The Magnificent Dharma Affinity

The Observer of All Practitioners

Skanda Bodhisattva watches over all who walk the path of the Buddha. From the youngest child born into a family of faith to the centenarian who has lived through a century of life, the Bodhisattva sees them all. It is a common misconception that age is a natural indicator of spiritual progress. In truth, the mere passage of years does not guarantee that one will achieve success in their practice. Before one reaches the state of an awakened being, every individual remains bound by the laws of karma and cause and effect. It is only through diligent practice, combined with a profound transformation of one's heart and actions, that one can begin to alter the trajectory of their karmic path.

The Trap of Superficial Practice

True transformation requires more than just the appearance of devotion. When a practitioner experiences positive changes in their life, the grip of their past karma begins to weaken. This is especially true for those who hold unwavering faith in the Buddha’s teachings. However, if one only practises on the surface, the results will be limited. Even if one is diligent in their outward behaviour, if the inner heart and mind remain unchanged, the effort is in vain. One may spend countless hours, energy, and spirit in the following activities: reciting the sacred Sutras, performing prostrations to the Buddha, and attending Dharma assemblies.

Despite these efforts, if the heart has not been purified, one remains under the control of karmic forces, unable to escape the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death. This is a critical warning for all. If one lacks a correct understanding of the Buddha’s teachings, the manifestation of illness or the worsening of a condition can lead to the defamation of the Dharma by those around them. If the practitioner themselves loses faith or begins to speak ill of the teachings during such times, they are essentially declaring their own failure to themselves and to the world. The victim of this failure is the practitioner themselves, and the karma created in such a state is far heavier than before they began their journey. This is a common occurrence among many who study the Buddha’s teachings today, and it is a situation that must be approached with the utmost caution.

The Vital Role of a True Spiritual Friend

Whether one achieves success in their study of the Buddha’s teachings depends most significantly on whether they can encounter a true spiritual friend. If you are fortunate enough to receive guidance from such a teacher, you will surely derive the benefits of the Dharma. The extent of these benefits, however, depends on the depth of your Dharma affinity and the sincerity of your own diligent practice. In the current social climate, everyone is busy, and time and space are limited. The Pure Land Dharma Gate is exceptionally flexible and easy for individuals to practise on their own. Yet, the complexity of modern life often creates contradictions between one's practice and one's daily reality.

In these moments, it is essential to draw close to a true spiritual friend and receive positive, correct guidance. If you can accept this guidance with a sincere, humble, and open heart, your mind will be purified, and your behaviour will naturally change. Such practice not only benefits you but also transforms those around you, inspiring them to develop faith in the Buddha’s teachings. Even when facing the inevitable realities of aging, sickness, and death, a true practitioner can maintain a positive attitude and use kind, compassionate language. They may even offer a smile of gratitude, free from any criticism or complaint, while chanting Namo Amituofo with even greater diligence.

The Spirit of Pure Land Practice

This is the true spirit of the Pure Land path: to face every situation in life with a pure heart and righteous actions. Even if one is still some distance from an awakened being, and even if one encounters the suffering caused by the manifestation of past karma, these experiences are not in vain. For such a practitioner, this process serves to dissolve karma and reduce past transgressions, rather than creating new ones. Even if one does not attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land in this very life, they are planting the seeds of a magnificent Dharma affinity that will ensure their liberation in the future.

There is a saying: The master leads you to the door, but the practice is up to the individual. Even when practitioners are given the same conditions in the same environment, the results vary based on the level of diligence each person applies. Once you have entered the Buddha’s gate, whether your practice continues to be driven by karma or whether you break through that karma depends entirely on your own hands. Following the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, and adhering to the traditions passed down through generations—the cultivation of the Precepts, the purification of the heart, the attainment of meditative concentration, and the subsequent blossoming of wisdom—is the essential process for every practitioner, regardless of the path they follow.

A Rare Haven for the Soul

If you are fortunate enough to reside and practise in a bodhimanda that upholds the True Teachings, you possess a significant advantage over those practising in the wider society. In such a place, you are protected by the Dragon and Heaven Dharma Protectors and blessed by the Buddha or Bodhisattva. Furthermore, you receive direct guidance from a true spiritual friend who can help you identify and correct the flaws in your practice. For those who are truly sincere, this leads to twice the result with half the effort. Therefore, if you have the chance to encounter such a magnificent Dharma affinity, you must seize the opportunity to practise diligently. In this world of impermanence, where time and space are constantly shifting, such an opportunity is rare and precious, especially in today’s turbulent environment.

The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is precisely such a rare and precious bodhimanda. To be able to enter this place to practise is an opportunity that comes perhaps once in a million, or even ten million lifetimes. Do not squander the merits and virtues you have accumulated in the past, nor the efforts you have made for the sake of the Dharma, which have brought you to this moment. Seize this opportunity with all your heart. Currently, Practitioner Su continues the work of inviting spirits to the temple, a process that is ongoing. The profound suffering that Practitioner Su bears on behalf of all beings is a process that outsiders cannot fully comprehend, yet the Venerables and volunteers of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre participate in this work daily. This is the greatest teaching, both in word and in deed, that one could ever witness. Such an opportunity is not easily encountered, for only a great practitioner can bear the suffering of all beings. Everyone must hold a heart of gratitude and cherish this blessing deeply. Namo Amituofo.

This interview was recorded by the Buddhist disciple Venerable HaiZe.