Truth, Falsehood, Reality, and Illusion

The Crucible of Awakening

The journey toward realising one's true nature and attaining Buddhahood is paved with numerous challenges and rigorous tests. These trials are not meant to discourage you, but rather to refine your spirit. They serve to temper your perseverance, your steadfastness, and the strength of your vows. Through these experiences, your capacity for compassion is measured, and your commitment to the path is brought into sharp focus. Consider the Six Paramitas—the perfections of a Bodhisattva—and ask yourself how you fare in your daily practice: Is your heart truly sincere when you give of yourself to others? Is your conduct upright, transparent, and free from the shadows of deceit? Does your endurance carry the warmth of compassion, or is it merely a forced suppression of anger? Can you maintain your practice without retreating, even when the path becomes steep? How deep and stable is your meditative concentration when the world around you is in turmoil? How clearly does your Prajna wisdom manifest in the face of complex life situations?

Even a single one of these areas requires immense time and dedication to master. You must engage in the constant work of quickly repenting and changing your ways to remove the obstacles created by the habits and ego-attachments you have carried across countless lifetimes. If you find these major challenges difficult, consider how many subtle, microscopic details of your ego remain unaddressed. These obstacles and difficulties are your personal examination papers. Whether you pass or fail is something only you can measure, for you hold the ruler of your own conscience. While standards may vary from person to person, the most important thing is that you are making steady progress. If you do not, time will slip away, and the precious Causal Conditions for Awakening and saving beings will be missed. It is a profound tragedy to let such opportunities pass by.

The Art of Letting Go and Living in Emptiness

Why struggle so intensely, clinging to things that are difficult to hold and even harder to release? This long-term battle, this constant state of being tested, is exhausting and leaves one vulnerable to spiritual injury. Why not truly "see through" and "let go," living a life of emptiness? Once you achieve this, any test you face can be resolved with ease. This is the fundamental difference between a difficult practice and an easy one. If you truly wish to practise, grasp the main direction of the path and strive to improve. By cultivating a state of no-mind, no-thought, no-perception, no-self, and no-selfishness, you will avoid taking many unnecessary detours and will reach the goal of realising one's true nature and attaining Buddhahood.

If you truly wish to change, you must first "see through" the truth, falsehood, reality, and illusion of this world. Only then can you truly "let go." Many people listen to countless lectures, yet they remain confused. They ask: "Why do I have such real feelings of pain and suffering when I am ill? How can you say this body is fake? Why does my existence inevitably lead to suffering? Why are the emotions and bonds between parents, children, and friends considered illusory? If there is no emotion, how can one survive in the human world?" Because of these doubts, they cannot "let go." These questions act like heavy stones pressing upon the heart. You must truly understand the nature of reality to face these problems, remove these stones, and attain a life of coolness, freedom, and ease, thereby leaving suffering and gaining happiness.

Discerning the Truth Amidst the Illusion

Look closely at your life: your body, your sensations, your emotions, and your sense of "I." Is there any one of these that exists eternally and never changes? Everything in this world changes with every passing second. Because they do not last forever, they are illusions and false appearances. You must learn to "let go" and not be attached to them. Only that which exists eternally and never changes can be considered real. Only by understanding this can you see the truth, realise your true nature, and attain Buddhahood. The Truth is eternal and unchanging. Seeing your self-nature is the mark of great cultivation. Attaining Buddhahood through Buddha recitation is the absolute truth, and rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is the path to true liberation.

Even if many believe they have understood these teachings, when a situation arises, they still cannot "see through" or "let go." They remain trapped in suffering, unable to find a way out. This means they have returned to the starting point; they have not truly understood. They must continue to undergo test after test until they finally "let go." If you truly "let go," any test that manifests before you can be passed with ease. To be without mind, without thought, without perception, without feeling, without self, and without selfishness—this is the state of "emptiness." When your heart is completely empty, with nothing remaining, the true nature of emptiness manifests. The entire purpose of learning the Buddha’s teachings is to reach this point. Only after you have saved yourself and left suffering behind can you truly join the ranks of those who save beings.

The Compassionate Guidance of a Virtuous Teacher

Throughout this process, the most important element is education. Education requires the guidance of a virtuous teacher. This is a point that I, Xuanzang, have emphasised repeatedly; it is vital to your learning. Classroom lectures are merely the basic curriculum. The ability to apply these teachings in your daily life is what constitutes great cultivation. When you encounter friction or problems, you need the guidance of a virtuous teacher to point the way. Only if you listen and improve is there a possibility of Awakening.

The Awakening of Practitioner Su was achieved only after layer upon layer of testing and the breaking through of various obstacles. The disciples at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre are currently in the process of this very journey toward Awakening. This is a rare and precious opportunity—you must cherish it with all your heart.

The message of this interview was recorded by the Buddha’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.