Witnessing the Boundless Dharma Through Practitioner Su at Hsiang Kuang

The Living Presence of Awakening

The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is located in Australia. While its true Abbot is Namo Amituofo in the spiritual realm, and its guiding figures are Namo Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva and Namo Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, the one who guides, heals, and saves beings through a visible, physical body is the awakened Practitioner Su. I am with her twenty-four hours a day, and she constantly reminds and encourages me in my practice.

The Walking Sutra

Where should one seek the liberation of the Buddhas? The answer is: seek it within the hearts and actions of all sentient beings. I firmly believe that Practitioner Su has already realised her true nature and attained Buddhahood. Why am I so certain? I have observed that she perceives the fluctuations in everyone's mind with absolute clarity. She can detect the most subtle mental notes, and her analysis of the complexities of human life is delivered with surgical precision. I know that if one did not have a profound, exhaustive understanding of human suffering, it would be impossible to teach the Dharma in this way.

Where does the suffering of life originate? It originates from the thoughts of human beings. As the Vimalakirti Sutra states: "Where should one seek the liberation of the Buddhas? The answer is: seek it within the hearts and actions of all sentient beings." The teachings Practitioner Su shares point directly to the human heart, often containing startling revelations. No one has ever explained these simple truths with such clarity. She speaks with great compassion and immense boldness, making it clear to me that she truly wishes to save all beings. She never allows anyone to harbour the complacent mindset of seeking only personal liberation. Her teachings always point directly to Awakening, encouraging everyone to become a Buddha.

For instance, she advises people against marriage and having children, pointing out that children suffer, parents suffer, and if children are not raised correctly, parents must bear the karmic consequences. These words strike a chord deep within my heart, as they are the very things I wished to say to my own family but could not. Such words and actions have deepened my conviction that she understands the hearts and actions of all beings perfectly; indeed, she has entered into the very heart of all sentient beings.

Beyond Emotional Attachment

The sutras say: "The ocean of perfect, universal knowledge, though it enters the thoughts of sentient beings, remains pure and tranquil in the Land of Eternal Tranquil Light, untouched by any emotional calculation." Because I have historically been very attached to emotions and relationships, I am extremely sensitive to any trace of emotional entanglement in myself or others. However, after more than a year of observation, I am one hundred per cent certain that Practitioner Su has no emotional attachments to me or to the fourfold assembly of disciples. Does this not perfectly align with the sutra's description? It is truly inconceivable that she seeks the Dharma precisely from within the hearts and actions of all beings.

When I first arrived at this Buddha-land, I did not care whether Practitioner Su was an awakened being. I simply knew that the Buddha was here and that the Buddha could help me. But after living here and observing her, I finally understood what the sutras meant. I realised that this is what it looks like when a human being attains Awakening. This realisation arose naturally from within, perfectly validating the scriptures.

Bearing the Suffering of Beings

As an awakened human being, Practitioner Su is already a Buddha. I have witnessed her constantly bearing the suffering of beings to save those in this world and throughout the Dharma realm. Every moment, countless demon crowds attack her body. While her internal organs remain healthy and strong, her skin often suffers—manifesting as redness, itching, rashes, pain, or even bleeding. Sometimes, these beings use their powers to make her dizzy, blind, or unable to walk. Once, a demon spirit attacked her with great force, only to be terrified in return. Why? Because Practitioner Su remained completely unmoved, laughing from the depths of her heart and thinking, "I am very valuable!" The demon later confessed that he was shocked by her compassion.

I am also frequently attacked by such spirits, but I usually collapse or become easily controlled. Yet, the more Practitioner Su is attacked, the happier she becomes. She says that when these spirits attack her, they can be saved. She views her body as a vessel to bear the suffering of beings, and she considers it very valuable. She uses the twelve lights of the Buddha to perform Chao Du, subduing these spirits and guiding them to the Western Land of Dharma Nature. Furthermore, she must convey the teachings of the Abbot—Namo Amituofo—to the fourfold assembly of disciples from Monday to Thursday, and lead the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. She is incredibly busy.

Supernatural Energy and Vitality

Although she is a Buddha, she still eats and rests. She sleeps for only about two hours a day, yet I have found that her energy and vitality at eighty years old far exceed my own. Where does this energy come from? Through listening to the Dharma daily, I have come to understand that it comes from the light naturally emitted by her body, which follows a pure and good character. It comes from her selfless heart, which bears suffering for others without complaint, and from her vow to save all beings. This is the energy of Buddha-light, generated by a heart identical to the Buddha's. Additionally, Namo Amituofo helps amplify the energy already present within her.

Where does her vitality come from? It comes from her heart and actions, which are constantly occupied with performing Chao Du for spirits and delivering lectures for the sake of countless beings. It is truly inconceivable. Why does she lecture so frequently? Because her teachings help spirits understand the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, making them easier to purify. By listening to her, these spirits become more receptive to the help of the Buddha and Practitioner Su, allowing them to reach better realms, such as the Western Land of Dharma Nature or the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the essence of Chao Du. Beyond the fourfold assembly of disciples at the temple, she reaches people across the world through the internet and the distribution of Dharma treasures.

A Vow to Carry the Responsibility

As I continue my purification at the temple, following the teachings of Namo Amituofo and changing my personality, I see Practitioner Su's daily efforts. I deeply feel that I, too, share the heavy responsibility of spreading the Buddha's teachings and saving the world. This is a duty that every member of the fourfold assembly must shoulder. Practitioner Su lives a life of immense activity, constantly reminding me through words and actions to treat one day as two, to be active, and to be even more diligent. She is truly an awakened being. I feel that to be a human being, one should be like Practitioner Su: to have faith in the Buddha, to make the same vows as the Buddha, and to perform the same work as the Buddha.

Namo Amituofo