The Illusion of Comparison and Discrimination

Venerable Yongning, a dedicated monastic practitioner at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, sought deliverance through the compassionate guidance of the centre. This interview was recorded on April 20, 2019, capturing the Venerable's profound insights into the nature of the mind and the obstacles encountered on the path to enlightenment.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"In truth, human beings have no need for discrimination, and there is even less need for comparison. This is especially true when we enter the Buddha’s gate. Each of us possesses unique strengths, and we must each strive diligently within our own roles. We have all come here to practise, yet the beings we are destined to save in the future will differ, which means the capabilities we must cultivate will also differ. Why do I say that in our practice we should not look at others, but only at ourselves? It is because only you can urge yourself to be diligent, and only you can help yourself achieve gradual awakening. Casting your gaze toward others provides absolutely no benefit to your practice; on the contrary, it allows the inferior roots within you to spread, causing all sorts of negative states to manifest. Although the fluctuations of this physical body are innate, we remain unaware of their nature until we are properly educated. Learning the Buddha’s teachings requires us to start from the very beginning, for the worldly tendency to be anxious about gains and losses is a massive obstacle to our progress."

The Turbulence of the Mind

"When we speak of discrimination, we refer to the various orientations, transformations, and views—the discriminations driven by the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind. These various forms of discrimination are the natural result of the influence of our physical bodies and the external environment. These rapid mutations churn within the head, placing the human body in a chaotic magnetic field, making it impossible to rediscover the 'original face' we possessed before our parents gave birth to us. 'This pair of chopsticks is mine'—that is discrimination. 'She is my sister'—that is also discrimination. This discrimination is not merely about whether something is right or wrong in its external appearance; it is about the possessiveness within the heart. When something we consider our own is offended, the first reaction in the heart is almost always to give rise to afflictions, or otherwise to ignite the fire of anger. This is never a positive vibration. At such moments, these vibrations harm both others and ourselves."

The Path to Inner Balance

"In our daily lives, we have all sorts of demands. Once these are not met, we fall into disappointment and desolation, our emotions rising and falling in a volatile cycle. Whether it is comparison, discrimination, or the various fluctuations of the physical body, all of these cause the body to give rise to a heart of affliction, preventing us from maintaining balance within. It is clear that the physical body still cares deeply about worldly sensations. Letting go, bit by bit, is the very process of practice. We must strive to see the 'One-Body'—the unity of all things. When there is peace in the heart, everything seen externally remains unshaken. By facing the world with a heart of compassion, all external phenomena, even those that seem negative, become good signs. Getting along with everyone you encounter is practice. Helping one another to achieve, to become a Buddha, and to save sentient beings—this is the finest transmission of the Buddha’s teachings."

A Call to Diligence

"The guidance and counseling provided by Practitioner Su during Dharma talks are intended to help the fourfold assembly of disciples change their ways, purify themselves, and resolve to find their own Dharma Body. All the spirits in the universe are waiting. The fourfold assembly must not be lazy for even a single day; this is true compassion. Let us all work hard together. Namo Amituofo."

This message was recorded by the disciple Shi Faxin.