Suffering and the Path to Liberation

The Eightfold Shadows of Human Existence

People often live in fear of suffering. They are afraid of hardship, afraid of pain, and afraid of the many trials that life presents. Because of this, they feel anxious and unsettled. Naturally, everyone wishes to distance themselves from the suffering of the body and the mind, and to escape the various calamities that befall us. In his infinite compassion, the Buddha categorized the suffering experienced by sentient beings into the Eight Sufferings. By understanding these, one can develop the sincere aspiration to leave suffering behind and find true happiness. The Eight Sufferings encompass the entirety of our human experience.

The suffering of separation from loved ones: This is the pain of being unable to stay with those we cherish. Whether it is the temporary separation from family or the finality of death, the heart aches when bonds are broken. Even the pets we keep, such as cats, dogs, or horses, bring this suffering when the time for parting arrives. Where there is attachment, there is suffering; when we let go of attachment, we are free from this distress.

The suffering of being with those we resent: This is the agony of being forced to live or interact with those we dislike or fear. Life is a cycle of rebirth where we must repay our karmic debts. Often, due to ignorance or past karma, we are drawn together with those who cause us resentment or anger. Even if others offer advice to ease the tension, it is difficult to control one's own mind. Resentment arises from within, and suffering follows.

The suffering of unfulfilled desires: This is the pain of not obtaining what we crave. The desires of the world are like fine, invisible threads that bind the human heart. People chase after these desires relentlessly, yet they remain unsatisfied until the very end of their lives. If you realise this, you should stop the pursuit. By ceasing to crave, you can leave this suffering behind.

The Fragility of the Burning House

The suffering of the Five Aggregates: The Five Aggregates—form, feeling, perception, mental formations, and consciousness—are each filled with endless suffering. Our physical bodies, our sensations, our thoughts, and our consciousness are all manifestations of this struggle. We are immersed in these aggregates twenty-four hours a day, often without even realising we are suffering. Even when we do realise it, our karmic obstacles are so heavy that we find it difficult to break free.

The suffering of birth: We have no choice in where we are born, who our parents are, or whether we are born into poverty or wealth. We come into this world following the momentum of our karma, and this lack of autonomy is a form of suffering. The suffering of ageing: As time passes, the body inevitably declines. This is a process beyond our control. We may not wish to grow old, but we cannot stop the clock. Because our thoughts remain unsettled and our karmic creditors are present, time waits for no one, and the process of ageing continues.

The suffering of sickness: Our bodies are products of karma. When illness and spiritual obstacles manifest, we lose our autonomy. We are forced to endure the torment of physical and mental pain, helplessly accepting both internal and external suffering. The suffering of death: When our karmic conditions in this world are exhausted, the four elements of the body—earth, water, fire, and wind—begin to separate. This process is as painful as a turtle shedding its shell. Where does the soul go? It follows the final thought at the moment of death. Everything in this world, whether sentient or insentient, can become a destination for the wandering spirit.

These eight categories only briefly describe the suffering of the human world. In truth, our lack of autonomy is far more profound. The relationships we have with parents, children, spouses, and friends are all sources of complex karmic entanglement. Suffering is the reality of the human world. It is cold and unfeeling, constantly disturbing our bodies and minds, turning our lives into a burning house where peace is impossible to find. Even in the heavenly realms, where one may enjoy great blessings, it is not the ultimate state of happiness. Eventually, the signs of decay appear, and the heavenly being must face death. Although their lifespan is long, it still has an end. When the time comes, they return to the human world or even fall into the lower realms, continuing to suffer within the cycle of rebirth. This is not the ultimate liberation.

The Heart: The Wellspring of Liberation

Today, Practitioner Su has realised the Dharma Body and is able to perform Chao Du, helping spirits be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The beings helped include those from the six realms, the four holy paths, the twenty-eight levels of heaven, as well as Asuras, Arhats, Pratyekabuddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Buddhas. This is truly an inconceivable achievement.

Suffering arises from the heart, and therefore, it must be resolved from the heart. When your mind-capacity is vast enough to encompass everything, you will be able to leave suffering behind. You must nurture your spirit and keep your heart pure; this is how you protect your true nature. You must understand that if you do not protect your heart, you will surely suffer. If your heart is filled with attachments and interference, your spirit will be lost, and you will wander through space, continuing to experience suffering. Poverty is difficult, but if your heart remains kind, free from evil thoughts or resentment, you are dissolving your karma, and there will eventually be a time when you are free from suffering. However, if you harbour evil thoughts and complaints, your karma will not be dissolved; instead, you will create new negative karma, and your poverty and suffering will never end.

The Path to Eternal Peace

How can we resolve these various sufferings? We must follow the path of wisdom:

• Understand the laws of karma:
• Everything you experience in this life is the result of actions from past lives. Everything you do now will be experienced in the future. By understanding the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, you can accept your current suffering as the repayment of past debts. Do not complain. Instead, face it, repent, and accumulate merit to resolve your karmic debts and help spirits be reborn in the Western Pure Land.Recognise the illusions of the world:
• Understand that all the suffering you experience is merely a manifestation of causal conditions. Once it passes, let it go. Do not dwell on the past or create new waves of emotion that only add suffering to suffering. Focus on the present moment.Cultivate compassion and inclusivity:
• By listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma, you will understand the true nature of all things. Naturally, your compassion and capacity to include others will grow. Learn to forgive the faults of others, developing a heart as vast as the ocean, which accepts all rivers, whether they are clear or murky.Transform karma into vows:
• Dedicate your efforts to the vow of saving all beings and helping them reach the Western Pure Land. Do not let yourself be controlled by the three karmas of body, speech, and mind.Practise Buddha-recitation: Truly learn to chant Namo Amituofo to rediscover your original nature. When the mind is pure, the body will not be sick. Help other beings understand Namo Amituofo and the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and encourage them to make the vow to be reborn there, for the spirit never dies.

When the body is free from ageing and sickness, and the spirit is recognised as eternal, we have reached a new horizon. This is the new atmosphere developed by the Pure Land path in this age of the Dharma’s decline. All of you must work harder and be more diligent in your purification. Only then can you achieve the realisation of the Dharma Body, perform the work of saving spirits, and attain the true skill of leaving suffering behind to find eternal happiness.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo