Looking back on the long years of the past, when I first encountered Buddhism, I felt as though I were trapped in an airtight cage of words. Every time I opened a sutra, though every sentence was a profound truth, it seemed as if there was an invisible veil separating me from it. For a long time, I couldn’t find the path to the true meaning. When it came to understanding the profound principles of Buddhism, it was like the moment in the Shurangama Sutra when Venerable Ananda sought the location of the mind in seven places—inside, outside, within the sense faculties, in light and darkness, in attachment, in the middle, or in non-attachment—questioning the Buddha with meticulous reasoning, yet still unable to grasp the true abode of the mind. That was exactly my state back then: though I had a heart eager to learn, I couldn’t find the entryway. All my understanding remained superficial, and it was hard to penetrate the essence.
In recent days, thanks to the request of a kind friend, I had the fortune to receive the compassionate guidance of my gracious mentor. With supreme wisdom and patience, he meticulously explained the wondrous truth of “all is like a dream, all is like an illusion.” Drawing from a wide range of examples—everyday life and classic anecdotes from the scriptures—he presented the profound teachings of Buddhism in a way that was both accessible and deeply insightful. Every day, my master carefully expounded the subtle essentials of the opening volumes of the Shurangama Sutra, delving into the deep meaning of the text, guiding me across layers of mental obstacles, and gradually leading me into a better state. This genuine and profound experience struck me deeply, elevating my love and delight in the Dharma to an entirely new level. My heart overflowed with the joy of the Dharma, a feeling beyond words.
My mentor’s kindness is boundless, like a torch of wisdom that instantly dispels the darkness I had long dwelled in, illuminating the path ahead; or like a compassionate ferry that rescues me from the mire of confusion and bewilderment, guiding me toward the shore of wisdom. I sincerely pray that my mentor remains in good health and lives long, abiding in this world to spread the radiant wisdom of the Dharma far and wide, so that more beings struggling in the sea of suffering may hear the Buddha’s teachings, escape pain, and find happiness. From this day forward, I vow to take my mento’s kindness as my motivation, never betraying his earnest guidance. I resolve to follow the traces of the Triple Jewels, the Dharma, and the Sangha—until I attain supreme enlightenment, benefiting all beings as my mentor and the Buddha do.
Written by Lotus on March2, 2025