Responding to All Conditions: A Dialogue with Namo Amituofo

The Withered State of the World

On the fifteenth day of June in the year 2017, the disciple Shi Faxi respectfully bowed and invited the Buddha to provide guidance. Namo Amituofo offered these profound teachings:

Worldly affairs are currently in a state of decline. This is not merely a matter of the Dharma being misunderstood; it is as if the entire fabric of the void is trembling. Why has this come to pass? It is because the hearts of people today are not as they were in ancient times. While people may speak of virtue, they do not truly grasp its essence. Why do we say they are not as the ancients? It is because everyone carries layers of obstacles, constantly shielding their own actions and lacking a foundation of pure sincerity or genuine faith.

Most people act solely from their own hearts, driven by self-love and personal desire, believing themselves to be the most important. This is not a favourable sign. Such attitudes create further obstacles to the pure Dharma. How can one practise well under these conditions? How can one hope to reap beautiful fruits? The myriad phenomena of the universe are vast and diverse, yet they are all interconnected. How should one speak of conditions? To view all beings as one body—this is where the true skill of meditative concentration lies.

The Art of Responding to All Conditions

To truly walk the path, one must learn to respond to all conditions, navigate all changes, follow all appearances, and harmonise with the entirety of existence. You must understand that:

• Responding to all conditions means acting with a heart that is not swayed by external circumstances.
• Navigating all changes requires the flexibility of wisdom, ensuring that your practice remains steadfast regardless of the situation.
• Following all appearances means seeing through the illusion of form to the underlying truth.
• Harmonising with the entirety involves letting go of the ego to align with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

Many of you are now using the internet to spread the Dharma, yet you do not see the response you expect, and you find yourselves doubting within your own hearts. In truth, many practitioners in secluded monasteries or retreat centres possess great talent and deep understanding of the Dharma. However, when they look at the internet, they see much impurity. It is not necessarily true or pure, and it is not always trustworthy. Consequently, many feel doubt because the digital world reflects the ordinary, dusty nature of the mundane world.

The Digital Path and the Pure Heart

The Buddha has long spoken of the importance of maintaining a normal, ordinary heart. When you are engaged in this practice and participating in these studies, you must simply do your best. Do not be attached to gains or losses. Everything is determined by the Buddha's meditative concentration; when the conditions are ripe, the results will manifest naturally. If you encounter exhaustion or difficulty, you must nurture your compassion. By following the conditions and the momentum of the situation, you will eventually bring everything to a state of perfection.

The internet is a necessary tool for transmitting the Dharma into the hearts of others. Whether people believe or not, the seeds have already been sown. The very name of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has become a topic of conversation for many in just a few short days. This is an achievement. You must continue to advance step by step, for the work of spreading the Dharma has never been easy. Regardless of success or failure, you must never be lax.

The Mission of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has now opened its doors, and it is important to understand that practice is not merely about seeking one's own peace or comfort. Practice is not about ensuring that everything goes your way. Everything that appears to be non-substantial still carries the weight of the laws of karma and cause and effect. Whenever you encounter obstacles on the path, you must be aware and transform them quickly.

Disciples of the Buddha, remember that the transmission of the Dharma relies on a sincere heart. Your practice must be based on true faith, and your dignity will naturally transform the beings you encounter. You must rely entirely on the Buddha's words and act with sincerity in every step. Do not allow your own body and mind to become trapped in the dust of the mundane world. Your pure Dharma appearance must not be tainted by worldly views, and all the Buddha's words will be presented exactly as they are.

A Call to Awakening

The conditions are unfolding one by one. Do not have a lax heart; continue to practise with diligent practice. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre sets sail by turning towards the right path. In our observations, we see the true crisis of this age. The mundane world does not yet believe, but as disciples of the Buddha, you cannot afford to doubt. If you truly believe, your actions will not be the same as the current appearances of the world.

Everyone is a messenger of the Dharma, a propagator of the truth. You all carry the heavy burden of the Tathagata's family business upon your shoulders. This is the reality. Speak as it is, use analogies as they are, and act as the Tathagata acts. We are all rooted in the Tathagata, we are all welcomed by the Tathagata, and we will all attain the same state as the Tathagata—the Dharma Body of the Tathagata. If the people of this dusty world can encounter these true words of the Buddha, we hope to see the true spreading of the Dharma.

Namo Amituofo