The Essence of Listening to the Dharma
Teachings from Namo Amituofo
Recorded on March 15, 2024
Namo Amituofo teaches us that the act of listening to the is a two-fold process. When we speak of listening to the Dharma, we refer to the perspective of the listener. Conversely, when we speak of the act of teaching, we refer to the perspective of the lecturer. Buddhist education must be disseminated through these lectures and the sharing of the Dharma. This is essential for the propagation of the Buddha's teachings because it creates a necessary connection between the teacher, the listener, and the profound Truth being shared.
This interaction is vital for the spreading of the Dharma. Within this process, the teacher is influenced by various conditions that shape the environment of the teaching, including Dharma affinity, location affinity, people affinity, and time affinity. These conditions create different manifestations, yet while the external environment may shift and change at any moment, the heart of the teacher must remain steadfast, abiding within the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.
The Unchanging Heart Amidst a Changing World
While the world around us is in a constant state of flux, the hearts of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and those who have achieved remain unmoved. Outside of this state of stillness, the hearts of ordinary sentient beings are constantly moving, changing, and mutating. By listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma, you can begin to understand the laws of and cause and effect. You will see the truth of reality clearly and understand exactly how you should conduct yourself in this life.
If we were to summarise the entirety of the Buddha's teachings in a single phrase, we could say that the Buddha's teachings are the path to Awakening. The purpose of Buddhist education is to use the pure Dharma to cleanse the defiled heart. Education is the method for purifying the heart, and the practice of Buddhism is the process through which this purification is achieved.
The Supreme Path for the Age of Decline
There are 84,000 Dharma gates, and every single one of them is designed to help sentient beings leave suffering behind. However, in this age of the Dharma's decline, the path is the only one that can truly assist you in attaining Buddhahood. This is because the Buddha's are directly infused into this practice, providing the support you need to succeed. While you possess this human body, you must diligently practise chanting Namo Amituofo. You must learn from the Buddha and cultivate the Buddha-heart, the Buddha-vow, and the Buddha-action. When the time comes for you to depart from this life and this physical body begins to fail, your true self must remain focused on chanting Namo Amituofo without any confusion or distraction. By doing so, you will be led by the Buddha directly to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the supreme Dharma for the salvation of your Body-Mind-Spirit in this age of the Dharma's decline, and this great Dharma is obtained through the act of listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma.
The Sanctuary of Hsiang Kuang
At Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, we are blessed with the teachings of Namo Amituofo and Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju. These teachings are further illuminated by the explanations of Practitioner Su, who combines them with his own personal experience of Awakening. This allows those who listen to the Dharma to build a solid foundation of faith in the Buddha. From this foundation, you can make the vow to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land and dedicate yourself to your practice. Through this, you will surely realise the reality of Awakening and achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Namo Amituofo
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library