The Infinite Benefits of the Dharma

The Radiance of Our Original Nature

The benefits of the True Teachings are truly beyond words. When we align ourselves with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, we begin to resonate with our own original nature. This true self is our Buddha-nature, the ultimate reality, and the fundamental essence that resides within the spiritual life of every being. It is something that everyone possesses inherently. You must seek it within your own heart rather than searching for it in the external world. When you rediscover this true self, you are seeing the absolute truth of reality, and you will no longer be deceived by the illusions of this world.

Throughout the vastness of the Dharma Realm, every corner is filled with beings who possess a spiritual life. You and I are among these beings. Although our true self may not yet be manifest, it has never disappeared or diminished. Our spiritual life is infinite and boundless. However, as we drift through the six realms of rebirth, we have been through the wringer, and these experiences have covered our true self. With every reincarnation, we suffer from the confusion of the intermediate state; we forget our past and mistakenly believe that each life is a completely new beginning.

Navigating the Cycle of Rebirth

It is true that obtaining a human body is a rare and precious opportunity. When your spiritual life enters the womb, a new life begins, which is merely a continuation of the cause and effect from your past. This life provides your spirit with a new chance for rebirth until the conditions of this existence are exhausted. Your task in this lifetime is to make a vow to transform your karma, change the destiny of your cycle of rebirth, and attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Buddhist education is the process of listening to the True Teachings, understanding the facts of reality, and drawing close to true spiritual friends. This helps everyone seize the opportunity of this lifetime. By taking the Buddha’s teachings into your heart, you will understand how to walk the path of life. You must put what you have heard into practice, act with diligent practice, and persist without flagging. In this way, you will receive the benefits of the Dharma until you realise your true nature, fulfil your wishes, and complete the lessons of this life. You will then be able to engage in the endless work of saving suffering beings and radiate the boundless light of life.

The Precious Opportunity of Human Life

Practitioner Su has often reminded us: "It is difficult to obtain a human body in the next life, so you must make good use of this precious human body in this lifetime. Use this temporary existence to cultivate the truth, find your original nature, and become the master of your own life." This is a vital lesson for this lifetime. The magnificent benefits of the Dharma are not limited to human beings alone; sentient and insentient beings alike attain perfect wisdom, for they all possess a spiritual life and the Buddha-nature within. If the Causal Conditions mature and one encounters Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and true spiritual friends, one can receive infinite benefits and gain the opportunity to change the destiny of the cycle of rebirth and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Profound Benefits of the Dharma

One can only receive the benefits of the Dharma through listening to the sutras, drawing close to true spiritual friends, and repenting for one's past mistakes. Generally speaking, the benefits of the Dharma include the following:

• Knowing suffering and leaving it behind:
• The eight sufferings and eight difficulties are the common state of all beings. To leave suffering behind, you must put in the work within your own heart. Only the mind can create the myriad phenomena of the world, so you must use it wisely to resolve all suffering.Transforming the personal ego:
• This is especially important for those who are easily dissatisfied, resentful, prone to blaming others, angry, jealous, or arrogant. These intense habits are the domain of demon crowds.Subduing the inner demons:
• When facing such states, you must know that these beings also possess the Buddha-nature. They only manifest a demon nature because they have suffered and have not been able to resolve their karma or subdue their karmic creditors. To subdue these demonic enemies and transform their nature, you must immerse yourself in the Buddha’s teachings. Do not respond with a heart of conflict; instead, use wisdom to adjust your state. Use the power of great compassion to accept and embrace the other, helping them to reveal their inherent goodness. Doing so is the concrete practice of those who have realised their true nature and their view of oneness.Understanding the cycle of rebirth: You must understand the laws of karma and cause and effect across the three periods of time—past, present, and future. Make a vow to end the cycle of birth and death, leave the three realms, and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The three realms are merely the dwelling places of celestial beings and are not the ultimate destination. If you wish to be liberated, you must seek to enter the Western Pure Land.

The Path to Ultimate Awakening

When your mind is clear and not clouded, your reactions will be sharp, and you will not be susceptible to spiritual attachment. Recognise that excessive thinking is a great harm. Stop the thoughts immediately and replace them with the recitation of Namo Amituofo. When you achieve the state of Buddha-Recitation Samadhi, external environments will not be able to invade your peace, and your body and mind will remain healthy.

You are fortunate to have arrived at the Western Pure Land. By chanting the name of Amitabha, you will reach the other shore. Open your heart to the practice of Compassion, Joy, and Selfless Giving, and expand your mind-capacity until it encompasses the vastness of the void. When your heart is cool, free, and unobstructed, you will realise that your home is everywhere. You and I are one, born from the same source. Realise your true nature, save beings, and walk the path of the Buddha.

Using this temporary body to cultivate the truth is a wise choice. It allows you to transform your fifty trillion cells. Do not be deceived by this temporary physical form, for if you rely only on your physical sensations, you will lose your natural state. You must be clear about the purpose of your practice: what is false and what is true? The body is false, but the spirit is true. Emotions are false, but compassion is true. Acting on emotion is a sign of confusion. Walk every step with wisdom and do not rely on luck. Understand the truths of the universe to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past. Resolve the resentment of your karmic creditors and perform Chao Du to help them be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The benefits of the Dharma are infinite and cannot be fully described in words. You must realise them through actual practice. Remove the dualistic mind to attain the one mind, and even within the one mind, you must eventually enter the state of no-mind. When your heart is empty and contains the void, you will realise your true nature and attain Buddhahood. The nature of emptiness is infinite, and when you understand both principle and phenomena, the benefits of the Dharma will be endless, allowing you to save yourself and all beings.

Walking on the dangerous, confusing paths of this world, we are fortunate that the Buddha’s compassion has come to us. Practitioner Su of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has established a pure lotus village in Taiwan. He widely proclaims the wonderful Dharma sound of Namo Amituofo, and now is the perfect time for confused beings to awaken. You must stop your deluded thoughts in time; do not continue to pass your days in illusions. We breathe lightly, fearing we might wake from the dream, but you must wake up quickly and not linger. The infinite benefits of the Dharma are sent to your heart to wash away the dust and the ties that bind your spirit. Finding your true nature is the most important task, and it is the only way to repay the Buddha’s kindness.

Recorded by the Buddha’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.