The Magnificent Dharma Affinity at Hsiang Kuang

The Infinite Web of Karmic Affinity

Words of Namo Amituofo: Everything we encounter in this world—every being we meet, every event we experience, and every object we touch—is bound together by the threads of karmic affinity. Our relationships are not limited to the human world alone; they extend across the vastness of the Dharma Realm. These connections span the six realms of existence, the four holy realms, this world and other worlds beyond our current perception, the vast expanse of the Dharma Realm, the void, the entire Milky Way, different dimensions of space, and different points in time.

The truth of the laws of karma and cause and effect across the past, present, and future is an absolute reality. It is not restricted by the limitations of time or space. Even a stranger you pass on the street who offers you a kind smile is connected to you by a past affinity. In a previous life, you likely offered that same kind smile to them. When you meet again in this life, even if you do not consciously recognise them, your consciousness holds the memory of that past experience. When you encounter each other, there is an immediate, instinctive reaction—a resonance that arises without a single moment of thought.

The Natural Echoes of Our Past

This phenomenon is a natural manifestation of the laws of karma and cause and effect. It is not caused by any external force, but rather by internal causes stored within your own consciousness. These are the natural reactions born from your past actions. This is the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. We might call it a natural phenomenon, as that is easier for most people to understand.

Because this natural phenomenon is not limited by time, space, or the sequence of past, present, and future, the Buddha’s teachings remind us: "Even after a hundred thousand kalpas, the karma created does not perish." Unless one can transform karma, one cannot realise one's true nature and attain Buddhahood. Transforming karma does not mean it simply disappears, and collective karma is particularly difficult to shift. Since those who truly realise their nature and attain Buddhahood are rare, the vast majority of beings continue to live within the cycle of karma, acting according to their past deeds and current affinities.

The Rare Opportunity for Awakening

To realise one's true nature and attain Buddhahood requires the development of magnificent Dharma affinity. This opportunity does not begin in this life alone; it is the continuation of affinities cultivated over many lifetimes. It is the result of accumulating countless merits and virtues. Only when we meet again in this life can we finally achieve the path to Buddhahood. If the necessary Dharma affinity does not manifest, it is difficult to realise one's true nature. From this, we can understand how rare and precious the opportunity for awakening truly is.

Many of those who appear in this world are Bodhisattvas who have made vows to descend and save beings from suffering, or they are sages from the four holy realms. They observe the conditions and affinities of beings, working in this Five Turbidities and Evil World to perform good deeds and save the world. They polish their character and elevate the quality of their spirit until they reach a state of pure goodness and purity, eventually realising their true nature and attaining Buddhahood. Even if they do not reach full awakening before their time in this world ends, the Dharma affinity they have cultivated will continue into future lives. This connection is not limited to the human world; it can be renewed in any space, any part of the Dharma Realm, or any of the six realms of existence, allowing for continued guidance and salvation.

The Sacred Work at Hsiang Kuang

The more refined and clear one's spirit becomes, the more one can perceive these connections. For the Buddha, all is known and all is seen; this is the state of the Buddha—a realm of clarity, freedom, and eternal joy. Therefore, it is vital to cultivate broad Dharma affinity and good connections in our daily lives. This ensures that when the time is right, we can be saved, leave the cycle of rebirth behind, and achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

We can see this clearly in the work of Practitioner Su. The beings who receive Chao Du through the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su are all those who have established a Dharma affinity with Namo Amituofo, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and Practitioner Su in past lives. Because the causes were planted in the past and the conditions have matured in this life, they are now able to receive this salvation, leading to rebirth in the Western Pure Land or a fortunate rebirth in the human or heavenly realms. These beings, especially those in the human and heavenly realms, will eventually be saved by Practitioner Su in the future to attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Even those in other dimensions or the demon realms who receive salvation through the spaces opened by Practitioner Su are those who have had past affinities with Namo Amituofo, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and Practitioner Su. By receiving this salvation, they can leave those realms and enter the Buddha’s path, gaining the opportunity for rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

A Call to Diligent Practice

When one person realises their true nature and attains Buddhahood, all the beings with whom they have a Dharma affinity gain the opportunity to be saved, leave suffering behind, and achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Every segment of good Dharma affinity is the result of past efforts and sincerity. The students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre are especially fortunate to have such magnificent Dharma affinity, gathering here in the human world to practise at the sacred Hsiang Kuang site.

For the past, the present, and the immediate future, we should feel nothing but gratitude. Without the past, we would not have this opportunity to practise and realise our true nature today. You must seize this moment, practise with fierce diligence, and realise your true nature and attain Buddhahood as soon as possible. Only then can you save the beings with whom you have a Dharma affinity, helping them leave the suffering of the cycle of rebirth behind and find the joy of rebirth in the Western Pure Land. This is the ultimate manifestation of compassion and Wisdom. Namo Amituofo