By Master Zhisui (Translated by the Pure Land School Translation Team; edited by Householder Fojin)
The Buddha Dharma talks about “non-self”—the idea that there’s no fixed “you” or “me.” Why? It’s about seeing things as they really are. Take a table: sure, it looks like a table, but that’s just a name we’ve given it. Strip away the name, and it’s not inherently a “table”—it’s whatever materials and shapes we’ve put together. It’s the same with us humans. We seem like people, but there’s no unchanging core; it’s all just a handy way to describe things.
If you believe in karma and samsara, this becomes even clearer. This life, you’re human. Next one? You could be a cat, a dog—who knows? Everything shifts. That table might be scrap wood tomorrow. Nothing’s permanent. It’s all about causes and conditions: the same starting point can lead to wildly different outcomes depending on what else comes into play. Someone who encounters the Buddhist teachings might transform their entire life, while someone caught up in worldly pursuits could head down a completely different path.
The reverse is also true: different starting points can end up in similar places if they share the same influences. That’s us right here—we’ve all got our own backstories, families, and baggage. Yet by entering the Buddhist path – a shared condition – we all move in the same direction.
In general, good causes combined with good influences lead to good results. Throw in greed, anger, or delusion with bad luck, and it’s a rough ride. Did you ever wonder why life feels so frustrating for a lot of people? External factors play a part but, if we’re honest, a lot of our suffering comes from within ourselves.
The key? When stuff goes wrong, you can’t fix other people. But you can work on yourself. Change your approach, and everything shifts. Remember that old enemy who used to make your blood boil? Before, it’d be an all-out war. Now, with some practice, you might just sidestep the drama or deal with it coolly—no more knee-jerk reactions.
Your past shapes what you’re dealing with now, but you can still influence the conditions around you. We can choose to spend time in Buddhist communities, seek out wise teachers, and surround ourselves with uplifting people—these are positive conditions within our control.
This is why Buddhist practitioners emphasize staying close to good Dharma teachers. Through them, we learn correct views and adjust our perspectives. Each teacher offers unique wisdom, allowing us to benefit in different ways.
It’s a feedback loop: get it going positively, and life heads uphill. Let it slide the other way, and it can spiral downward.
Ultimately, our life is in our own hands. Buddhist teachings aren’t about blind faith, nor is it some ritual where you burn incense and think that will do—it’s about getting the wisdom to change your inner world and shape the things around you. And if you can’t change everything? Fine—accept it, process it, and find a smarter way forward.
It boils down to your actions, words, and thoughts. Get those in check, and things improve fast. Take a hard look: where do you slip up most? Maybe you’re solid in behavior but loose with words—start there. Or your words are fine, but you entertain a lot of negative thoughts—focus on that. The fact is, we’ve all got room to improve in every area. There’s plenty of space to learn and grow.
We’re just ordinary beings; Buddhas and Bodhisattvas? They’re on another level because their actions, words, and minds are totally clear and pure. This is also why we aspire to be reborn in the Pure Land—a realm of total purity. In the Pure Land, there are no defiled thoughts, no harsh words, and no polluted environment. Isn’t that what we all crave deep down? Speaking kindly, feeling at peace, living without constant stress? It’s described by the Infinite Life Sutra as a place with “no suffering, only joy.”
By contrast, our world is full of suffering, packed with hassles that wear us down, leaving us stressed and overwhelmed. That’s where Buddhist teachings come in—they point the way out. They show us a path leading from suffering toward genuine peace and lasting happiness.