The Path from Ordinary to Sage

This article records an interview with Bodhisattva Ashvaghosa, who offers profound insights into the transition from an ordinary being to a sage and eventually a Buddha. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on April 5, 2019, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

Bodhisattva Ashvaghosa speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Bodhisattva Ashvaghosa. Within the six realms of existence, only the human world offers the unique opportunity to alter one's destiny. It is here that one can determine the course of their future lives based on their actions in the present. One can transform the variables of impermanence into a state of constant, meditative concentration, turning the ordinary into the sacred. However, there is also a powerful gravitational pull of karma that drags sentient beings along the path of samsara, keeping them trapped as ordinary people.

These ordinary people, bound by their karma, are what we call 'mortals.' If one wishes to change their destiny, to transition from the ordinary to the ranks of the sages, one must exert significant effort. It requires overcoming one's personal ego, habits, and selfishness. One must transform the laws of karma and cause and effect. Only when one is free from negative karma, and has attained a state of purity and clarity—no longer entering the cycle of rebirth—can one truly be called a sage."

The Rigorous Path of the Sage

"Those who have realised their true nature and attained Buddhahood all began their journey through practice in the human world. If one chooses to transition from ordinary to sage through Pure Land practice, and subsequently realises their true nature to attain Buddhahood, one must strictly follow the methods outlined in the Infinite Life Sutra. One must do what is necessary, act when it is time to act, and uphold the precepts. Without violating these precepts, one must engage in diligent practice. Amidst the conditions that arise, one must understand the truth that all phenomena are illusory and empty, and walk the path with honesty and steadfastness. Where a sage appears or stays is always in accordance with causal conditions.

Those who have realised their true nature and attained Buddhahood possess boundless compassion and vows. Their heart to save sentient beings from suffering never fades. When beings with karmic affinity are ready to be saved, they are rescued; when the affinity is not yet ripe, they create the conditions so that in the future, they may be saved."

The Selfless Nature of the Awakened

"Those who have realised their true nature live for the world, not for themselves. They are selfless, without resentment, without demands, without concepts of right or wrong, and without the distinction between 'self' and 'other.' They are not swayed by worldly wealth, fame, or profit. They strive for the transmission of the sacred Dharma and act according to the Universal Principles and the righteous path. Ordinary people live for themselves; sages live for others without a sense of self. Ordinary people have desires and demands; sages have no desires and follow causal conditions. Ordinary people struggle to save even themselves; those who have realised their true nature save both themselves and others.

Those who possess sufficient good roots, blessings, and causal conditions will encounter the great Dharma of the Pure Land and Practitioner Su, thereby gaining the opportunity for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The body of one who has realised their true nature is used for the sake of sentient beings, living for them. Conversely, the body of an ordinary person is used to endure the retribution of karma, living merely for the continuation of their own life."

Spiritual Elevation and the Pure Land

"How does one transform from an ordinary person into a sage and then a Buddha? Spiritual elevation is the primary requirement. Only after the purification of the body, heart, and spirit can there be an opportunity for spiritual elevation. The sages of the Four Sacred Realms—Arhats, Pratyekabuddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Buddhas—have entered the ranks of the sages, but they require specific karmic conditions to act and cannot necessarily be reborn in the Western Pure Land. However, those who have realised their true nature in the Pure Land can save sentient beings of the Dharma Realm and those in the Four Sacred Realms, guiding them to rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Wherever a sage who has realised their true nature appears, it becomes a place of peace and harmony, where all beings are subdued, taught, and transformed, manifesting a state of safety and non-contention.

Those who have realised their true nature have a clear and serene mind, transcending the ranks of ordinary sages. While sages may not yet possess the status of the Dharma Body and must act according to conditions, those who have realised their true nature can manifest countless Dharma Bodies and emanations. Everything they see and encounter is a matter of karmic affinity; when the affinity is ripe, beings are saved. If the affinity is not yet ripe, they ensure that in this life or the next, when the time is right, they will be saved."

The Magnificent Practice of Namo Amituofo

"The magnificence of the Pure Land method of chanting Namo Amituofo allows one to quickly and directly transform from an ordinary person into a sage in the human world. Subsequently, one's spirit can realise its true nature and attain Buddhahood, transcending the ranks of ordinary sages. Upon entering the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, one receives the care of the Buddha-vow of Namo Amituofo, continuing the practice of purification in that pure land until the realisation of true nature and the attainment of Buddhahood.

The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is where Namo Amituofo resides. It is effectively the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Here, one receives the care of the Buddha-vow of Namo Amituofo, serving as a stepping stone for the spirit to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. Furthermore, there is Practitioner Su, who has realised their true nature, to teach and save sentient beings. Those who are able to enter this place to learn and purify themselves, and who possess true vows and engage in true practice, all have the opportunity for rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Cherish this opportunity well! Namo Amituofo."