The Secret of Thought Power: An Interview with Ma Yun

This is a record of an interview with Ma Yun, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Having reflected on his past life and his current spiritual journey toward the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, he shares his insights on the power of intent and the necessity of selfless service. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Haipin, on August 26, 2018.

Ma Yun speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Ma Yun. Every day, I participate in the Dharma Body Chao Du, joining the ranks of saviors to help those in need. This process of saving the world has been a journey of finding my true self again.

The Marathon of Life

Life is much like a marathon race. The true winners are not necessarily those who are the fastest, but those who have the endurance to persist until the very end. It does not matter if your pace is slow; what truly matters is whether you choose to give up at the most critical moments. Who can say that life is always smooth sailing? It is precisely the turbulent, crashing waves of challenges that give life its rich colours and fill our memories with substance. Without these trials, life would be a blank canvas.

Throughout my life, I have always loved facing challenges. While the process was often arduous and success was never guaranteed, I learned that every mistake served as the best possible provision for the next challenge. Strictly speaking, a person has no true enemies in this life. The greatest enemy is oneself. Fear and anxiety are like poisons to the spirit. Only by bravely facing everything with a heart of Goodness can we transcend these obstacles. If you hold onto thoughts of Goodness, you will inevitably bear the fruit of beautiful, virtuous results. Perhaps it will not be perfect, but I believe it will be far from poor. This is the secret of thought power—the power of intent is truly inconceivable. When your heart is aligned, things naturally manifest as you wish."

The Art of Suffering a Loss

"In my past, I was always profit-oriented. I lived by the rule that I would never allow myself to suffer a loss. Of course, I made exceptions for investments necessary for business growth, but that was a different matter. My perspective only began to shift after I reconnected with my Dharma brother. I used to say, 'I will eat anything, but I will never eat a loss.' In the path of Buddhist practice, however, the truth is exactly the opposite.

I had to relearn how to give, how to contribute, and how to suffer a loss. I had to learn to put others first and place myself last. It seems that learning to practise the Dharma is really just learning how to be a proper human being. Once you learn how to be a human, you have already achieved half of your success. Learning to suffer a loss is, in fact, a vital method for expanding one's mind-capacity. In the past, I would spend vast amounts of money on romantic entanglements and vanity. That was not generosity; it was merely a way to satisfy my own ego. To put it bluntly, it was just a way to shift my space and relieve the pressure I felt. Looking back on it now, it feels quite sorrowful."

Returning Home to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss

"I am no longer that person. Many eons ago, I was also a practitioner—a monastic of some standing. I believe that even now, as I exist in this state, I still have the opportunity to start over after meeting my Dharma brother. I must make a great heart and an Ultimate Vow. In this life, I am determined to return to the home of my compassionate Father, Namo Amituofo. Returning home is the only path that truly matters. Namo Amituofo!"

Namo Amituofo."