Guru's Talk

(By Living Buddha Lian-Sheng, Sheng-Yen Lu)
(Translated by Cheng Yew Chung. Edited by TBN)

While residing in my hut at Leaf Lake two nights ago, I sat in meditation for a long time, through midnight until the early dawn. Thus, during the [next] afternoon, while resting at my chair, I decided to take a nap.

Upon closing my eyes, I at once saw the True Buddha Tantric Quarter standing on the ground east of my little retreat home, and saw the door to my residence. Upon entering it, I noticed the same carpet on the floor and noticed that the painting of Amitabha Buddha was still hanging beside the door. The shrine at the True Buddha Tantric Quarter appeared before me, in which I saw the life-like statue of Simhamukha displayed and the statue of the Golden Mother of the Jade Pond seated in the centre.

As I walked upstairs, I saw two persons in the office, but they were totally unaware of my presence. I could see them, yet they could not see me. Their every move and their conversation were crystal clear to me, just like I was seeing and listening to them in my physical form.

I deliberately coughed once, but they could not hear it. I paced back and forth in front of them, but they did not notice me.

I spent considerable time pondering in the True Buddha Tantric Quarter before I became bored. Then I walked back to my hut at Leaf Lake and returned to my chair. As I sat down, I immediately woke up.

Upon waking, I realized I was still at Leaf Lake and the ground east of my little house remained a piece of grassland. The True Buddha Tantric Quarter was nowhere to be seen. It was strange! Strange indeed! Though remotely separated, the True Buddha Tantric Quarter and Leaf Lake could stand side by side.

How does one explain this? This is because the True Buddha Tantric Quarter always resides in my heart, and Leaf Lake also has a place within [my heart]. Thus, seen from the perspective of the mind, walking from one corner of my heart to another has little bearing in distance, far or near. If one should take [an airplane] flight, it would probably last more than ten hours, and by ship it might take more than ten days if travelling non-stop. Yet, within my heart, all it takes is one thought.

I therefore know: Such is Deva-Foot Travel, described also as the Wish-Fulfilling Mind. All it takes is a nap [for me] to arrive at my destination.

Hence, I believe that despite the distance of a hundred billion Buddha-lands separating the Saha World and the Western Paradise of Ultimate Bliss, as long as we hold the thought of Pure Land within us, and are aligned with the source of mind, the lotus of the Pure Land shall suddenly appear before us upon the ripeness of fruition. The mind-only realm holds no concept of back and forth travelling, for when the heart is opened in its natural state, one sees the Buddhas of the Ten Directions.

The Surangama Sutra states, "One flies upon pure thoughts."

Indeed. Indeed.

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