained by the limitations of physical movement, nor is He subject to the cycle of birth and death. He exists beyond the boundaries of the past, the present, and the future. This is the true state of the Buddha's Dharma Body, which embodies the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

Fulfilling the Vow of Compassion

The phrase "to fulfil His vows and save sentient beings" describes the Buddha's singular purpose. While the concepts of "coming" and "going" are merely names and forms used to describe actions, the Buddha’s teachings are rooted in the heart and the original nature. These concepts cannot be fully captured by language, yet we must rely on words to express their deepest meaning.

To say that the Buddha comes from nowhere and goes to nowhere is to describe the freedom of the Dharma Body. It is one with the vastness of the Dharma Realm, where there is no distinction between large and small, or between "you" and "me."

The Language of the Heart

For a spirit without a body, the spirit itself serves to express the intentions of the heart. Human beings, because we possess physical bodies, are bound by physical actions. However, the heart has no form; it cannot be defined by the coming and going of physical movement. The flow of understanding between Buddhas is often subtle and profound, leading one to a state of deep, silent recognition. This is exactly what occurred when Shakyamuni Buddha held up a flower and Mahakasyapa smiled—a moment of perfect, wordless communion.

The Work of Deliverance at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, we witness this truth in action. The countless manifestations of Practitioner Su, who performs the work of Chao Du, are a direct application of the freedom of the Dharma Body. This work is not bound by space or time; it is the manifestation of the Buddha's vow in action.

• The Purpose of Manifestation: These countless manifestations are used solely to fulfil the vow of saving all beings.
• The Scope of Deliverance: This includes the salvation of all sentient beings and even the demon crowds, ensuring that no one is left behind.
• The Ultimate Goal: The work is dedicated to the singular mission of saving all boundless suffering sentient beings, fulfilling the compassionate vow of Namo Amituofo.

May we all realise this truth and practise the path of awakening with a sincere heart. Namo Amituofo.