The Profound Nature of Karmic Affinity

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Faxi, on the thirty-first of October, 2017.

Disciple Shi Faxi: I respectfully invite Namo Amituofo to guide me. What should I ask about today? I humbly request the Buddha's compassionate teachings.

Namo Amituofo: Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva will provide teachings on the subject of karmic affinity.

Disciple Shi Faxi: I am deeply grateful for the Buddha's compassion. I respectfully invite Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva to share these teachings. Namo Amituofo.

The Invisible Threads of Destiny

Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva: Karmic affinity is the invisible thread that weaves through the joys and sorrows of our existence. It manifests in moments of harmony and conflict, sometimes appearing as obvious waves of emotion, and at other times, as subtle, lingering feelings that we cannot quite name. When we create our own destiny, we are naturally influenced by these karmic connections. This single word, affinity, pulls us through countless lifetimes, constantly shifting and changing in an uncertain world.

There is an irresistible gravitational pull that draws all beings together. Whether these encounters are physical or formless, they are always accompanied by the weight of past emotions. In the span of our individual lives, these connections sprout quietly. The wonder of this process is difficult to describe in words. Consider the following ways these connections manifest in our daily lives:

• The spontaneous thoughts that arise in our dreams.The persistent difficulty of forgetting past encounters.The sudden flashes of anger or deep-seated resentment toward others.The unfolding of our life's destiny, which often feels pre-arranged.

Whether these experiences are pleasant or painful, they are all linked to the causes and effects of our past karma. Under the influence of these connections, all things in this world are caught in a cycle of attraction and repulsion.

Transforming Affinity into the Path of Deliverance

The power of karmic affinity is vast, stretching across lifetimes of love, hatred, and resentment. When we examine this closely, we realise that these connections are merely the turning of karmic seeds. If we continue to treat these affinities as purely worldly matters, we remain trapped. However, if we treat these connections as elements to be used within the power of Chao Du, we can transform them into something magnificent.

By using these connections as a bridge and a medium for spreading the Dharma, we no longer need to engage with them in a worldly way. We can achieve a profound transformation of all our affinities. Instead of distinguishing between good and bad, we can use them to achieve the status of sages. By turning the wheel of the Dharma through these connections, we can transcend the mundane world. Karmic affinity can be your greatest aid, rather than a source of confusion.

The Illusion of Worldly Bonds

We often discuss our relationships using the language of emotion, yet we remain unable to cross the threshold of life and death. This is because we are stained by the dust of the world. We wander through the six realms of rebirth for thousands of kalpas, tied in knots that we cannot untie, lost in the sleep of desire. Originally, affinity should be pure and indestructible. However, once it falls into the mundane world, it is recorded with false thoughts and delusions. It becomes difficult to maintain a straight path when we are caught in the cycle of karmic causes.

We must be wary of the following traps:

• False thoughts:
• Allowing our minds to wander into unproductive territory.Emotional attachment:
• Becoming obsessed with romantic or sentimental bonds.Lustful desires: Allowing our minds to become confused and chaotic.

There is no such thing as a perfect worldly connection. Even if you weep until the seas run dry, these things are not real; they are illusions. The world is like a flower that cannot bloom for a hundred days; worldly happiness does not last forever, and even the deepest connections do not always reach a perfect conclusion.

Awakening to the Original Nature

When you realise that worldly affairs are ultimately empty, you can follow the flow of affinity without being trapped by it. If your body and mind are pure, you are no longer bound by these connections. To be without attachment is the true meaning of affinity. With pure wisdom, one can see that all beings are one with the Tathagata. If you do not see this, you are not yet a Buddha. When you see everything as a manifestation of affinity, and yet realise that there is nothing to grasp, you will understand that all beings share the same life. Why then do we worry about worldly connections? They arise only from a confused mind. In truth, the original nature is empty, and the true self abides in the state of suchness.

I urge you to cherish good affinities and avoid worldly states of mind. Do not let emotions pull you back into the cycle of suffering. Instead, focus on verifying the path to enlightenment. Let your nature be true and real. By purifying the way you handle these connections, you will lead all those with whom you have an affinity to seek the supreme path. Namo Amituofo.