Reflections on the Current State of the Dharma Realm

This interview was recorded on October 24, 2022, at the Western Dharma-Nature Land. Venerable Master Chin Kung, who sought deliverance and now resides in the Western Dharma-Nature Land, reflects on the current state of the Dharma Realm, the interconnectedness of all beings, and the vital importance of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre as a sanctuary where Namo Amituofo resides to deliver sentient beings.

Venerable Master Chin Kung speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. The topic Namo Amituofo has set for me today is the 'current state.' This is an incredibly vast subject. When we speak of the current state, we are referring to the six realms of existence, the Four Sacred Realms, the vastness of the Dharma Realm, and even the current state of the Milky Way. Where should we even begin? Every situation we observe is not a random occurrence; each has its own causes and consequences.

The Web of Cause and Effect

This 'current state' might be a cause, or it might be a result. In any case, it is inseparable from the laws of karma and cause and effect. These two words—cause and effect—encompass immeasurable and boundless situations, which is precisely the greatness of the Buddha’s teachings. If we expand the scope, we can look at the state of the entire Dharma Realm, the state of emptiness, or the state of the Milky Way. If we narrow it down, we can discuss the state of the Four Sacred Realms or the state of the six realms of rebirth.

When we look at the situations familiar to us—beyond the hells, the animal realm, the hungry ghost realm, the human world, the celestial realms, and the asura realm—we see the situations unfolding around each of us every day. If we narrow the scope further, we can speak of my own current state, the state of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, or the state of the fourfold assembly. For every sentient being, there is a current situation they are experiencing. Unless one has realised their true nature, sentient beings are scattered throughout the vastness of the Dharma Realm, resulting in immeasurable and boundless situations. Every situation I have mentioned is a place where sentient beings exist, which shows just how closely related they are to us. We must remember that we, too, are sentient beings. Even the ones we revere—Namo Amituofo, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva—though they are already Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, humbly refer to themselves as sentient beings.

Understanding Our Own Reality

Most people are interested in the current state of the people and things around them. But do you truly understand your own current state? You might think you do, but most of the time, your understanding is incomplete and one-sided. If we talk about the state of one's body, mind, and spirit, it becomes incredibly rich and complex. Often, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and true spiritual friends understand our situations better than we do ourselves. Scenes from our lives appear before them like a movie.

Generally, we care about others or pay attention to certain matters because they have some connection to us. Or, even if they do not know you, you recognise them because they possess certain qualities that make them worth your time and energy, allowing you to learn or gain satisfaction. However, the dedication of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and true spiritual friends is different; they help you without seeking any return. They only wish for you to progress and practise diligently. At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I see this very clearly. The fourfold assembly must be content and cherish this opportunity!

The Struggle of the Busy and the Lost

Everyone is so busy these days. To find time to do something meaningful, one must carefully arrange their schedule. Many people live in a state of constant busyness, spending their days in a flurry of activity. At the same time, there are many whose current state is one of having nothing to do. They have everything they could want, yet they still feel unsatisfied and continue to pursue more, or they seek more stimulating and different lifestyles just to feel they have something to do. They do not know how to give. Their current state is one of searching for satisfaction, repeating the same days over and over. Others know the truth of reality but struggle within it, unable to escape past hurts, letting pain accompany them. There are countless such situations. Are you one of them?

The Perspective of a Practitioner

To be honest, from the perspective of practice, unless one has realised their true nature, others have no real connection to you. When I say this, many are puzzled: 'Venerable Master, isn't that too biased? I have roles as a parent, a child, a teacher, a student, or a partner. We are closely related; how can you say the other person has no connection to me?'

At this point, you must have a clear mind. As I said, unless one has realised their true nature, they can be connected to anyone or have no connection to anyone; they are free and at ease. The 'connection' exists because one intends to save them, but in truth, there is no connection—we come alone, we die alone, we go alone, and we come alone. Other beings in the cycle of rebirth are merely meeting us in this lifetime, forming various roles. In fact, this is all karma—arising and ceasing—and we must live through these karmic lives. The truth of reality is such that unless you are practising and truly have no connection to them, letting go completely, you cannot find yourself or your true nature. As long as you have even the slightest connection or attachment to other people or things, you are polluted. You cannot attain purity, let alone realise your true nature and attain Buddhahood. Therefore, when I say 'no connection,' I am speaking from the perspective of practice.

Cultivating Meditative Concentration

To continue this topic, one might ask: 'I have various roles and identities, how can there be no connection?' You must understand that the principle and the phenomena are separate. On the level of phenomena, there can be a connection because we live together or interact, and we inevitably influence one another. If you allow yourself to be entangled, then there is a connection. If you can be independent and remain unaffected by them, they will not cause you direct harm, and there is no karmic entanglement between you. This is the skill of the heart.

