Do Not See the Faults of Others

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju; recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Each person must bear the weight of their own laws of karma and cause and effect. Whatever others may do, their own karmic path is already unfolding according to their past actions. Unless one is an awakened being who possesses the deep meditative concentration required to remain unaffected by external influences, or unless one holds a specific duty that requires them to intervene in the improper Body, Speech, and Mind of another, one should not focus on the faults of others.

The Importance of Maintaining Inner Purity

If you allow yourself to dwell on the mistakes of others, you will inevitably stain your own pure heart. It is of the utmost importance to maintain the purification of your own spirit. The Buddha’s gate is a place of absolute purity; therefore, you must be mindful to govern your own words and actions with great care. If you speak loudly, use inappropriate language, or create disturbances that interrupt the diligent practice of others in their quiet retreats, or if your behaviour causes others to develop afflictions, you are creating negative karma. You must stop such actions immediately.

Self-Reflection as the Path to Awakening

If you have not yet become an awakened being, you undoubtedly still carry many faults that have yet to be corrected. Your primary focus must be on self-reflection and the effort to change your ways. When you see a fault in another person, use it as a mirror for your own self-reflection. Be vigilant and ensure that you do not fall into the same trap. Do not commit the same errors, for doing so only serves to accumulate more negative karma.

The Danger of Discriminations

When you observe the faults of others, the image enters through your eyes, and your consciousness immediately begins to make discriminations between right and wrong. This entire process is how one enters into the cycle of creating karma. By judging others, you have already committed a fault, and you have allowed your own eyes and consciousness to become stained. In your practice of the Pure Land path, you are already struggling to achieve sufficient purification; why would you choose to add more layers of stained karma to your burden?

Transforming Challenges into Opportunities

If someone offends you, you must exercise compassion and expand your mind-capacity. By doing so, the situation can be resolved. If someone criticises you or scolds you, you should feel gratitude, as they are helping you to dissolve karma and remove the obstacles on your path. If you truly have a fault, change your ways immediately; if you have no fault, use the experience as a warning to ensure you never commit such an act in the future. If someone looks at you with anger, do not let your heart be disturbed. If you have offended them, offer an apology; if you have done nothing wrong, simply offer a respectful greeting and depart.

The Ultimate Remedy

Do not see the faults of others; instead, focus entirely on your own purification. The most wonderful method to achieve the purifying of the body, heart, and spirit and to receive the Buddha's blessings is to chant Namo Amituofo all the way, without interruption. Let the Buddha-name be the constant rhythm of your life, guiding you safely toward the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo