My dear children, when your appear before you, how should you respond? Often, because these events occurred in the distant past, you have no memory of them. You find it difficult to acknowledge the negative you once created, and because of this, it is hard to summon a true heart of repentance.
The Mirror of Empathy and Role Reversal
If you wish to overcome this, you must learn to treat these beings with . Try to exchange roles with them. Imagine that you are the one who has come to seek justice, carrying the weight of past grievances. If you were in their position, how would you wish to be treated? If you can approach this with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, you will see that the same principle applies:
Compassion: By putting yourself in their place, you soften your heart and allow genuine empathy to arise.
Wisdom: By understanding the nature of suffering, you realise that they are not your enemies, but beings who have been deeply hurt.
Oneness: By viewing yourself and the creditor as one, you dissolve the barrier of the ego, which is the root of all conflict.
When you are willing to step into their shoes and consider their perspective, your true heart will naturally manifest. From this place of sincerity, the heart of repenting and the desire to change your ways will arise spontaneously.
The Echoes of Past Suffering
When karmic creditors appear, they often recount the scenes of the past with vivid clarity. Why is this? It is because, regardless of whether these events occurred five, ten, fifteen, or twenty lifetimes ago, these beings have been trapped in the space of that past trauma. They have suffered immensely through the following actions:
Physical Harm: Being killed, stolen from, or subjected to sexual violence.
Deception and Intoxication: Being harmed by lies, deceit, or the effects of alcohol.
Mental Affliction: Being destroyed by the greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and suspicion of others.
Any one of these causes is sufficient for a creditor to seek retribution. This retribution often manifests in your current life as disharmony in your marriage, the breaking apart of your family, or the onset of severe illness. If you were the one who had suffered such fates, how could you possibly forgive the person who caused it? I encourage you to contemplate this deeply.
The Compassionate Guide and the Path to Liberation
When a karmic creditor refuses to let go, a skilled teacher appears. Through their deep meditative concentration and virtuous conduct, they are able to help the creditor accept a resolution. Because of this, the creditor can be saved, receive , be reborn in the of Ultimate Bliss, and leave suffering behind forever. When you witness this, should you not feel a sense of shame and gratitude? Should you not be fiercely diligent in your own practice?
Do you hope that one day you will possess the same skills as your teacher, so that you too can help others just as you have been helped? If you can cultivate this heart of gratitude, make this vow, and put it into practice, you will surely receive the support of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, as well as the protection of the protectors.
The Mission of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
At Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, these teachings are transformed into practical action. Diligent practice is the key to this transformation. My children, beings are truly suffering. Through the skills you learn here, you can open the space of the mind, communicate with the Buddhas and your teachers, and use the power of the to resolve conflicts and save those in need.
This is a test of your faith. Do you believe in this path? Can you summon the boldness to follow in the footsteps of Practitioner Su and engage in the work of saving the world? The resolution of karmic debts happens daily at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. If this were not the result of true, authentic practice and the all-encompassing light of the Buddha, how could it be so easy to resolve the deep-seated grievances and negative karma of accumulated lifetimes?
Therefore, to encounter the teachings of Namo Amituofo, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and Practitioner Su is the greatest blessing for all beings and for you. You must actively work to save yourselves. First, you are the ones being saved; later, you will become the ones who save others. Carry on the Buddha-heart, the Buddha-vows, and the Buddha-actions of this Pure Land Dharma Gate. This is the light of the Pure Land.
