Understanding Karma and Remaining Unperturbed in Suffering

The Seeds of Karma and the Path to Clarity

On February 7, 2019, we reflect upon the essence of spiritual practice. At its core, practice is about understanding the laws of karma and cause and effect. It is about the purification of the three karmas: body, speech, and mind. When a person experiences afflictions, they must understand that these are the result of past causes. By recognising this, one can suppress these afflictions before they take root.

Within the eighth consciousness, the seeds of karma planted in the past may manifest in this current life. Because of confusion, we develop attachment and discriminations, which lead us to suffer greatly. Where does this suffering originate? It arises from the repetitive actions of our body, speech, and mind. These actions become in sync with our past patterns, eventually solidifying into what we call habits and personality traits.

The Magnificent Pure Land Dharma Gate

When you practise the Pure Land Dharma Gate and listen to sutras and hear the Dharma, you come to realise how magnificent the Buddha’s teachings truly are. You learn that chanting Buddha's name, Namo Amituofo, can effectively cleanse your three karmas of body, speech, and mind. By deeply understanding the gravity of karmic retribution, you become willing to engage in genuine practice to rediscover your original nature—the face you had before your parents were born.

When your body, speech, and mind are pure and filled with Goodness, you cease to create the causes for further suffering. Consequently, you will no longer experience the bitter fruits of negative karma. On the path of practice, when you encounter a teacher who can explain these phenomena, you will learn to recognise the laws of karma and cause and effect. Once you have reached this level of understanding, you can face suffering without worry.

Cultivating Wisdom and Compassion

Among the 84,000 Dharma gates, all are designed to teach us how to attain true Wisdom and achieve spiritual accomplishment. These teachings are meant to help people dissolve their afflictions and grow in Wisdom, which is the concrete result of reclaiming our innate abilities. When the heart is free from worry, it is naturally pure. When the body does not transgress, our behaviour is upright. When we speak, we must be guided by compassion.

• Avoid words that harm others.
• Refrain from seductive or flowery speech.
• Speak only the truth, for the power of honest speech brings peace and purity to the heart.

When the three karmas of body, speech, and mind are pure, you are truly walking the path of the Bodhisattvas. You are learning the vow of the Buddha and the methods to save the world. Through the pure intent of chanting Buddha's name, you will attain a pure heart.

The Rare Opportunity for Liberation

To the Bodhisattvas and virtuous ones of the Western Land of Dharma Nature, this is a rare and magnificent Causal Conditions. You have received the support of the Buddha's power. The blessings you enjoy in this life are the result of your past practice, just as the things you find difficult to let go of are the result of causes you created in the past. There is no effect without a cause.

When you can refrain from letting every thought and intention arise, and instead engage in true practice and true action, you will possess great Wisdom. Namo Amituofo.

— Bodhisattva Ashvaghosha

This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Hai Liang, acting as the chief writer.