Friends Coming from Afar: Teachings on Dharma Affinity

Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offers these profound insights on the nature of friendship and the path of the Dharma, as recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable Fa Hui.

The Sacred Bond of Dharma Affinity

A friend is someone who shares your aspirations and walks the same path as you. In this human world, meeting such a person is never a mere coincidence; it is a manifestation of the laws of karma and cause and effect. Perhaps in our past lives or earlier in this current life, we have already walked together. Because our characters and hearts resonate, we find that when we meet again, we naturally share a harmony in our views and our actions.

This connection allows us to support one another, walking together on the path of the Dharma and achieving growth. When someone travels from a distant place to visit another, it is a manifestation of this deep karmic connection. In the context of the Buddha’s teachings, we call this the continuation of our precious Dharma affinity.

The Treasure Mountain of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

The Buddha’s teachings are vast and boundless, like an infinite ocean. For those who come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to seek the Dharma, it is like entering a mountain filled with treasures. Everywhere you look, there is something precious to be found. However, whether you truly benefit depends on whether you possess the wisdom to recognise these treasures:

• Recognising the Treasure: You must know how to identify the profound wisdom within the teachings.
• Learning with Purpose: You must know how to study the Dharma and apply it to your own life.
• Receiving the Benefits: Through listening and contemplation, you can receive the benefits of the Dharma and integrate them into your daily existence.

By doing so, you can gradually change your ways, repent and turn towards goodness, and practise Generosity in your daily life. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is indeed a treasure mountain, allowing every friend who arrives from afar to receive the benefits of the Dharma.

The True Purpose of Practice

When you come to this treasure mountain, you should arrive with a prepared heart. Your practice should be for the sake of all beings, not merely for your own personal benefit. You must recognise that all beings suffer, and you must understand that you are one of them. When you feel the suffering of the body, such as the pains of ageing and illness, you should awaken to the truth of this world.

Through diligent practice, you can rediscover your true self. Do not let yourself fall back into the cycle of rebirth. By saving yourself and saving others, you can achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the only way to truly leave suffering behind and find eternal happiness. Namo Amituofo.