Saving or Being Saved: The Path of the Practitioner

This teaching was recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on the twenty-third of April, 2022. Within the vast and intricate web of the laws of karma and cause and effect, we find ourselves bound by countless threads of debt and obligation.

The Unyielding Laws of Karma

The reality of our existence is governed by these immutable laws. If you are a debtor, you must repay what you owe. If you have lent something out and it remains unpaid, you may seek to collect that debt. Whether it is a kindness to be repaid, a grievance to be settled, or a resentment to be resolved, these karmic relationships are not confined to a single lifetime. They weave through the past, the present, and the future, spanning across the three periods of time.

Because these laws are so pervasive, we must take the initiative to change our own destiny. How do we begin this transformation? We must adopt a new standard for our conduct: if others owe us, we may choose not to collect, thereby releasing the debt. If we owe others, we must ensure that we repay them fully. If we have bestowed a kindness upon someone, we should not expect them to return it. Conversely, if someone has bestowed a kindness upon us, we must make every effort to repay it.

The Compassionate Path of Responsibility

This approach is the true manifestation of a compassionate heart and the practice of genuine Wisdom (Prajna). When we act with a sincere heart, free from hypocrisy or mixed motives, we create a space for grace. This allows the other party to be granted a reprieve from the heavy burden of their karmic debts.

However, this path requires that we be strict with ourselves. We must be willing to suffer a loss and be generous toward others, ensuring that we do not allow ourselves to fall into situations where we are indebted to others. By maintaining this integrity, we protect our own spiritual progress.

The Infinite Grace of the Enlightened Ones

There is another dimension to this journey. The Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and ancestral masters possess infinite merit, Dharma wealth, prestige, and supernatural powers. They are capable of helping beings to dissolve their obstacles and avoid calamities without ever asking for anything in return. This is the profound preciousness of encountering the teachings of a Buddha or Bodhisattva.

A Call to Awaken and Serve

To the students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, I ask you to reflect deeply upon your own path. What is your ultimate goal in this life? Do you wish to actively engage in your practice to become a Buddha, a Bodhisattva, or an ancestral master—one who has the capacity to save the world and rescue suffering beings? Or do you prefer to remain a being who is constantly being saved, drifting aimlessly while being reincarnated within the cycle of rebirth?

At this very moment, your practice at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre provides you with the unique opportunity to transform. You have the potential to move from being one who is saved to becoming one who saves others. You must actively grasp this opportunity with both hands and dedicate yourself to this noble cause.

Namo Amituofo