Karmic retribution proceeds within the cycle of rebirth. If you feel a connection in your heart, it will never end. How can you practise then? In principle, there is no connection. In phenomena, because of our current situation, we interact and share our lives. It is best to keep these interactions as simple as possible to reduce pollution and wandering thoughts, allowing us to find ourselves with minimal interference. Of course, this requires meditative concentration. You must cultivate the power of concentration so that you are not disturbed by others; only then do you have the ability to transform your current situation. Otherwise, your situation will simply follow your karma, remaining a part of the cycle of rebirth. It is just the same content on different dates—day after day, year after year. For a practitioner, every second is important. If you realise your true nature, it is different! If you have realised your true nature, your current state is no longer bound by the karma of rebirth. No one can trap or frame you. That is a kind of freedom, a kind of coolness; in fact, this is how our original face should be.

As I say this, I also reflect on my own current state after sixty years of giving Dharma talks. As the seconds and minutes pass, the scenes of my life change. It is truly a sigh to see how things change with time.

The Illusion of Permanence

When impermanence arrives, every situation becomes a thing of the past, and the current state becomes nothing more than a passing cloud. What is there that you can hold onto? You cannot hold onto anything. Therefore, we should not try to grasp at anything. Parents should not try to grasp at their children, thinking they will rely on them later and thus treating them better; in fact, this is a great crisis for them! Especially in today's society, I have long seen that the root of these problems lies in the fact that people only know one side of their current state and not the other. They do not understand that they have a true nature. Once you find your true nature and it begins to function, the impact is immense. However, we cannot deny that when any fact or situation occurs, as time passes, whether it becomes a variable or not depends on oneself. If it is a variable, there are simply too many; every sentient being may have different situations and requirements based on their own needs.

Looking at the current state of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, if the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas deem it feasible, they will allow people to come and participate. The target audience can be determined by the future development of the entire group. Namo Amituofo is at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, so there is truly no need to worry about the future. I believe this is an inevitable result that is about to happen. It is just that there are not enough resources to store, which is why the Buddha’s teachings on Generosity are truly profound.

Life in the Western Dharma-Nature Land

I know many are interested in my current state. I am doing very well. Without a physical body, this spirit is clearer, and I can better understand Laozi’s words: 'My great trouble is that I have a body.' Conversely, I also feel fortunate to be able to stay here. This is a completely different world from the one I lived in when I had a body. I am now living a spiritual life—a life without any interference from the physical world. It is very simple, very purified, and very beautiful. This place is the Western Dharma-Nature Land.

My current state is that I am being interviewed. Time passes quickly; tens of minutes, almost an hour has passed. In the moment of today's interview, my state is actually not ideal. During the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies of the past three days, I saw Practitioner Su reveal his inconceivable state. Every situation he handled was something to be admired! But before Practitioner Su expressed himself, I had already received the message in my heart. What was he expressing? Whether it was listening to the Dharma talks or hearing the teachings of Namo Amituofo and Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, which he relayed to the fourfold assembly, I thought: 'If only the people in the Pure Land school could hear this, how wonderful that would be!' Yet, to this day, there is no news from them. (I paused here, then continued after a moment.)

In this place—the Western Dharma-Nature Land—I am living a very good life. I do not need to eat, truly, I do not need to eat, yet I am full of energy. It is so bright here, with Buddha-light shining everywhere, so the energy is abundant. It is no wonder that so many beings from the Milky Way come to seek Spiritual Deliverance, to seek energy, to seek light. This is not without reason. Is this not a universal principle? No matter where they are, everyone needs energy and light; wherever there is energy and light, they will go there. Is it not the same for humans? They also need to eat to have physical strength. Ordinary spirits also need to absorb energy—the scent of food or the essence of the human body. Originally, this essence maintains one's basic spirit and physical strength, but humans also have times of weakness, which is when they need an energy supply. In the spiritual world, light is also a source of energy. The Buddha-light here is very abundant, so everyone has sufficient energy and looks spirited.

