The Boundless Sea of Suffering and How to Find Liberation
Teachings from National Master Xian Shou
The Twenty-Seventh Interview
The Boundless Sea of Suffering
In the worldly realm, the sea of suffering is truly boundless. What do we mean by suffering? It is the feeling of dissatisfaction when things do not go according to your wishes, when your heart is not at peace, or when you cannot achieve your goals. It is the agony of sickness, the lack of financial resources, the feeling that time is slipping away, or even the simple inability to satisfy one's hunger. The Buddha, in His infinite , has categorised the myriad sufferings of beings into eight fundamental types: birth, aging, sickness, death, the suffering of not getting what one seeks, the suffering of being separated from what one loves, the suffering of being together with those one dislikes, and the suffering of the five aggregates burning like a fire.
Consider these experiences: we suffer when we cannot attain what we desire, and we suffer when we are forced to part from those we hold dear. We suffer when we are compelled to live alongside those we despise, and we suffer when our emotions become so entangled that we cannot find a way out. How could life in this human world be anything but suffering? Ask yourself: of all these experiences, how many can you truly control with your own willpower? Whether it is your closest family, your colleagues, or your , you often find yourself unable to be the master of your own life. You are caught in a cycle of busyness, moving from one moment to the next, often without understanding why you are suffering or even realising that you are in the midst of it.
The Blind Spot of Modern Life
This is the blind spot of people today. Because we must continue to live day after day, we eventually become lifeless, dry, and unmotivated. We lose our smiles, our spirit, and our vitality. If we do not transform this state of mind, we often find ourselves succumbing to modern ailments: physical illness, depression, or bipolar disorder. We may spend our days in melancholy or anxiety, yet we still have to attend school, work, and manage our daily responsibilities. Year after year, we become accustomed to this existence, losing all sense of .
To cope, the world offers various forms of entertainment, travel, and technology to distract us. We seek solace in pastimes, therapy, meditation, sitting in silence, group healing, attending assemblies, , or going on a pilgrimage to a Buddhist mountain. But do these truly work? Perhaps they provide temporary relief, but how long does it last? If you were told that this life—composed of these endless activities and needs—is not the real you, would you believe it? If this is not the real you, then what is your true self? How did you become this way?
Revealing the True Self
The truth is that your original nature has been covered up. Life after life, layer upon layer of needs, activities, delusions, discriminations, and attachments have obscured your true self. You have become lost in the six realms of rebirth. Only by reaching the state of an awakened being and finding your true self / self-nature can you discover who you really are. within your original nature is the true you—a state of permanence, joy, self-mastery, and purity. It is constant, unmoved, and clear. It is not swayed by external environments; rather, it has the power to transform them. It is all-knowing and all-capable, able to respond to the needs of all things and manifest all phenomena.
The Path to True Liberation
How, then, do we resolve this suffering? The most effective method is to find your original self. Within your true self / self-nature lie infinite Wisdom (Prajna), virtues, and auspicious characteristics. There is no suffering there. No matter where you are or what you face, your heart remains unmoved, yet you are perfectly capable of responding to all people and events. How could there be suffering? There is no distress from birth, aging, sickness, or death. Because no matter where you are born, you can accept it with joy. There is no suffering of aging; may age, as it has a limited lifespan, but the heart never grows old. There is no suffering of sickness; you can remain healthy because you know how to live in harmony with every cell in your body, allowing them to shine with light, transparency, and purity. Even if you appear to be ill, it is not for your own sake, but to bear the suffering of other beings.
Finally, when your karmic ties to this world come to an end, you can simply brush off your sleeves and leave without taking anything with you. The body is no longer needed, and you may leave its disposal to the world. Your spirit emerges, free and at ease, following the lotus seat sent by Namo Amituofo to return to the of Ultimate Bliss. This concludes your journey in the human world. You may then come and go freely in the West, or, knowing the time of your departure in advance, be led by Namo Amituofo back to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is true liberation from suffering.
The Purpose of Our Human Journey
Why, then, do we come to the human world at all? We come to teach others how to resolve their suffering. Finding your true self / self-nature is the key to ending suffering. Making a vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is the ultimate method to leave suffering behind and find happiness. But how do you find your true self / self-nature? It requires practice, purification, and the removal of layer upon layer of defilement. You know the West is a wonderful place, but how can you ensure you reach it? The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is the destination for your spiritual life after your karmic ties to this body are exhausted. Faith, Vows, and Practice are the three essential provisions for your journey to the West.
The bits and pieces of life are filled with endless suffering. But with the Buddha's help, we can resolve this suffering. When all beings leave suffering behind, their faces will bloom with joy. Your true self / self-nature and Namo Amituofo are already present in the West. Through the compassionate actions of Practitioner Su, we have been moved to receive the help of Namo Amituofo. All those who have the karmic affinity to follow this path, please cherish this life's opportunity dearly.
Namo Amituofo
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
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