A Plea for Awakening: The Sixteenth Letter

This message was recorded on July 1, 2017, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. It features the spirit of the late Venerable Master Sheng Yen, who sought deliverance and now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, offering his final guidance to those he left behind.

Venerable Master Sheng Yen speaks:

"The vast and boundless majestic power of the Buddha’s compassion is truly beyond words. Having been deeply touched by the grace of being led by the Buddha, I feel nothing but profound shame, a heart full of repenting, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude. This gratitude is irreplaceable and will never be extinguished. Must one wait until the very end of their days to believe, only because they have finally seen the truth? By then, it is often too late; the outcome is already set in stone. Since you have already made the vow and possess the magnificent Causal Conditions to embark upon the path of practice, you should exert yourself to the absolute limit. Even if you must burn yourself out, you must strive to illuminate the path for others.

A Lifetime of Teaching and the Weight of Karma

Throughout my life, I have always felt as though I were teaching—filling minds with principles and satisfying the spiritual needs of many. Because of this, many people have held me in high esteem, placing their full faith in me. Even though I am no longer in this world, there are still many who silently believe in me and support me. I am deeply grateful for this. If it were not for the connections formed in the past, such a situation would be impossible in this lifetime. For these individuals, I wish to entrust them to the Buddha. I pray for the Buddha’s compassion and protection; I pray for the Buddha to lead them and bestow upon them the magnificent Causal Conditions so that they may all achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land. It is not that they do not believe in the Buddha; it is simply that their methods are different.

A Final Plea for Deliverance

I know that such a request is incredibly difficult, but I, Sheng Yen, offer my most earnest prostrations, begging for the Buddha's blessing. My own strength now is very, very limited. Yet, whenever there is an opportunity, I must continue to send these messages. I do not know when such Causal Conditions will arise again, so one must seize the moment and cherish it. Perhaps if even one or two people come to believe these words, it will be enough. You must remember, you must cherish this—to miss this opportunity in this lifetime is to pay the price of being reincarnated through ten thousand kalpas. It is not just you and me; everyone carries the weight of karmic debts accumulated over countless aeons. You must seize the opportunity to repay them quickly. I hope for an awakening in this worldly realm. Namo Amituofo.

To the Dharma Drum Mountain I Hold Dear

To the Dharma Drum Mountain that I hold so dearly in my heart.

Signed, Sheng Yen.

This message was recorded by the disciple Shi Faxi, who serves as the chief writer for these interviews."