The Wisdom of Deliverance: Reflections on the Island-wide Chao Du

The Universal Web of Connection

Sentient and non-sentient beings are all born from the same original source. Everywhere you look, you will find those with whom you have a karmic connection. Across different times and spaces, these connections persist, binding us together in a vast, invisible web. It is essential to realise that every encounter is not a coincidence but a manifestation of past causes and conditions.

How many beings are trapped within these cycles of existence? It is incredibly difficult for them to let go of the roots of emotion that keep them bound to the cycle of rebirth. The grievances, debts, and entanglements of this life pass in the blink of an eye, yet their impact on our consciousness remains profound.

The Trap of Attachment

Attachment to what we like and what we receive is also attachment to what we hate and what brings us sorrow. When we cling to these dualities, we create a prison for ourselves. If we allow ourselves to become demons through our actions and continue to create negative karma, we will eventually face the inevitable retribution. Consider the states of suffering that many beings endure: being trapped on steep cliffs or jagged rocks where there is no respite; being submerged in the depths of the ocean, lost in darkness; or suffering for billions of years, unable to escape, with cries of agony echoing through the void.

The Path to Liberation

In the midst of this darkness, Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su appear before us. By repenting of our negative karma and correcting our past mistakes, we are saved from this suffering through the compassionate grace of the Buddha. My disciples, you must be cautious when the beginning of this connection arises. You must realise that all those with whom you are connected are ultimately illusory. If you take your joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness as real, you will be trapped in the cycle of rebirth indefinitely.

The suffering is unbearable and has no end. During this island-wide tour, what I have seen and heard is a reflection of the state of all beings. Each of you is part of this reality. It is not others who are suffering; it is yourself. To perform Chao Du for others is to save yourself. Leaving suffering behind and attaining rebirth in the Western Pure Land is the only way to true, lasting peace.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo