Transcending Discrimination: The Path to Equality

The Balance of Spiritual Guidance

Teachings from Namo Amituofo, recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on the 25th of March, 2022.

When the Buddha provides guidance to his children, he ensures that the teachings are neither too distant from their current reality nor too shallow. If the teachings are too far removed from your daily life, you may find them difficult to apply, potentially losing the precious opportunity to listen and change your ways. Conversely, if the teachings appear too simple or superficial, you might underestimate the profound weight of every word and every action, thereby overlooking their vital importance. This tendency to judge the value of a teaching based on its perceived difficulty or relevance is precisely what arises from a mind of discrimination.

The Illusion of Separation

The Buddha’s teachings encourage you to move beyond discrimination and selective preference. To treat all beings with true equality is the very essence of the Buddha’s teachings. However, as you grow and navigate the human world, you have become accustomed to categorising and discriminating between things. You do this to manage your affairs more conveniently and efficiently. While such distinctions may be necessary in the practical realm of worldly tasks, you must understand the underlying principle of equality that governs all things.

Regardless of which of the six realms of existence a being inhabits, or what situation or object you encounter, you must recognise that all beings possess the same Buddha-nature and true self. The differences you perceive in form, status, or circumstance are merely the result of varying degrees of awakening and the karmic consequences of past actions. Because of these karmic seeds, beings cycle through the six realms of existence, manifesting in different shapes and conditions.

Practising Equality in Daily Life

Once you truly understand this principle, you will see that even when you must distinguish between things in your daily work—such as identifying differences in rank, sequence, intelligence, or quality—you can still maintain a heart of equality. You must learn to:

• Respect every individual equally, regardless of their perceived status.
• Accept the shortcomings of others with patience and grace.
• Interact with everyone using compassion, wisdom, tolerance, and a vast mind-capacity.

If you can maintain this state of compassion and awareness, living your life with an attitude of equality, you will naturally be liberated from the suffering caused by a discriminatory mind.

The Spirit of Universal Deliverance

Those who have realised their true nature understand the perspective of oneness. Because they see no separation between themselves and others, they love and protect all beings across all realms equally. They dedicate themselves to helping others leave suffering behind and find happiness, guided by:

• Compassion: A heart that genuinely wishes for the well-being of all.
• Wisdom: The clarity to see the truth of existence.
• Tolerance: The ability to embrace all beings without judgment.
• Mind-capacity: A heart vast enough to hold the entire universe.

This is the spirit of the Buddha’s teachings—to save the world and deliver beings without any trace of selfishness, desire, or expectation of reward. It is a path free from negative emotions, characterised by selflessness, no-self, and a state of no-thought. When you dwell in this state, the problems caused by a discriminatory mind cannot arise. However, the moment you allow discrimination to take root, you invite attachment and the subsequent suffering that follows.

Living in Harmony with Truth

Buddhist education exists to teach you both the principle and the practice. It is my hope that you can apply these teachings to your daily life, ensuring that your practice and your purification are balanced. By integrating these truths into your actions, you will be able to live a life where principle and practice are in perfect harmony, and where all things are unobstructed. May you continue your journey toward realising your true self, living a life of freedom, ease, and perfect completeness.

Namo Amituofo