Integrating the Dharma into Daily Life

Venerable Chang Gao, a dedicated monastic, shares profound insights on the progression of spiritual practice and the integration of the Dharma into everyday life. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on September 18, 2023, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Venerable Chang Gao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Most people do not arrive in this world with sudden, profound Awakening. Instead, it is through the accumulation of life experiences, a deep and visceral perception of suffering, an awareness of the constant flux of people and events around us, and the convergence of various magnificent Causal Conditions that we begin to understand the necessity of changing our lives.

The Illusion of Worldly Desire

The people of this world are ignorant. They cling greedily to this physical body, harbouring endless, beautiful fantasies about the desires of the flesh. Once they possess something, they immediately crave more. This keeps the body trapped in a hallucinatory world of chasing desires, unable to find a way out. Think about it—what is the purpose of being alive?

Many people choose to pass their lives in a state of muddled confusion. They ensure their bodies have enough food, sufficient sleep, and a certain level of indulgence. They live in comfort, seeking an easy and happy existence. This is the kind of life most people adore, as it provides the body with a sense of pleasure. However, such a human life is ultimately just a cycle of living for the sake of the body. Once the body is gone, once the breath ceases, everything becomes empty. In the end, the spirit simply follows the sins created in this life and past lives, reincarnated to suffer the consequences of its own karma.

The First Steps Toward Awakening

Some people, however, wake up slightly from that crowd. They begin to understand the need to help their own spirits stop suffering. This group gains a concept of the cycle of reincarnation and begins to realise the existence of the laws of karma and cause and effect. They start to want to change their lives, so they begin to inject the Dharma into their daily routines, learning to chant Buddha's name alongside their normal activities. Yet, this group still has only a superficial understanding of the Buddha’s teachings. Their worldly needs and desires remain stronger than their great vow to seek liberation. Consequently, their practice of chanting Buddha's name is frequently interrupted by the various events they encounter in life, making it difficult for them to focus or maintain meditative concentration.

Deepening the Practice

There is another group of people who are more focused on chanting Buddha's name than the previous group. They might use methods like regular gatherings or discussions to hold each other accountable, helping themselves dedicate a large portion of their lives to studying the Dharma. At the same time, they participate in Buddhist-related activities or engage in volunteer service. They ensure that life is no longer just 'living,' but is instead infused with the Dharma, as they begin to build their own 'Dharma career.'

Creating a Dharma-Centred Home

Then there is a group who, in addition to participating in the activities of the aforementioned group, begin to understand how to internalise the Dharma within their hearts. They use the teachings they have heard to change themselves, and then use their own transformation to influence their families, leading the entire household to study the Buddha’s teachings together and create a 'Dharma-centred family.'

Dedication to the Bodhimanda

There is yet another category of people: they dedicate the majority of their time to the bodhimanda. They may return home occasionally to spend time with their families, but they quickly return to the bodhimanda to practise and serve. Finally, there is a group that completely lets go of the dust of the mundane world. They become monks or nuns, dedicating their entire lives to the Dharma, cultivating their own hearts, and working to save all beings. For them, there is no longer a 'self'—every breath they take is for the sake of all beings.

The Key to Achievement

I have only briefly described a few types of practitioners. There is no distinction of high or low, nor is there any difference in 'good' or 'bad.' Among these people, who can achieve success? Everyone has the potential to achieve it. However, the key point lies in whether one possesses a heart of renunciation and whether one is truly willing to let go of their attachment to the world and the physical body.

Regardless of what role you play in life or in what environment you study the Dharma, you must internalise the teachings within your heart. You must understand the suffering of your own spirit and single-mindedly seek liberation. Once you know that the ultimate goal is to vow to be reborn in the West, you will naturally no longer be attached to the desires of the body. If you have them, you will no longer chase after them.

Technology is advanced, and life is convenient. We can hear the Dharma everywhere; we no longer need to travel over mountains and across rivers to seek it. We must cherish and grasp every precious day, using the Dharma to transform our hearts, eliminate our karmic habits, and make the vow to be reborn in the Western Land, so that we may save all beings. Namo Amituofo."