Diligent Practice Everywhere: An Interview with Skanda Bodhisattva

The Silent Devotion of the Unseen

Even when Practitioner Su is not delivering a formal Dharma talk, the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre remains a sanctuary filled with spiritual activity. Skanda Bodhisattva and other Dharma protectors observe that many beings remain in the vicinity of the temple. When the formal teachings conclude, some beings choose to depart, yet a great number remain, choosing to continue their practice in the stillness of the temple grounds.

These beings engage in various forms of devotion, each finding their own way to connect with the Buddha-light:

• Many sit in meditation, calming their hearts while listening to the Buddha-name chanting that emanates from the temple.
• Some perform circumambulation, walking around the temple while chanting the name of Namo Amituofo.
• Others perform prostrations, bowing in place as they follow the rhythm of the Buddha-name.
• Families, including elderly individuals and mothers with their children, walk around the perimeter of the temple, chanting Namo Amituofo with every step.

Skanda Bodhisattva has even witnessed teachers bringing groups of students to the temple. When they discover that Practitioner Su is not teaching at that moment, they simply find a quiet place to sit together, sharing stories of how Namo Amituofo practised during his time as a Bodhisattva. Monastics also seek out quiet corners to recite the Infinite Life Sutra with profound focus and reverence. Namo Amituofo and the sages of the Western Pure Land see and hear all of this. They often express their praise for the diligent practice of these beings. Everyone is bathed in the light of Namo Amituofo, appearing peaceful and serene as they go about their practice. Skanda Bodhisattva and the other protectors naturally watch over these beings, ensuring they are not disturbed by external spirits so that they may focus on their own diligent practice.

Diligence as the Breath of the Soul

For a true practitioner, diligent practice should be as essential and inseparable as the cells within one’s own body. Every person, object, and scene one encounters in daily life is an opportunity for such practice. If you have a sincere heart, you can apply yourself with diligence at any time, in any place, and under any circumstances. Just as these beings demonstrate, everything within the temple serves as a source of teaching, listening, and seeking the Dharma:

• The Buddha-name chanting and the Buddha-light.
• The scriptures and the very ground upon which one walks.
• The flowers, trees, and the natural environment surrounding the temple.

When a practitioner is truly determined to be diligent, they are not limited by time or location. This is especially true for the practice of chanting the name of Namo Amituofo. Whether you are walking, sitting, or standing, the Buddha-name should never leave your lips, your heart, or your mind. Wherever your feet tread, whatever your eyes behold, and whatever you come into contact with, you can create a profound Dharma affinity simply by letting the sound of the Buddha-name resonate through your presence.

A Heartfelt Plea to the Fourfold Assembly

Members of the fourfold assembly often forget to maintain the Buddha-name in their hearts. Those with high levels of awareness can immediately catch themselves and return to the Buddha-name, but those who are less mindful are easily led astray by their environment, their own thoughts, and their wandering delusions. Every day consists of twenty-four hours, yet how that day unfolds depends entirely on the state of your heart and mind. Seeing the spirits and beings in the space around the temple practising with such intensity, Skanda Bodhisattva feels compelled to encourage the fourfold assembly to strengthen their own resolve for diligent practice.

Skanda Bodhisattva sincerely hopes that you will understand the vital importance of practising while you still possess a physical body. You must strive with all your might, for you do not want to reach the end of this life only to lament in vain. When you no longer have a physical form, you will not be as fortunate as the spirits and beings you see here today. They are blessed because Namo Amituofo is residing here, and because Practitioner Su and the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre exist to provide a path to salvation. Without this, no one knows where one might be reborn through the cycle of reincarnated life, and the opportunity to receive the Dharma and be saved becomes incredibly slim. Please, cherish this period of quiet retreat and seize the opportunity to practise diligently.

The Compassionate Sacrifice of Practitioner Su

The beings residing within the body of Practitioner Su are still being invited out. One can see that the condition of his skin is gradually improving, yet he often experiences pain or the sensation of movement as these beings shift and crawl within him. Sometimes, Skanda Bodhisattva is able to invite them out to relieve this suffering. However, some beings are deeply attached to the idea that Practitioner Su must acknowledge their presence, and they are only willing to leave once a memorial tablet has been written for them. Although Skanda Bodhisattva could forcibly remove these spirits and send them to the Dharma-Nature Land, many of them are stubborn and unyielding. Forcing them out would cause further injury to the skin of Practitioner Su. Therefore, Skanda Bodhisattva sometimes waits, observing the situation before deciding whether to intervene, with the fundamental principle being that no further harm must come to Practitioner Su.

The red rash on the back of Practitioner Su has existed for some time, and Skanda Bodhisattva and the other protectors have long been aware of it. It was only recently that Practitioner Su allowed the fourfold assembly to see these conditions through photographs. The shock and emotional turmoil felt by the disciples were felt throughout the space, and it was not only the disciples who witnessed this; the many beings present to hear the Dharma also saw it. Many of these beings knelt and wept, moved by compassion and shame. For both the disciples and the beings, this was a profound lesson in physical and spiritual education. The compassion of Practitioner Su, who saves beings without complaint or regret, was revealed in that moment.

It is the hope of Skanda Bodhisattva that this subtle, transformative power will enter the hearts of the fourfold assembly, serving as a driving force for your future work in spreading the Dharma and saving beings. If Practitioner Su, who has realised his true nature, still endures such suffering, then how can you consider your own minor difficulties to be of any significance? You should transform these hardships into the strength needed for diligent practice, overcoming your own problems of drowsiness, agitation, and anger, and advancing steadily along the Buddha’s path. Skanda Bodhisattva and the other Dharma protectors will continue to do their utmost to protect Practitioner Su and the fourfold assembly.

Namo Amituofo.

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