The Path of True Practice: An Interview with Skanda Bodhisattva

The Diverse Journeys of the Soul

As the protector of the Dharma, I have observed countless practitioners throughout my tenure. Each individual embarks upon their journey with different intentions, and consequently, each achieves a different level of success. Some find the rigours of practice too demanding; they falter under the weight of life's tests, abandon their vows, and return to the cycle of the six realms of existence. Others, while initially committed to strict precepts, eventually find themselves unable to maintain their discipline, leading them to break their vows and return to lay life.

There are also those who spend their entire lives upholding the precepts with unwavering dedication. They live peaceful, blameless lives, and by observing the five precepts and ten virtues, they secure the good fruit of obtaining a human body in their next life. However, there are two other, more profound categories of practitioners. The first are those who remain silent and humble, focusing their energy inward. They engage in diligent practice, follow the teachings with absolute sincerity, and eventually realise their true nature. In their commitment to the Buddha's path, they truly manifest the spirit of saving beings, dedicating their lives to the welfare of others until their final breath. They are deeply revered, and some leave behind writings that guide future generations, becoming great patriarchs and venerable masters. Others may remain unknown to the world, yet their practice allows them to achieve liberation, leaving suffering behind to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The second category consists of those who, due to obstacles, dissatisfaction, or a lack of progress, allow resentment to take root in their hearts. They depart this life carrying this heavy burden, which leads them into the Demon Realm. The difference between these two outcomes—attaining Buddhahood or falling into the depths of the Demon Realm—is as vast as the distance between two extremes.

The Silent Path to Awakening

Those who achieve success in their practice share common traits. Before they reach their goal, they all follow the teachings with total devotion. They listen to their teacher, walk the path step by step, and remain quiet and humble, avoiding any boastful or superficial behaviour. Only after they have realised their true nature do they begin to teach others, using their own unique Dharma affinity and skillful means. They adapt their methods to the environment, the era, and their own hard-won experience to pass on the Buddha's teachings. They observe the capacity of their students and engage in various acts of salvation.

In this modern age, such practitioners are rare. It is even rarer to find someone who achieves awakening and Buddhahood in this very lifetime, and who can call upon Namo Amituofo to abide in this world to save beings. Practitioner Su is the only one. Wherever Practitioner Su resides or travels, the local spirits are blessed with great fortune. Because their suffering is alleviated, they find peace in body, mind, and spirit, and are able to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Compassionate Mission of Practitioner Su

The recent success in bringing rain to the temple in Toowoomba is but one example of this. The power of Practitioner Su's lectures reaches throughout the vastness of the Dharma Realm, into the hells, and across the Dharma-Nature Land. Those who hear these teachings are often moved to tears, deeply repenting for their past wrongs. Every word spoken is a golden gem of wisdom that can help beings leave suffering behind and find happiness. Many lament that they did not hear the Dharma while they were alive, yet they are grateful to hear it now, even without a physical body. They kneel in gratitude, thanking Practitioner Su for this transformation. It is never too late; the Buddha's compassion is infinite, and all dharmas are mind-only. When one can cultivate a heart of shame and gratitude through hearing the Dharma, it serves to cleanse one's sins and repent for past wrongs, which is of immense help for one's future destination.

A Call to the Fourfold Assembly

For the fourfold assembly currently at the temple and the beings in the Dharma-Nature Land, this is a time of great advantage. Because Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su are present here, being reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is easily within reach. You need only listen and follow the teachings with faith. For the spirits without bodies in the Dharma-Nature Land, this is a great guarantee of safety. However, for the fourfold assembly, if you are content to stay here and follow the Buddha, the Western Pure Land is your only true destination. If you harbour other thoughts, you risk falling back into the six realms of existence. You must be extremely cautious.

The Boundless Vessel of Infinite Mercy

Regarding the physical body of Practitioner Su, we continue to use the method of removing attached spirits. The number of beings being invited to leave is still as high as ever; the sheer volume is beyond imagination. It is astonishing that Practitioner Su's body possesses such endurance, containing so many beings while still maintaining the practice to realise one's true nature. This demonstrates a fiercely diligent spirit, a commitment to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, and a heart of compassion that is truly worthy of respect and admiration. One reason Practitioner Su's body can accommodate so many beings is that the mind-capacity to save others is infinite; therefore, the space within the cells of the body is also boundless. If we had not invited so many beings to leave, we would never have known of this inconceivable reality.

I, Skanda Bodhisattva, shall continue to perform my duties as a Dharma protector, assisting in the work of bringing rain and performing Chao Du.

Namo Amituofo.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.