The Avatamsaka Sutra is also known as the Sutra of the Dharma Realm, the Sutra of Empty Space. Throughout all of space and the Dharma Realm, there is no place where the Avatamsaka Sutra is not found. Wherever the Avatamsaka Sutra is, the Bodhisattvas are there; the Dharma is there; the saints and sages of the Sangha are there.

When the Buddha realized Proper Enlightenment, he spoke the Great Avatamsaka Sutra to teach and transform the Bodhisattvas, the Great Knights of the Dharma Body. Because this Sutra was wondrous and inconceivable, it was kept in the dragon palace. The Dragon King protected it. Later Nagarjuna Bodhisattvas went to the Dragon Palace, memorized this version of the Sutra, and returned with it to the world.

The Avatamsaka Sutra is like an auspicious cloud in the sky, shimmering over the universe and sprinkling the rain of Dharma to nurture all beings. The Avatamsaka Sutra is like the sun shining on all world systems, causing all beings to receive warmth. The Avatamsaka Sutra is like the great earth that nourishes the myriad things, helping them grow.

Thus, the presence of the Avatamsaka Sutra allows the Proper Dharma to abide long in the world. That is why we should investigate and explain the Avatamsaka Sutra every day. In doing that, the important point is to base ourselves in the principles of the Avatamsaka Sutra as we practice. We should use the sutra to counteract our own faults. Those of us who are greedy should renounce our greed upon hearing the Avatamsaka Sutra. Those of us who are hateful should renounce our hatred upon hearing the Avatamsaka Sutra. Those of us who are deluded should get rid of our delusion upon hearing the Avatamsaka Sutra. The principles explained in the sutra counteract our habits and faults.

It's not that the Dharma in the sutra is exclusively for Bodhisattvas and therefore has nothing to do with us. Nor was it spoken for Arhats and has no connection with us. We should not think, "I'm just an ordinary person. All I can do is just listen to the Sutra. I cannot achieve the states that sages do." If you think like that, you are throwing away your own valuable potential by already deciding that you cannot become a sage.

From the beginning to the end of the Avatamsaka Sutra every sentence is an unsurpassed Dharma jewel. For us to actually put the Sutra's principles into practice means that we certainly will become Buddhas. Therefore, the Avatamsaka Sutra is the Dharma body of all Buddhas. The Buddha praised the Vajra Sutra saying that any place where that sutra was, a Buddha was also there. Well, wherever the Avatamsaka Sutra is, that IS the Buddhas. The Buddhas are there, but your karmic obstacles are heavy and so face to face, you don't see the Buddhas.

Face to face, you don't recognize Kuan Shr Yin.

You don't see that the thousand hands and thousand eyes of Kuan Shr Yin Bodhisattva are always emitting an unhindered light that shines throughout the universe on all beings who have affinities. But we are here bowing to and being mindful of the Buddhas; bowing to and being mindful of Kuan Shr Yin Bodhisattva, but we still don't see Kuan Shr Yin. We just go along with the crowd. Others bow so I bow; others recite so I recite. That is to be turned by others' states. You have not yet personally entered deeply into what you are doing. You haven't made it a part of your body and mind.

Ask yourself: "Since I bow to Kuan Shr Yin Bodhisattva and recite Kuan Shr Yin Bodhisattva's name, should I still have such a huge temper? Have I still not changed my old faults?" If that's the case, then you can bow to the ends of future time and you'll never see Kuan Shr Yin Bodhisattva. If you can try very hard to change from being evil and become good, really getting rid of your habits and faults, then Kuan Yin Bodhisattva will certainly aid you. Some people cultivate for many years but still don't open any wisdom. Some people cultivate and without knowing why, their wisdom opens and they gain unobstructed eloquence.

Shramanas should diligently cultivate precepts, samadhi and wisdom, putting to rest greed, hatred, and delusion. In everything we say and do, we should return our light and reflect it within. Only in that way will your cultivation progress. We listen to the Avatamsaka Sutra, explain the Avatamsaka Sutra, and recite the Avatamsaka Sutra, but if we do not apply the principles of the Avatamsaka Sutra to our practice, then the Sutra remains the Sutra and you are still just you, I am still just me, and they are still just themselves. We have not in any way united with the Sutra. If we can become one with the Sutra, relying on the principles of the Sutra in what we do, then we have united as one. If you don't use the Sutra in your actual practice; if you lack kindness and compassion and are deficient in joy and renunciation, then only ignorance and afflictions will follow you. That means you have not understood the Sutra; you don't know how to listen to the Sutra. Those who are able to listen hear one sentences and reflect upon it thinking, "How should I make this a part of what I do? Am I pursuing my habits and faults or am I relying on the principles of the Sutra in my practice?" If you can continually examine yourself in that way, you will certainly attain great benefit. Why have you not attained great benefit? It is because you regard the Sutra as just a text and that you have no relationship to it.

Actually at the time the Buddha first spoke the Avatamsaka Sutra, he was speaking for you and me and others who are now in this Dharma Assembly. The Buddha was speaking directly to us. Hearing the Sutra text, it is as if we are hearing the Buddha himself using every effort to personally exhort us to put the principles and Dharma doors of the Sutra into practice. The Sutra speaks of ten Dharmas, ten kinds of samadhi. Well, each Dharma and each samadhi is not beyond the scope of each person's own nature. Our own nature also pervades empty space throughout the Dharma Realm. If you are able to expand the scope of your mind, enlarge it, then you will become one with the Avatamsaka Sutra. You will be two and yet non-dual. Everyone should take the state of the Avatamsaka Sutra as his own state. Take the infinite and unending principles and wisdom of the Avatamsaka Sutra and make their your own wisdom. How vast that will be! Expansive and profound! Extend it and it fills the universe; retract it and it hides away. It is inexpressibly wonderful!