Relying on the Buddha Is the Most Reliable

All dharmas are empty; material objects are also dharmas within the dharmas, all empty—including cars of every model and type are empty, yet the empty car has so many wondrous functions. The hands are also empty, yet they type out so many words—this is indeed strange. Some would say it is the tathāgatagarbha doing the typing, that all of it is the wondrous function of the tathāgatagarbha. Well then, you could just go sleep all day and let the tathāgatagarbha do the typing and driving. If all of a day's work is done by the tathāgatagarbha, then you can sleep all day, letting the tathāgatagarbha work day after day, year after year, lifetime after lifetime—you need not even be born. To obliterate the conventional truth and replace it entirely with the ultimate truth carries great fault. Apart from the conventional truth, the ultimate truth is completely powerless and can accomplish nothing—how could it function in this way or that way?

In learning Buddhism, we must cultivate according to the Dharma taught by the Buddha. The Buddha possesses unsurpassed wisdom; only what He has actually practiced and realized counts. If the Buddha says that attaining realization requires cultivation in such-and-such a way, then we should listen to the Buddha's words and cultivate exactly that way. Do not engage in your own inventions and innovations, and do not take any individual's teaching as authoritative. Relying on the Buddha is the most reliable, because the Buddha has no self-view, will not exalt Himself, and will not lead the blind with the blind.

If you truly wish to learn Buddhism and attain accomplishment, do not seek to take things easy, and do not look for shortcuts. If there were a shortcut, the Buddha would certainly have told us; He would not have us take detours or lead us in circles. To have complete faith in the Buddha is the most fundamental principle of learning Buddhism—faith comes first as the guide. If the Buddha cannot be trusted, then there is no one left who can be trusted; even those of equal enlightenment and wondrous enlightenment could not be trusted, let alone ordinary, commonplace people. If someone teaches the Dharma in a way inconsistent with the Buddha, we should make a choice—without any doubt, choose to trust the Buddha.

Those who want to take shortcuts all harbor a grasping mentality, a mindset of seeking something. With greed, one easily falls into demonic states, gets exploited by Māra, becomes a member of Māra's retinue, gradually departs from the Buddha's path, and cannot attain liberation. Approaching Buddhist study and practice with the mindset of elevating yourself, transforming yourself, enriching yourself, maturing yourself, and perfecting yourself, you can stay far from demonic affairs and proceed steadily. It may seem slow, but in fact it is the fastest way. Rushing headlong produces the opposite result—things go contrary to your wishes.