Soaring Through the Skies: Teachings of Master Xuanzang

The Eternal Longing for Celestial Freedom

Soaring through the skies is a dream held by many. It represents a profound sense of liberation, an existence that is unconstrained, free, and released from the heavy burdens of the physical world. When people are trapped by the difficulties of life, feeling restricted, wronged, or desperate to escape their circumstances, they often look up at the boundless blue sky. They watch the birds in flight and dream of soaring alongside them. In their dreams, they may even find themselves flying through the heavens, completely free from all limitations.

In truth, however, the ability to fly and soar through the skies is not merely a human dream. It is an innate capability inherent within the nature of every spiritual being. Within our original nature, we possess the power known as the Divine Foot. This is the ability of the spirit to naturally leave the physical body and travel through the air, arriving at any destination in an instant. There is no need for maps, no need for navigation, and no need for routes. The speed of this travel is beyond human imagination; one can soar over vast oceans and towering mountains with ease.

The Compassionate Manifestation of Practitioner Su

Consider the example of Practitioner Su, who has realised their true nature. Every morning, Practitioner Su uses their Dharma Body to perform Chao Du, helping sentient beings in the space of the temple to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. They move with such agility—flipping and turning, covering hundreds of miles in a single motion. This is not merely a display of power; it is the manifestation of the great compassionate power inherent in the spirit. It is the fearless spirit of one who does not fear hardship, who takes the lead in saving beings, and who possesses the courage to break through the barriers of space and time.

For a practitioner who has realised their true nature, the Divine Foot is not an impossible feat. It is a natural ability that exists within the self-nature. It allows one to arrive at any desired location in the blink of an eye. This is achieved through the diligent practice of purification, which leads the spirit to a state of clarity, purity, and goodness. When one finds their true nature, these innate abilities are restored. Every single being possesses this potential, but it has been covered up by the pollution accumulated over countless lifetimes.

Unveiling the Radiance of the True Self

Under the compassionate care of Namo Amituofo, Practitioner Su, the ancestral masters, and the Dharma protectors at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, students are encouraged to engage in purification, and then more purification. The goal is to see one's true nature directly and to allow the Six Roots and the spirit to function fully. Only in this way can we hope to reverse the decline of the Buddha’s teachings in this age of the Dharma’s decline, turn back wrong paths, and guide sentient beings with karmic affinity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Those who have realised their true nature naturally manifest the six supernatural powers: the power of knowing past lives, the heavenly eye, the divine hearing, the power of reading minds, the Divine Foot, and the extinction of outflows. These are the natural expressions of an awakened being. They are entirely different from the manifestations seen in spirit possession or mediums. The power of the true self and the power derived from spirit attachment are fundamentally different and cannot be compared in the same breath.

The Distinction Between True Wisdom and Spiritual Attachment

The abilities naturally manifested from the true self are limitless. They are free, appearing wherever conditions are ripe, and are omnipresent. They are not restricted by time or space. Soaring through the skies is merely one of the many capabilities of the true self. If a person was a diligent practitioner in the past, and they encounter the Buddha’s teachings and purification in this life, their past abilities may manifest when conditions mature. There is no need for learning, practising, or reviewing; the inner power of the spirit simply begins to function naturally. In other cases, these abilities may emerge during the process of learning and practice. At such times, one must continue to be active and persistent until they reach the state of Awakening, where these innate powers are fully utilised.

Think of it like the body: if there are organs or circulatory systems that are blocked, once those blockages are cleared through purification, the body returns to its natural, healthy state. In fact, after a practitioner engages in meditation, the spirit also gains the ability to leave the body and soar through the skies. This can be achieved through learning and purification, or it can be a natural manifestation of the spirit once the true self is pure.

The Journey Toward Ultimate Liberation

Students of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre should set their sights on Awakening and the restoration of their true nature. You must first purify yourself. Let your Precepts manifest in your dignified conduct, maintain your meditative concentration constantly, and use your Wisdom to break through the darkness of ignorance. By overcoming your difficulties and combining your own efforts with the power of the Buddha, you will be able to practise with diligence and persistence until you realise your true nature. This is the only way to truly possess the ability to save beings extensively, achieving the goal of saving oneself and others, and ensuring rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.