The Path to True Dharma Joy

This article features the twenty-sixth letter from Venerable Master Wei Chueh, recorded on July 12, 2017. In this discourse, the Master offers profound guidance on the nature of true Dharma joy, warning practitioners against the subtle traps of the ego and the false sense of accomplishment that hinder the path to seeing one's true nature. The message was transcribed by the chief writer, disciple Shi Fa Xi.

Venerable Master Wei Chueh speaks:

"To exert oneself fully in the work of the Buddha is to experience a state of being completely filled with Dharma joy. This kind of happiness is difficult to describe in words, yet we all refer to it as being filled with Dharma joy. Have you ever experienced this feeling? In such moments, when you are truly benefiting the masses and standing in close proximity to the Buddha, your heart feels brimming with warmth. You feel at peace, calm, grounded, and genuinely happy. You do not feel tired in the slightest, nor do you think of yourself at all. You have no attachment to the concept of existence or having. It is only when you act while letting go of the self that you truly experience this joy. Only then can you see the true Buddha and the Truth itself.

The Mirage of False Joy

There are many feelings that mimic this Dharma joy, but they are false. They are still deeply rooted in the mundane world and lack any true longevity. Very quickly, you will find yourself swayed by the next external condition that arises. This is not Dharma joy; it is merely your own personal gratification. I encourage you to examine this carefully. If you feel pressure while performing a task, you are not a true practitioner of the Buddha's path. You are merely going through the motions to fulfil an obligation. You are only seeking to do something to validate your own sense of existence, or perhaps to highlight your own importance. In reality, you are completely mistaken. Such behaviour only causes you to live within your own imagination and attachments. Furthermore, there is a term that the public rarely hears: you have become controlled, because you are acting out of selfishness.

The Trap of the Self

You may work yourself to the bone, exhausting every ounce of your heart and energy, only to receive a response that leaves you feeling unappreciated. You must feel incredibly resentful. But you need to be clear: you were only working for yourself. You might argue, 'But I am doing this for the sake of everyone! I could have chosen to do otherwise; I did not have to work this hard.' Look at that—even in your defence, it all comes back to your own feelings, and you are holding onto them very tightly. Can you honestly say that there was no self in the work you performed? There certainly was. Therefore, it is selfish. The happiness or Dharma joy you claim to feel is merely a simulation; it is false. The happiness is real in the sense that you are satisfied with your own actions and proud of your involvement, but this happiness is fragile. It will be quickly defeated by frustration or disappointment. This world is quite miraculous; as soon as you go against the Truth, or hold onto your own thoughts and views, you will be brought down. You will fall into a state of deep depression because the void does not respect you; it will come to control you—or rather, it will influence you. You can test whether what I say is true. In fact, these are not just my words; this is the Truth. I am merely stating it as it is, hoping that everyone can grow and stop deceiving themselves.

The Path to Awakening

True Dharma joy is not difficult to attain. It simply requires you to let go of your own agenda, to seek no reward, and to focus entirely on the needs of others. Do not look inward for your own feelings. In this way, you will be able to see the true traces of Dharma joy. You are also very likely to see your own true nature from this perspective—to see their true nature—because this is all on the same path. If your momentum is strong enough, you may be able to open the path quite far in a single effort, allowing you to realise your true nature quickly. In that moment, your heart will be in sync with the Buddha, and you will receive the infinite blessings of the Buddha. The Buddha's compassion is the hope that every single person can see their true nature and attain liberation. As soon as your Causal Conditions are sufficient, the Buddha is so anxious to save you from the sea of karma that He cannot wait. Because it is not easy, saving even a few is of the utmost importance. If you are now going against the current, as I described earlier, you are engaging in things that are false—mere fluctuations of your own heart. You are opening a path that leads away from seeing their true nature, and the further you go, the more lost you become. You will not realise that you are wrong; you will think you have been correct all along. Therefore, when someone points out your errors, you should be grateful and turn back immediately. You can still see their true nature very quickly. But if you do not believe this, then only you can save yourself, because you only believe in what you say. I was like this in the past, and I share this with you now. This is what I see today; many people have this problem. I hope you understand what I am trying to tell you. This is the Truth of the universe, and it is very fair, because the choices you make are almost always of your own making. Namo Amituofo. I hope everyone wakes up and realises their true nature soon."