I am deeply moved and grateful to my esteemed kind mentor for his compassionate teachings, particularly upon listening to the recent recordings. With unimpeded wisdom and extraordinary eloquence, he elucidates the profound and subtle meanings of the Buddhas with meticulous precision and unparalleled brilliance. As it is said in the sutras, “All sentient beings, from beginningless time, are subject to various inversions, and their karmic seeds naturally accumulate, like entangled akshaya fruits.” His instruction is like a bright lamp dispelling darkness, allowing listeners to joyfully bathe in the Dharma rain and benefit immensely from the wondrous true nature of the Tathāgatagarbha.
All sentient beings, like the Buddhas, possess a radiant and luminous awakened nature. Although this awakened nature is not a tangible entity and cannot be grasped, it is the source of both the blissful liberation of Nirvāṇa and the suffering of Saṃsāra. It is ethereal, clear, pure, and untainted, not created by external factors, but true and unwavering, where luminosity and emptiness are inseparable. As the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, Volume Four, states, “The wondrous luminosity of awakened nature is originally luminous and wondrous.” Although this awakened nature is not produced by external objects, it pervades all things in the world, omnipresent. However, due to beginningless ignorance, sentient beings falsely establish objects of perception, giving rise to various discriminations within the pure awakened nature, thus creating so-called luminous awareness. Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, on the other hand, deeply understand the inherent nature of awakening, do not mistake these illusory appearances for reality, and do not falsely establish objects of perception. Therefore, their spiritual knowledge and awareness constantly abide in the wondrously luminous true mind.
Through the mentor’s diligent guidance and skillful navigation, may all sentient beings, in their actions of body, speech, and mind, remain unstained by worldly thoughts, constantly maintain the wisdom of knowing all phenomena are illusory, be free from attachments and bondages, swiftly advance in their practice, understand the principle that “to establish knowledge upon knowledge is the root of ignorance; to have knowledge without knowledge is the pure, undefiled true nature of Nirvāṇa,” and quickly realize their inherent awakened true nature.
May all Sentient Beings realize their inherent awakened true nature.
Written by Lotus on February 23, 2025