The Wisdom of Harmonious Interaction

The Endless Journey of the Spirit

Throughout the vast expanse of aeons, every sentient being has been reincarnated. Your spirit has travelled through countless lifetimes, experiencing profound suffering and torment. You have endured the heart-wrenching pain of separation and the agony of reunions that were destined to end. You have tasted the cold, unyielding reality of birth, aging, sickness, death, time and time again.

In your journey through the six realms of existence, you have wandered across this world and countless others. Although you have been transformed in appearance and identity in each life, your spirit remains the same. For the sake of the white-haired person sending off the black-haired person, you have shed tears that, if gathered together, would form an ocean deeper and wider than any on this earth.

The Silent Witness Within

This spirit, which has carried the weight of such immense history, resides within you right now. It is the very essence of your being. While you may not consciously remember the bits and pieces of your past lives, these experiences are not lost. They are recorded clearly and without omission, stored deep within the memory of your spirit.

The karma you have accumulated over these aeons is invisible, colourless, and odourless. Yet, if it were to manifest in physical form, it would tower higher than Mount Sumeru and run deeper than the vastest ocean. This spirit, burdened by the weight of its own history, is present beside everyone you meet. It is not only your own experience; it is the lived reality of every member of the fourfold assembly, and indeed, of all sentient beings—whether they are the grass, the trees, the mountains, the rivers, or the creatures dwelling within the clouds, both visible and invisible.

The Path to True Harmony

In light of this profound truth, how can we continue to interact with one another through the lens of ego? When we truly understand the depth of our shared suffering, how can we justify:

• Asserting our own will over others, believing that one must be strong while the other is weak?
• Demanding that others listen to us, as if our perspective is the only one that matters?
• Allowing discriminations to take root, dividing people into high and low, or insisting that I am right and you are wrong?

These attitudes only serve to cause mutual harm and create deep-seated knots within the heart. Instead, we must learn to embrace, respect, and accept one another. We must replace our anger, confusion, and dissatisfaction with compassion and Wisdom. We must face all circumstances with a heart of gratitude and joy.

Resolving Conflict with Compassion

When you encounter problems in your relationships, you must learn to step into the other person's shoes. By viewing the situation from their perspective, you will find that you can resolve conflicts much sooner. No matter what challenges arise, please treat yourself and all other beings with sincerity.

Sincerity is the key that can awaken a Body-Mind-Spirit that has been trapped in confusion. When you understand from the depths of your heart that every person is a Buddha, a sense of respect will naturally arise within you. This is the true way of harmonious interaction. Namo Amituofo.