Love, Compassion, and the Path to Awakening

July 9, 2019

The Boundless Grace of Namo Amituofo

The greatest compassion and grace within the entire Dharma Realm is the vow of Namo Amituofo. Over the course of five eons, He constructed the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. His purpose was to welcome all sentient beings—across boundless time and space, from this world and others—who possess the karmic affinity to enter that sacred realm.

The Illusion of Emotional Attachment

It is often said that if one’s emotions are not heavy, one will not fall into the worldly realm. This is a true reflection of our current existence. The human world is saturated with emotion and love. Whether between parents and children, relatives and friends, men and women, or superiors and subordinates, we are all bound by the karma of emotional attachment. We meet again in this life, carrying the memories and sufferings of past lives, only to begin yet another cycle of entanglement.

Love is the changing and continuing manifestation of the laws of karma and cause and effect within the cycle of rebirth. Compassion, however, is the application of the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way; it bridges the gap between the illusion of love and the reality of our true nature. A sincere heart is priceless because it translates boundless compassion into practical action, working to save beings so they may leave suffering behind and find happiness.

Transforming Love into Compassion

True compassion is an expression of an awakened being. It is the act of removing the suffering of others and bestowing upon them true joy. This is not merely a high-minded ideal; it is the act of entering into the essence of the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. Those who understand the suffering of sentient beings will naturally find their mind-capacity for compassion expanding. This compassion is devoid of even the slightest trace of selfishness. It is purely altruistic. It means letting go of what cannot be taken with us. If you can leave suffering behind in this life and achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, you have accomplished an opportunity that is difficult to encounter even in millions of years.

Emotional love is often tied to ego and stubborn self-views. It is messy, difficult to sever, and creates obstacles to our practice. Compassion may appear cold to the untrained eye, but it is the expression of true love and the application of the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. It helps the spirit grow strong. Unless one has the wisdom to clearly see the mind, it is difficult to manifest such compassion.

The Discipline of the Spiritual Path

Those who practise the Buddha’s teachings must purify their spirits. This is especially true for the monastic community. You should not engage in worldly romance; instead, you must elevate love into the power of a compassionate vow. Like Namo Amituofo, you must face all beings with an endless, compassionate heart. This is the duty of those who have taken the vows of the Buddha—it is a responsibility that cannot be shirked. If you have not yet reached this state, you must awaken and change.

Emotional love easily leads to mutual dependence and possessiveness, which obstructs the path to Awakening. Whether the karma of love is good or bad, true or false, is not something you can control. Once worldly matters are entangled with emotion, they become difficult to untangle. This creates a turbid environment that clouds the heart. Practitioners and monastics must distance themselves from these entanglements. Only after achieving success in your practice will you have the ability and the skills to save your worldly family, transforming emotional ties into Dharma affinity, so that you may all leave the cycle of rebirth behind and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Vastness of the Buddha’s Teachings

The vastness of the Buddha’s teachings lies in their boundless compassion, wisdom, and capacity. Compassion means treating others with respect and wisdom, ensuring they do not develop afflictions. It means letting go when necessary and resolving conflicts without attachment. Changing one’s personality and habits is compassion. Being humble and polite is compassion. Adapting to conditions, maintaining dignified conduct, being gentle and direct, and taking on the suffering of others are all manifestations of great compassionate power. Diligently practising on the Buddha’s path, rediscovering your true self, and helping others be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is the ultimate compassion for all beings.

Emotion operates within love, while compassion is revealed through the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. Love exists within emotion—it is based on mutual desire, ego, and the constant changes of the world. Compassion is the sublimation of love; it exists within the wisdom of the true self. It is constant, selfless, and does not distinguish between self and others. It is the practical action of an awakened being who sees all as one, sharing in both suffering and joy.

A Warning Against the Cliff of Samsara

The patriarchs and venerable masters have earnestly advised us not to be deceived or covered by the illusion of love. You must remain clear-headed. Before us lies a deep cliff of rebirth; be careful not to stumble and fall. Even so, there are countless people who bind themselves tighter with ropes of attachment, ignoring the danger ahead, and falling together into the abyss. Those around them can only sigh, for even though they are victims themselves, they cannot stop the next generation from repeating the same mistakes.

Illusory love is a part of the cycle of rebirth. Once you enter it, you are trapped on a path that is difficult to escape. I hope that everyone will awaken. Do not trade your peace and purification for a fleeting, turbulent life of emotional attachment. Many have not received the teachings of the true Dharma and believe this is all there is to life. They do not know that this covers the true light of their self-nature, leading to repeated cycles of rebirth where dust accumulates upon the heart. It is rare to encounter the Great Dharma of Namo Amituofo in this life. If you do not strive to leave this mire and vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, it will be difficult to wash away the dust and leave the suffering of rebirth behind.

The Path Forward

The whirlpool of love is the primary reason people enter the cycle of rebirth. You should distance yourself from it and remain calm and clear. It is not too late to recognise the true face of love. Elevate your love into compassion. Let your compassionate heart be boundless, extending beyond your own family to all sentient beings in the vastness of the Dharma Realm. They are all connected by karmic affinity and will benefit from your practice.

The Buddha’s teachings cannot be understood without someone to explain them, even for the wise. We are fortunate to have Practitioner Su, who possesses the wisdom and compassion of an awakened being. Through his lectures, he applies the compassion and wisdom of the true self to save beings, resolving their confusion and helping them understand the reality of the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. His work in performing Chao Du for immeasurable and boundless suffering beings, helping them be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, is truly rare and difficult to encounter. You should cherish this affinity, uphold Faith, Vows, and Practice, and repay the grace of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su for their teachings and their work in saving beings.

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

Namo Amituofo