The Illusion of the Self
Teachings from Master Xuanzang
Recorded on February 21, 2019
February 21, 2019.
The Long Journey of Perseverance
The journey of life is long and winding. Yet, as long as your heart remains firm and your will is resolute, you can reach your destination even without a vessel to carry you. Every step you take, leaving your own footprints upon the earth, is a testament to your commitment. The storms and challenges you encounter along the way are not merely obstacles; they are the very fuel for your growth. They serve as tests to see if you possess the endurance and the unwavering spirit to persist until the end. On this path, you are your own greatest adversary. No one else can truly defeat you, just as no one else can truly save you. Conversely, you are also your own most vital pillar of support. If you possess deep meditative concentration, you will remain unmoved regardless of how the external world changes. This state of being is the manifestation of Wisdom, persistence, and boldness. If you are easily swayed by the external environment, constantly wavering in your resolve, you will never reach the shores of success.
Breaking the Chains of Fate
For the average person, fate is seen as a natural, inescapable reality—much like the way one feels hunger and seeks food, or feels thirst and seeks water. However, for the practitioners, the purpose of our practice is precisely to break free from the shackles of fate and the binding force of . We seek to find our original face—the one we possessed before our parents gave birth to us—and to realise our true nature. This realisation is not something that can be obtained from thin air or bestowed upon you from the heavens. It requires immense, diligent effort. You must overcome the various habits and the personal ego that define your current existence. Some may even need to endure great hardships before they find a moment of insight. Once you have that insight, you must change your ways, purify your heart, and continue to refine your understanding. Through repeated cycles of insight and correction, you will eventually reach a state of complete, unobstructed understanding. That is the moment of true .
The Clarity of
Once you have realised your true nature, all things become clear. At that point, the concept of 'I' no longer exists. The presence of a 'Self' is a form of impurity; as long as the ego remains, it is difficult to find true insight, and it is nearly impossible to reach Awakening. Therefore, those who have realised their true nature exist in a state of no-self. In this state, not a single second is spent for the sake of the ego. Only then can one maintain a state of constant clarity, understanding the truth of all things. Naturally, one will no longer have doubts about the laws of the world. This is why, after Awakening, one is no longer deceived by external appearances and always acts in accordance with the righteous path.
Transforming Suffering into
As long as there is an 'I,' you cannot realise your true nature! The entire cycle of reincarnated existence is built upon the foundation of the 'Self,' which gives rise to all the phenomena of and the causes and effects. Ego-attachment, ego-views, ego-desires, and the sense of 'mine'—wherever there is a 'Self,' there is suffering. Conversely, where there is no-self, there is no suffering. Ordinary people suffer because they are reaping the rewards of their own karmic conditions and the causes and effects. However, a practitioner who has removed the 'Self' and cultivated a heart of compassion views suffering differently. The suffering they endure is for the sake of the beings they wish to save; it is not the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, death that comes from one's own . If you find yourself trapped in the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, death, it is a sign that something has gone awry in your practice. To leave suffering behind, you must identify the root cause, eliminate the suffering, and return to the righteous path of no-self and service to others. Ultimately, the way to leave suffering behind is to make the vow to be reborn in the of Ultimate Bliss. Only by truly entering that realm can this life be considered complete.
A Sanctuary for the Spirit
The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia exists precisely to fulfil this role. We are here to lead the masses toward purification in this very life, helping you to rediscover your true self so that your body may remain free from illness, and your spirit may eventually be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The life of no sickness and no death is not a mere dream; it is a reality that truly exists and is not beyond your reach. Come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, and you will be able to experience this for yourself, knowing that these words are not empty promises.
Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library