The Unique Combination at Hsiang Kuang

Here, I do not need to eat, which is a great relief. In the past, I had to buy, wash, cook, and season food, and wash the dishes afterward. Eating also brings the problem of waste. So, a spirit here truly lives a very comfortable life. Furthermore, I can listen to the sutras and hear the Dharma, listen to Practitioner Su give lectures, and observe the activities of the temple. I have mentioned these things in previous interviews. In my current state, I am a spirit, and I am speaking from the state of a spirit. Moreover, I am a practitioner, the temple is a place where Namo Amituofo resides, and Practitioner Su is an awakened being. Coming to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, every aspect of this is a very special combination. The part that unites everyone’s spirit is Namo Amituofo. Namo Amituofo came to the human world to save sentient beings from suffering, so he must help us solve our own suffering. This requires great ability; often, we cannot even solve our own problems, so how can we solve others'? But Namo Amituofo is different. He has no problems—he is completely without problems—and he can help countless sentient beings. Even more so, the beings in the place where he currently resides are the direct beneficiaries.

At this moment, I hope that those I know, and even those I do not know, can come here to draw close to Namo Amituofo and become beings he can help. Namo Amituofo is not an ordinary person, nor an ordinary spirit; he is the supreme spirit. If I say it this way, it might feel like there is a distinction of high and low, so let us say that Namo Amituofo is the Universal Buddha, who understands the state of the Dharma Realm clearly and thoroughly. If you come to ask for his help, he will certainly help you. Sometimes people think of going to a temple to seek peace of mind, but whether there is truly a Buddha in that temple is not certain. There might not be a Buddha, or there might be, or it might not even be a Buddha or Bodhisattva, but other ghost deities, immortals, or even beings from the Demon Realm. This world is too complex; good and bad exist simultaneously. To understand the truth of reality, you cannot only know the good things. You must also know the dark side, but the important thing is that you can understand and recognise these things without being influenced. Only with this ability can you save sentient beings.

The Power of Deliverance

I have watched the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and every time, it broadens my horizons. The main deliverer in the ceremony is, of course, Namo Amituofo. If Namo Amituofo were not present, how could this ceremony truly proceed? Some might think: 'It is possible. Even if I am not sure if Namo Amituofo is present, I can still deliver sentient beings.' Yes! But how are you delivering them? The requirement at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is to deliver sentient beings to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, or to the Celestial or Human realms. In many places, after the ceremony, the ghost realm beings simply return to the ghost realm. They lack the ability and the merit to send beings to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss; they can only let them return to the ghost realm. This shows the difference in the merit of the leader of the ceremony and what the sentient beings receive. Practitioner Su knows the suffering of sentient beings and wants to help them leave suffering behind. He thinks of many ways to help them, and every method makes you understand and couldn't help but smile. His countless manifestations are very worthy of everyone's study, because helping so many sentient beings leave their current state and ascend to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, the Celestial Realm, or the Human Realm is not an easy task. I hope everyone can contribute their efforts. Saving sentient beings is saving oneself, as we are all sentient beings. This is also the reason why Namo Amituofo calls on everyone to return to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, and why he hopes everyone can come here.

A Final Plea

I think of the Association and the Academy again. Now, when I speak of them, I feel a sense of depression and loss. I do not want to think about it anymore. Sometimes I feel like I should just let it go—let them be, whether it is good or bad. I have already left the human world and do not want to interfere in their affairs. However, I am the most critical person who could connect the temple with the Association and the Academy. I originally wanted to do this, but now I feel I do not want to manage it anymore because I have said so much without any response. They are already living their own lives, doing whatever they want. Even if some have heard or seen this news, they have all sorts of thoughts. In short, the result is that they have not come to the temple to find the Buddha or to find me. It is very likely that everyone is still in the state of boycotting and blocking Practitioner Su. If this part is not resolved, progress will be difficult. The so-called progress is saving themselves; if there is no self-salvation, the Buddha’s power cannot be added. But they do not feel that this matter is important, so they do not feel that the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is important. They do not feel the temple is important at all, and thus they cannot receive the benefits! (I say this with a heavy heart.)

Mutual tolerance and learning is not only an attitude of respect when dealing with others, but also a respect for oneself. In the past, the Pure Land school was led by a few well-known Venerables who stood on the stage to educate everyone, telling them what the situation was and what they should do. In reality, one must actually do these things, and these things require a lot of time and energy to prepare and coordinate to have the opportunity to educate everyone on the stage. Currently, the temple is indeed very short-handed, but I cannot help. Practitioner Su’s lectures are truly worth listening to. If you listen and follow his instructions, you can attain Awakening and realise your true nature. I hope that Dharma protectors and believers with this expertise will appear soon to help themselves and help the temple, so that Namo Amituofo can emerge to the forefront sooner, help everyone realise their true nature, and save everyone back to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

I will stop here for today. Namo Amituofo.'

Shi Jingkong, with palms joined

At the Western Dharma-Nature Land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Australia