Teachings on Different Spaces by Ashvaghosha Bodhisattva

The Labyrinth of the Mind

There exist many different spaces, each containing different events and lifetimes. These spaces are distinct from the world we perceive in our daily lives. Within these realms, there are many variations, yet there are also many similarities. Often, one may find aspects that feel strangely familiar, as if one has been there before. However, upon closer inspection, these spaces also feel profoundly alien and unknown. What is the nature of this sensation? It arises because sentient beings are often burdened by spiritual attachment without their own awareness. Their past lives become confused, and they remain lost in a fog of desire, unable to find clarity. It is through a complex web of Causal Conditions that one falls into these spaces, remaining trapped without the ability to wake up or realise the truth of their situation.

The Illusion of Reality

These spaces are like multi-layered dark rooms. They are not grounded in reality; rather, they are filled with the heavy weight of desire and exist entirely within a realm of illusion. A space is fundamentally different from the truth. Within these realms, one carries many fantasies, including the experiences and plans one held while living in the human world. Emotions, personality traits, habits, and wild imaginations all follow the individual into these spaces. Entering these realms seems to be a frequent occurrence, but if one’s heart and consciousness have not yet awakened, it is difficult to even notice that one has entered such a space. It is even harder to realise that one has changed. The experiences within these spaces are often tied to what one craves, what one cares about, or what one holds onto with deep attachment. Because these experiences are based on the familiar imagery of one's own mind, it becomes increasingly difficult to wake up and escape.

The Endless Cycle of Samsara

The difference between illusion and reality, or between a space and the actual world, is often just a subtle, minute detail. Yet, the speed at which these spaces shift is immense, and the differences between them are vast. As the state of one's body, mind, and spirit fluctuates, many people begin to change, and their mental focus easily dissipates. This dissipation occurs because of greed; because one still harbours desires for things outside of the current reality, one is drawn into these various spaces. From the past until the present, there are many things that people in the world fail to notice, such as the obstacles created by these spaces. Most people do not understand what is truly happening within them. In the bustling crowds of the human world, every person possesses different concepts, ideas, and personalities. Although everyone walks the same path, the goals they pursue and the directions they head toward are entirely different. Some may walk toward the east, yet their destinations differ; others may walk toward the west, yet their dreams are not the same. Every sentient being in this world possesses an endless array of imaginative spaces, filled with complex, chaotic thoughts, emotions, and mental states. These spaces never find peace; they are constantly shifting, layer upon layer. The only common characteristic is that they have never known stillness. They remain trapped in the cycle of reincarnated, never having truly departed.

The Light of Deliverance

All fame, wealth, and desire are merely imaginations within these spaces; they are not real. This is the root cause of the cycle of reincarnated in this world. Everyone finds it difficult to escape this fate because their thoughts, desires, and attachments are too numerous. They are unable to let go of their cravings for this world. Consequently, these spaces are constantly drawing in sentient beings. At any moment, any being might enter such a space. Some fall so deeply that they never emerge. This is the terrifying, dark side of these spaces. Too many beings step inside and cannot find their way out, and even the power of the Buddhas and deities finds it difficult to save them. Only through the efforts made within the human world, such as the work currently being done at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, can one personally open these spaces and lead the spirits out. By helping them wake up from their illusions, these beings can once again receive the guidance of the Buddha and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Returning to the Truth

Since the human world can enter these spaces, it can naturally perform Chao Du to save those within them. Spaces are generated from within all illusions, and the human world is itself the root of all these illusions. Therefore, within space, there are further spaces. The solution to these spaces lies in the truth. By returning to the truth, one can naturally dissolve all spaces and break through them to achieve true liberation. There are infinite layers of space because human imagination is infinitely changeable. To save beings from infinite spaces while simultaneously revealing the infinite truth is a noble task. All disciples must work together with one heart, truly acting for the sake of all beings, while also preserving one's own true, clear heart. Express your true nature and fulfil your duty to save the world. Namo Amituofo.

Ashvaghosha

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Faxi