Dharma Is Truth, Also Called the True Reality of Things.

Dharma is the truth of how things really are; it is the truth. Therefore, when bodhisattvas expound the Dharma, they must speak of the true nature of facts and of the truth. The true nature of any given thing is singular; when each person observes it from their own perspective, if the observation is accurate and without error, then the truth each observes will be identical—there is only one truth of the matter. If the conclusions drawn by different people's observations differ, it shows that many people have observed incorrectly and have not observed rightly. There are many reasons for failing to observe correctly, and each person's reasons differ, but the common feature is insufficient power of observation.

Since expounding the Dharma means speaking of the true nature of facts, it is best if this truth has been personally verified by oneself; only then is what one expounds most persuasive and most intimate. If one can only cite the words of others when expounding the Dharma, then one must also possess considerable discernment, being able to distinguish and verify that what others say is indeed the truth of how things really are. At present, we can only be certain that what the Buddha taught is the truth of how things really are, yet we ourselves lack the ability to actually verify it; it is merely a kind of admiring faith and reverent faith in the Buddha's noble words, not yet reaching correct faith and true faith—true faith requires realization. As for anyone other than the Buddha, placing admiring and reverent faith in them involves a certain risk; only correct faith, faith based on realization, and true faith are reliable. But faith based on realization is extremely, extremely difficult, which is why most sentient beings in the Dharma-ending age rely on admiring faith, blind faith, and reverent faith, rather than correct faith, realized faith, and true faith.