The Great Teacher

Chang Gao is a dedicated practitioner who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. He currently resides at the Centre, where he continues his diligent practice. This interview was recorded on August 5, 2019.

Chang Gao speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. In the course of spiritual practice, one simply cannot proceed without the guidance of a Great Teacher. A Great Teacher serves as a spiritual compass, a beacon of light whose virtues and exemplary conduct provide a model for us to follow and emulate. In the vast expanse of the universe, the ultimate Great Teacher is none other than Namo Amituofo. For countless kalpas, He has created the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, providing a sanctuary where wandering spirits can finally find a place to belong. The conditions for entering the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss are defined by absolute purity and absolute goodness. There is no place for evil there. One could say that the standard is incredibly high, yet at the same time, it is remarkably simple. All that is required is to restore that original, unpolluted heart; once that is achieved, one is already in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss."

The Weight of Samsara and the Invisible Threads

"Most of the time, our physical bodies in this worldly realm are entangled in the heavy chains of karma. From the distant past until this very life, we have accumulated so many debts over countless kalpas that the weight of our reincarnation is truly beyond calculation. Every person, every object, and every scene we encounter is bound by this reality. Regardless of the external form we present today, each of us is composed of fifty trillion cells, all waiting within our physical bodies or within the vast space around us. An invisible thread of cause and effect binds us together. Who is connected to whom, and who serves as whose karmic creditors—these things are never wrong. Today, however, the Master has unravelled these knots for us. While our karma may be as vast as Mount Sumeru or as deep as the great ocean, only a heart of pure goodness can bring it to a conclusion. When a single thought of evil arises, the karmic force of the ocean surges forward, nearly drowning us in its wake. When our personality traits flare up, they disturb the beings we have been connected to over many lifetimes. Sometimes, we are even completely overtaken by these beings. This is a challenge that has remained unresolved throughout our long history of practice."

The Master's Guidance and the Fourfold Assembly

"The Master has consistently emphasised during his Dharma talks that we must change our personality traits, and this is not without good reason. Maintaining a calm and peaceful heart is not easy. When that invisible thread is pulled, whether it manifests as a massive wave or a small ripple, it causes significant damage to our practice. The subtle ways in which our personality traits manifest are often things we fail to notice ourselves. At such moments, we desperately need a Great Teacher to remind us from the sidelines. Perhaps it is just a single word or a simple gesture, but it can be enough to make us suddenly awaken. We carry so much hidden within us from lifetimes past that, very often, we are simply unable to be the masters of our own minds. The Master’s five eyes are clear and far-reaching; he can clearly foresee everything and is uniquely capable of leading the fourfold assembly of disciples to break through the barriers in their practice and rediscover their true selves. There is no practice more magnificent than this. Those who are able to hear these teachings are truly individuals of great fortune. In the past, the Master was followed by thousands, and now, as the Causal Conditions open, that number continues to grow. The fourfold assembly is united in one heart, diligently practising together, with the sincere hope that all beings may be free from suffering. Namo Amituofo."