Dharma Is Truth, Also Known as the Ultimate Reality

Dharma is the truth of reality, the ultimate truth. Therefore, when a Bodhisattva expounds the Dharma, they must expound the truth of reality, expound the ultimate truth. The truth of reality for any given thing is singular. When each person observes from their own perspective, if the observation is accurate and without error, the truth of reality they perceive will be identical—there is only one truth of reality. If the conclusions drawn from each person's observation differ, it indicates that many have observed incorrectly; they have not observed correctly. There are many reasons why observations may be incorrect, varying from person to person, but the common characteristic is insufficient observational power.

Since expounding the Dharma means expounding the truth of reality, it is best if this truth of reality is personally verified by oneself. Expounding it in this way is the most convincing and authentic. If one can only cite the words of others when expounding the Dharma, one must still possess considerable discernment, able to distinguish and verify that the words of others indeed express the truth of reality. Currently, we can only ascertain that everything spoken by the Buddha is the truth of reality, but we ourselves lack the capacity to actually verify it. It is merely an admiring faith and reverential faith in the Buddha's sacred words, not yet reaching the level of correct faith or genuine faith. Genuine faith requires experiential realization. Therefore, for those other than the Buddha, placing admiring faith or reverential faith carries a certain risk; only correct faith, verified faith, and genuine faith are reliable. However, verified faith is extremely, extremely difficult to attain. Thus, in the Dharma Ending Age, most sentient beings possess admiring faith, blind faith, or reverential faith, not correct faith, verified faith, or genuine faith.