The Essence of Learning Buddhism

The Path of Awakening

When you embark upon the path of learning Buddhism, you may find yourself asking: what is it that we are truly learning? Many believe that the Buddha is a distant figure, far removed from our daily lives. However, this is a misunderstanding. The Buddha is not far away; the path to Buddhahood is cultivated right here, within the human world. What you are truly developing is the same Buddha nature within you that resides within every sentient being. When you allow this true self to manifest fully and shine without obstruction, you are returning to the natural state of existence—the state of being natural within the natural.

The Vision of Oneness

To learn Buddhism is to embrace the perspective of Oneness. Within this profound view, there is no-self; there is no sense of a separate ego. Instead, there is a vast, interconnected reality. Consider the components of this existence:

• You and othersThe mountains, the rivers, and the vast earthThe smallest particles of dustAll living creatures and spiritsThe beings of the six realms of existence and the four holy statesThe stars and the infinite reaches of the universe

All of these are, in essence, one. Because of this, there is no distinction between large and small, no separation between you and me, no judgment of beautiful or ugly, and no boundaries of time or space. When you act with this understanding, your conduct reflects the true nature of reality. This is what it means to possess the true view of Oneness.

Walking the Path of Truth

In your practice, you must strive for the unity of faith and understanding, and the unity of practice and realisation. Every action you take should be in perfect harmony with the Truth. Within the realm of the Truth, the Buddha himself is the embodiment of that Truth. The Truth flows through the Buddha with complete freedom and ease. Therefore, when you follow the footsteps of the Buddha, you are, in fact, walking in alignment with the Truth itself.

The Boundless Compassion of the Buddha

The Buddha-heart is filled with nothing but compassion for all beings. From the perspective of the Buddha, every being is transparent and clear at a glance. There are no veils, no shadows, and no obstructions; everything is seen with absolute clarity. Because of this, the Buddha sees every single being—even down to a single grain of sand—with complete and thorough insight. In a single instant, or even in the snap of a finger—though in truth, even that is too long—the Buddha understands the past, present, and future of every being. This is because all beings exist right before the Buddha's eyes and within the Buddha-heart.

The Non-Duality of Buddha and Beings

In the ultimate sense, there is no Buddha. In this very moment, the Buddha is the beings, and the beings are the Buddha. Because of this non-dual nature, the Buddha is all-knowing and all-capable regarding these beings. These beings can be as small as a single particle of dust or as vast as the entire universe, including the three thousand great thousand worlds and the boundless reaches of space. All of this appears simultaneously before the eyes of the Buddha and within the Buddha-heart. In truth, there is no Buddha, and there are no beings, because all have merged into one. Everything exists within the state of 'no-thingness,' and yet everything exists within the state of 'being.' This 'no' and 'being' are one, not two; they are the same, not different. This is the teaching of the one and the two that the Buddha offers for your contemplation.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo