Today, I will introduce two more bodhisattvas: “Gandhahasti Bodhisattva” and “Ever-Diligent Bodhisattva.”
When this is translated, one means “Never-Resting Bodhisattva” and the other is “Bodhisattva Who is Ever-Diligent.” So-called never-resting and ever-diligent both refer to cultivating very earnestly. Just as Master Lianzhi mentioned earlier, the emphasis is on actual practice, bodhisattvas who do not rest and who are constantly diligent in their cultivation.
This means that when Shakyamuni Buddha was expounding the “Amitabha Sutra,” there were so many bodhisattvas listening to his teachings. The Never-Resting Bodhisattva and the Ever-Diligent Bodhisattva are both bodhisattvas of very deep realization, meaning their state of attainment is very profound. So the “Amitabha Sutra” is not just any ordinary sutra. This is like all the great bodhisattvas had gathered to hear the Buddha expound the “Amitabha Sutra”.
Because this sutra could also enable the masses to attain Supreme Bodhi [loving-kindness] swiftly, this sutra is very important.
Recently, some disciples have written to Guru, hoping that the Guru can impart special teachings to them, and many people have flown here from very far away to learn the dharma. They believe that the Guru’s ability to achieve enlightenment so quickly through practice must mean he possesses very secret teachings, which must be sold for very high prices. So, when one disciple came to see me, he visited my room and said “Guru, have you taken any medicine?”
He paid close attention to the things on my table, looking for any elixirs inside them.
I asked him, “What kind of medicine?”
He said “The kind of medicine that can quickly lead to accomplishments.”
Ah! Actually, there is no such medicine!
Some people also come hoping to practice the dharma with the Guru. When the Guru practices, they pay special attention to see if the Guru makes any special mudra that are different from others, or chants mantras that are strange that others cannot recite, or uses any other special techniques. Actually, there is none!
Then, there are people who hope that I can reveal the most supreme secret of dharma practice, that is, using only a single sentence, by saying it one attains Buddhahood immediately, that is best. So is there such a thing? Actually, no!
Today I’m telling you all very frankly:
“The fastest way to become a Buddha is to never rest and be ever diligent.”
Frankly speaking, Never-resting and being Ever-diligent are not simply only two bodhisattvas. In “The Buddha Speaks of Amitabha Sutra”, there are actually three Never-resting and four Ever-diligent Bodhisattvas.
Guru is also someone who never-rests and is ever-diligent.
A fellow practitioner recently felt very sad. He said, “I want to leave the True Buddha School and go elsewhere to study the dharma.”
He said he had been with me for a while and had taken refuge for some time, but Guru hadn’t transmitted the dharma to him.
I replied very frankly, telling him, “The reason I’ve reached where I am today is simply because of perseverance, because of a steadfast mind.”
What is a steadfast mind?
Because I have to practice the dharma every day, day after day, for decades. I visualize and practice the dharma on airplanes, in hotels, and even while traveling or walking. Everything is accomplished through visualization practice.
I still practice the dharma every day!
Is the dharma I practice special?
Actually, it’s not special, it is just practising the personal deity practice, it is the practice we do together at the temple every Saturday night, that is what the Guru practises everyday.
If you come or many people come to find out the secret of how Guru achieved realization so fast, after observing for a long time, you’ll realize that what I practice may even seem less than what they themselves do. I think my practice is indeed not as good as you all, but I do it with perseverance.
Now, Chen Yanting comes every day at 6pm to my True Buddha Tantric Secret Garden to practice together with me. My practice time is not long, only about half an hour. I think that each time Chen Yanting practises, he may spend around fifty minutes, and in one session he cultivates three, four, or even five different practices. In fact, Chen Yanting even has some secret practices that I do not have. Right now, he is more diligent than I am, his diligence surpasses mine.
However for me, I simply practice once a day, just following this path, continuing without interruption, like a tortoise. Even though everyone’s cultivation is very diligent, however you all must not be like a rabbit that wants to sleep.
Now among our disciples, many are searching for very special, very special secret methods. However, what they do not realize is that the Guru practices the Four Preliminary Practices every morning and the personal deity practice every evening. There is no secret, the only secret is “perseverance.”
To be honest, a person who does not practice the Dharma is like iron – it will rust. A person who practices the Dharma is like grass – it will continue to grow.
When iron rusts, you cannot immediately see it happening. Skipping practice for a few days may seem harmless, but the rust is already forming.
In Dharma practice, you may not be able to see your power or realization increasing from day to day, but as long as you practice daily, the “grass” will keep growing. This is the greatest secret to attainment.
The greatest secret is nothing more than constant diligence and never stopping.
Therefore, in my teaching there is no elixir, no special secret, nothing hidden. Even if you give me more money, I will still only give you the practice of the Yidam (main deity method).
Where is the Dharma?
It has already been transmitted to you long ago!
You don’t practice and say I haven’t transmitted the dharma to you.
Some people say, “What is going on? The teaching still hasn’t been given yet! Is the Guru saving it to take into the coffin?”
With perseverance, you will receive it. Don’t say I haven’t transmitted the dharma, the dharma is that simple. What I practice every day is exactly that method. But if someone does not practice it, they instead claim that I have not given them the teaching.
Amitabha Buddha.