The Profound Truth of Emptiness and True Possession

The Radiant Core of the Empty Nature

The concept of the Empty Nature is the vital core of learning the Buddha's teachings. Once you understand and reclaim this Empty Nature, you will be able to live your life with complete freedom and ease, passing through this world without any attachments, and ultimately achieving rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Many people misunderstand the meaning of emptiness. They mistakenly believe that when the Buddha speaks of emptiness or nothingness, it implies that everything is non-existent. They find this concept too lofty and unattainable. They think, 'I want to possess things in this world; why should I speak of emptiness?' Consequently, they feel that the Buddha's teachings are far removed from their daily lives. This is precisely why Buddhist education and the practice of listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma are so essential. As the saying goes, 'Without a teacher, even the wisest cannot understand the Buddha's path.' This clearly highlights the importance of having a true spiritual friend and a virtuous teacher to guide you. My dear friends, please understand that reclaiming your Empty Nature is the only way to truly possess everything without any lack.

The Sorrow of Lost Opportunities

Currently, many people hold misconceptions about the Buddha's teachings. This is largely due to a lack of sufficient Causal Conditions and Dharma affinity. Because of this, they lose the precious opportunity to reclaim their Empty Nature, to remain in a state of constant, cool clarity, and to transcend the cycle of rebirth to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is truly a great pity. What exactly is this Empty Nature? It is your original, true nature. Everyone possesses it inherently. No matter how much time passes, this Empty Nature remains unborn and undying, neither increasing nor decreasing. It does not diminish because you suffer, nor is it worn away by the cycle of rebirth. It is pure, unstained, transparent, and flawless. It contains the vastness of the Dharma Realm and embraces all things. It acts without the sense of a self, and it performs actions without attachment. It is the source of infinite compassion, wisdom, and virtue. This is what Shakyamuni Buddha realized under the Bodhi tree when he looked up at the morning star and declared: 'All beings possess the wisdom and virtue of the Tathagata, but they cannot realize it due to their delusions and attachments.' He attained complete awakening and reclaimed the innate power of the Empty Nature and the Buddha-nature.

Echoes of Lifetimes Past

For countless lifetimes, we have wandered through the six realms of existence, experiencing endless suffering, joy, anger, sorrow, and the pain of separation. If you were to open your Alaya consciousness and look within, you would see that every one of us has experienced the trials of the six realms: the interrogation by the Yama Kings in the ten courts of hell, the accusations of karmic creditors, and the agony of hellish tortures; the unbearable hunger and thirst of the hungry ghost realm; the greed and attachment inherent in the ghost realm; the ignorance and confusion of the animal realm, where beings crawl and fly in darkness; the cycle of good and evil karmic retribution in the human world; the fleeting, worry-free pleasures of the heavenly realms; and the anger and resentment found in the asura realm. All these memories, feelings, and experiences are stored within your consciousness; they have never diminished. However, because of the 'oblivion of the intermediate state' between lives, people forget their past and remain unaware. I truly hope that everyone will live this life with mindfulness and clarity.

The Invisible Threads of Karmic Entanglement

Invisible Causal Conditions act like powerful, fine threads. The moment you give rise to a thought, a trace of emotional entanglement, or a spark of anger, these vibrations—these electrical waves and magnetic fields—are perfectly clear. They immediately attract beings and consciousnesses that share a karmic affinity with these fluctuations. This leads to the manifestation of Greed, Anger, Ignorance, Arrogance, and Doubt, as well as the five desires of wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep. Consequently, various karmic retributions and karmic creditors appear, causing you to suffer. This is why I repeatedly remind you: do not let your mind wander, do not give rise to idle thoughts, keep the Precepts without violation, maintain your meditative concentration without disturbance, and awaken your wisdom to dispel ignorance.

Waking from the Illusory Stage

All of these experiences are merely illusory appearances. They are like scenes in a dream, gathering when conditions arise and dispersing when conditions cease. It is like watching a play on a stage; the audience is also part of the play. When the curtain falls, the people disperse. If there is a karmic affinity, you will meet again in the future, perhaps with different faces, yet feeling a sense of familiarity. You will continue your past connections—repaying kindness, settling grievances, and balancing debts. Beings in the six realms are constantly performing these dramas. These are all delusional states and should not be clung to. Yet, because of ignorance, people mistake the false for the true, taking the play seriously and holding on tightly. This only causes the drama to continue indefinitely, preventing you from escaping the cycle of rebirth. There is love and affection, resentment and hatred, the distinction between 'you' and 'me,' and the opposition between good and bad. To speak more thoroughly, the entire Dharma Realm—this world, the six realms, and the four holy states—is all a manifestation of delusional illusions. If you are lost within them, you drift further and further away from your Empty Nature. If you know how to detach from emotional entanglements and the concepts of self and others, you will be able to let go of everything in this world. Use this illusory body to cultivate the truth, perform the Buddha's work within the dream, and realise your true nature.

The Boundless Wealth of the True Self

Within the Empty Nature, you possess everything without limit. Once you reclaim your true nature, these qualities manifest naturally, act naturally, and exist in a state of natural perfection. You will naturally possess everything. The functions of your Six Sense Organs were previously obstructed by the cycle of rebirth, causing you to lose your keen awareness. Once you practise purification and the roots of your Six Sense Organs are fully cleared, you will know everything and be capable of everything. Within your true nature, the Six Sense Organs are inherently fully functional. It is only because of the endless cycle of rebirth that they became blocked. Once purified and cleared, the six supernatural powers will manifest. These are not external powers; they were always yours, always present. There is no past, no present, and no future; the three periods of time are one. The past, present, and future are all integrated within the empty nature. They are all illusory; they never truly existed. They only appear to exist because of your thinking, your intentions, and your actions.

The Compassionate Call to Return Home

The Empty Nature is so wonderful, yet people, out of ignorance and misunderstanding, keep it at a distance. They think it means having nothing, when in fact it means possessing everything. There are many practitioners who know the benefits of awakening, but because they encounter obstacles and adverse conditions, they cannot break through and give up halfway. Others may have the guidance of a true spiritual friend, but because their personal habits are difficult to tame, they retreat. However, do not fear! As long as you still have a breath, as long as you still possess a human body, as long as you are willing to turn back, willing to reclaim your true nature, and willing to return to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, there is still a chance for redemption. The Buddha will not abandon any child who has the power of vows.

My children, come back! Each of you can reclaim your true nature, become a Buddha, and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Our compassionate father, Namo Amituofo, stands with his hands lowered, ready at any moment to open his arms and welcome the wandering children home. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is the stepping stone to returning to the West. As long as you are willing to learn from the Buddha and chant his name, letting go of the emotional entanglements and dust of this world, Practitioner Su, who has realised his true nature, will lead the monastics and lay practitioners onto the path to the West. Those who wish to join us, come here to walk this path together, to cultivate and save yourselves and others, and to travel together to the West.

This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.