The Infinite Vastness of the Dharma Realm

Teachings from Namo Amituofo, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe, on the fourth of January, 2025, during the Noon Offering.

The Boundless Expanse of the Dharma Realm

The Dharma Realm encompasses a space so vast that it defies all human measurement. It is a boundless expanse, an infinite void where countless beings reside. They are everywhere, present in every corner of this immeasurable reality. This is not a man-made concept, but a fundamental, natural phenomenon of the universe.

Every single being, without exception, possesses the original nature—the Buddha-nature. This nature does not change, regardless of the time or the specific space one occupies within the vastness of the Dharma Realm. Those who have realised their true nature and attained Buddhahood are known as Buddhas, and these Buddhas also permeate the entire Dharma Realm, existing everywhere alongside all other beings.

The Universal Nature of All Beings

Buddhas are those who have fully awakened to their true nature. In contrast, ordinary beings are formed through the coming together of various conditions. Yet, both Buddhas and ordinary beings coexist within the same Dharma Realm. This is the natural order of existence. The Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way operate continuously within this space, never hindered or altered by the passage of time or the limitations of physical location.

There are infinite, diverse worlds throughout this expanse, and everything within them unfolds according to natural laws. In truth, the Dharma Realm is beyond the reach of words; it cannot be fully described or contained by language. However, to address the suffering and confusion of beings, the Buddha teaches the Dharma. This teaching serves several vital purposes: it helps beings resolve their deepest problems and suffering, it guides them to remain aligned with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, and it provides a path for those who have lost their way to return to their original nature.

The Compassionate Guidance of the Buddha

Because beings are everywhere, the Dharma is also present everywhere. As time is endless and space is infinite, the Dharma itself is inexhaustible. It cannot be fully captured by written or spoken words. Within this vast space, beings live according to different methods, yet those who follow the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way find the most secure path. The Buddha is the ultimate practitioner and embodiment of the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

Consider the time when Shakyamuni Buddha appeared in the worldly realm to teach. The teachings He provided were intended to help beings during that specific era of the Dharma. He used oral instructions and written texts as methods to ensure the continuity of the Buddha’s teachings. Wherever these teachings are practised, if beings follow them with sincerity, they are guided to live in accordance with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

The Infinite Power of the Forty-eight Great Vows

In many parts of the Dharma Realm, there are places where the Buddha’s teachings are unknown or absent. In such regions, beings have no guidance, making them susceptible to darkness, deviant paths, and the influence of magic or demon crowds. We are currently in the final period of the Dharma in this worldly realm, yet the opportunity to practise still exists. It is my deepest hope that all beings will form good Dharma affinities, follow the teachings diligently, and refrain from creating negative karma, instead performing good deeds on the Buddha’s path.

When viewed through the eyes of a Buddha, this worldly realm is but a tiny part of the vast Dharma Realm. Those who have realised their true nature and attained Buddhahood are immeasurable in number. Consequently, there are countless Buddhas in their respective worlds teaching the Dharma to beings, and all these teachings are consistent with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. These Buddhas are also known as Tathagatas. As the Great Master Shandao said, the reason the Tathagata appears in the world is solely to speak of the ocean of Namo Amituofo’s original vows.

The Sacred Presence at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

The Forty-eight Great Vows of Namo Amituofo operate not only within the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss but throughout the entire, boundless Dharma Realm. Because these vows are the teachings shared by all Buddhas, every being in the Dharma Realm can rely upon them to enter the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo is thus known as the Universal Buddha, for the entire Dharma Realm is contained within His heart, and His body encompasses the vastness of the Dharma Realm.

By choosing to arouse the Bodhi mind and single-mindedly recite Namo Amituofo, and by ensuring that at the time of death one’s mind remains undistracted, one can be led by Namo Amituofo to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This method is available to all beings throughout the Dharma Realm.

Today, Namo Amituofo truly abides at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. This temple is a place that encompasses the Dharma Realm because Namo Amituofo is present within it. Those who follow the original vows of Namo Amituofo and who, through the practice of chanting the Buddha's name, vow to be reborn in the West, can be received by Namo Amituofo here and enter the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the magnificent blessing of Namo Amituofo’s presence. I urge all beings in this world and across the Dharma Realm to cherish and seize this precious opportunity.

Namo Amituofo