Good morning, everyone.  This is Dharma Expresso.

The other day, Mr. Banh informed me that the hurricane had moved away from Houston.  At present, the rain has stopped and the sun has come up again.  However, the hurricane has moved to Louisiana, the flood has not receded, and many people are still stranded with no roof over their head.  Hence, at all times, we still need to diligently transfer our merits and think of the people who are facing difficulties.  Spiritually, we can pray to and ask Buddhas and Bodhisattvas for their assistance.  If we are able financially, we can donate to help people who have lost their home.  A small meal when hungry is worth a feast when full. Whatever we are capable of doing, do it.  We should come together to give a hand to our dharma brothers and sisters, or our acquaintances who are suffering.  

Back to my discussion on afflicted Guest and Dust yesterday.  If we realize that dust is our own complex, fear or characteristics which we call our blind spots, i.e. things existing right in front of us but we cannot see, then we know that when we close our door to shut out the light, the dust will always be present but unseen.  If we open our door and let the light in, we can see the dust very clearly.  Now, these questions arise: how do we open the door?  What is that door? And what is that light?  We must affirm that this is the light of True Nature.  But if this is the light of True Nature, how can we use it, and where does it come from?  True Nature is invisible, formless, without origin and without end, and non-dual.  It does not belong to the reasoning realm of the brain, where the duality of have and have-not always exists.  

True Nature is an absolute state.  How can you touch it and feel it?  The manifestation of True Nature, also called characteristics of True Nature, is light.  Light can shine through the world of relativity.  Isn’t it wonderful that light can shine through the world of relativity?  Hence, we often call it the light of wisdom, the utmost transparent light from the heart of compassion.  This light, when penetrating the world of duality, does not become dual.  It shines through everything, yet it is not dual.  It has three objects that it illuminates.  

The first object is all sentient beings, i.e. anything that can move and possess emotions such as human beings, animals, and vegetation.  The second object is all unemotional things such as rock, cloud, wind, environment, things that belong to the outside world.  It also shines through our life, our work, plus everything in the world that is inanimate or insentient, and things that are subject to a time concept.  The third object the light reaches is everybody’s ego or ‘self’ including our own.  

That light has a very unique name.  When it shines on sentient beings, human beings or animals, it is called Compassion, the compassionate heart or compassionate consciousness.  

When it shines on processes, matters, things, states, life conditions, and even sentient beings, it is called Gratitude, a state of being grateful.  

When it shines on our ego or ‘self’, it is called Fearlessness.  When it shines on any sentient being’s ego, consciousness or feelings, it is also called Fearlessness.   

Depending on the object that receives it, the light can be called Compassion, Fearlessness or Gratitude.  These three kinds of light help us penetrate our blind spots, our complex, things that happen inside us, and things that happen in the outer world.  We only mention the illumination of our blind spots, but unexpectedly, the light radiates everywhere, to every corner, and bears the beautiful names of Gratitude, Fearlessness and Compassion.   

How do we initiate these three kinds of light? Easy.  We can start practicing the three relevant Hands and Eyes.  Hands and eyes bestowing sweet dews help us emitting our light of Compassion.  Hands and eyes bestowing fearlessness help us emitting our light of Fearlessness.  Hands and eyes of joined palms help us emitting our light of Gratitude.   

Do you see how easy it is?  The more you cultivate, the more you see your blind spots.  The more you see, the more you believe in your gradual understanding of your complex.  There are people who always live with their inferiority complex; they are self-pity, grouchy, like to find faults with others, and easily flip.  No problem.  Keep cultivating the hands and eyes.  The power of the light inside, the power of the light of True Nature will eventually burst and help you see through.  That is the hope from cultivation, i.e. the transformation of our consciousness.  Use the light of Compassion, not our intellect, to transform our karma and see our dust of life.

Thank you for listening. 

Dharma Master Heng Chang

(Translated and transcribed by Compassionate Service Society)