Seeking the Dharma with Sincerity and Respect
Words of Namo Amituofo
Recorded by Venerable HaiZe on July 2, 2023
The Motivation Behind Your Search
When you set out to seek the , you carry a specific vow within your heart. You hope that the path you are pursuing will enable you to fulfil the aspirations you hold deep within your soul. In your search, you express the very things that your heart longs for. Your motivation is the compass that guides your journey, and it determines the direction in which your practice will unfold.
For those who seek the Dharma through the , the primary goal is personal liberation. The practitioner wishes to leave suffering behind and gain happiness for themselves, focusing on their own escape from the cycle of rebirth. However, those who seek the Dharma through the approach the path with a different perspective. They do not focus on their own personal liberation. Instead, they dedicate their efforts to the masses. They strive to help all beings leave suffering and gain happiness, and in the process of serving others, they naturally achieve their own perfection.
The Elevation of -Mind-Spirit
As you walk the path of the Great Vehicle, you are engaged in the noble work of helping others. In this process, your own Body-Mind-Spirit is elevated. This elevation is not accidental; it occurs because of the purification you undergo and the depth of your sincerity. Because the level of purification and the degree of sincerity vary from person to person, the resulting elevation will also differ.
What does it truly mean to seek the Dharma with sincerity and respect? It means that you have let go of the 'self'. You no longer cling to your own opinions, your own desires, or your own limited understanding. You are willing to follow the teachings and reminders provided to you, allowing them to transform your life completely. You do not filter the Dharma through your own ego; you simply listen and act.
The Principle of the Empty Vessel
Think of your heart as a vessel. If you seek the Dharma with a certain degree of sincerity, you will receive a corresponding degree of benefit. This is a natural process that occurs within the heart. Because you have cleared a space in your heart through your sincerity, you are able to receive the wisdom of the Dharma. If you empty your heart completely, creating ten parts of space for sincerity, you will receive ten parts of benefit. This is the fundamental principle: one part of sincerity yields one part of benefit, and ten parts of sincerity yield ten parts of benefit.
Everything happens naturally. The benefit is not something that is given to you from the outside; it is something that arises from within your own heart. When you remove the obstacles of the ego, you create the necessary space for the truth to reside. This is why sincerity is the most vital tool in your spiritual toolkit.
A Call to Constant Practice
Seeking the Dharma with sincerity and respect is the fundamental mindset for every practitioner. It is the foundation upon which all other progress is built. I hope that you, my children, will always maintain this state of mind. Do not let your sincerity be a fleeting emotion; let it be the constant rhythm of your life.
Take the Dharma you have heard and practise it in your daily life and your spiritual practice. Do not let these precious teachings pass by in vain. Every moment is an opportunity to deepen your sincerity and to expand the space in your heart for the truth. By doing so, you ensure that your practice is not merely a collection of words, but a living, breathing transformation that leads you closer to the of Ultimate Bliss.
Namo Amituofo
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Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library