A Prodigal Son's Return is Worth More Than Gold

The Inherent Light of the True Nature

A disciple once asked, "Namo Amituofo, it is said that a prodigal son who returns is worth more than gold. If demonic beings are truly transformed and sincerely repent, do they also have the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and attain Buddhahood? I humbly request the Buddha's compassionate guidance."

Namo Amituofo offered this discourse: Your Buddha-nature is inherent and has always been within you. It is only because you have become lost in the cycle of confusion and awakening that you have strayed. Yet, when the prodigal son finally turns his head to look back, Namo Amituofo is there with a smiling face to welcome him home.

Who among us can claim to have never made a mistake? It is within these mistakes, when one lacks the support of good Causal Conditions, that one begins to fall. However, the moment the light of the Truth appears, you must grasp it firmly with both hands. Do not let go, for this ray of hope is constant and never ceases. If you wish to walk in this world and carry the message of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, you must understand the nature of this current Dharma-ending age, where many demonic beings are emerging.

The Consequences of Delusion and Harm

You must realise that when you engage in demonic actions, you are not only harming others but also inflicting deep wounds upon yourself. Every action follows the law of cause and effect: good causes lead to good fruit, while negative causes inevitably lead to evil consequences. It is not that the time for retribution has not arrived; it is simply that the conditions have not yet matured. Do not harbour any thoughts of luck, thinking that no one knows what you have done. Within the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, no one can escape the consequences of their actions. It is only a matter of time, and each person's Causal Conditions are different.

The Unending Suffering of the Lost

Consider the consequences faced by those who have fallen into the demonic realms. It is like the biting cold at the bottom of an iceberg, where the lips turn white, the body stiffens, and the spirit is left trembling in an agony that no one else can hear. They are trapped in a state from which it is difficult to ever emerge. They fall into the hells, where they are consumed by the cycle of suffering. There, the sounds of their mournful, piercing screams are heard only by the jailers of the hells. This suffering is incessant, continuing for thousands upon thousands of years without a moment of respite.

They are like those trapped in a swamp of black mud; with every step they take, their feet sink deeper until they are submerged in the darkness. Their entire bodies are covered in the filth of their own negative karma, and they see no hope of ever being released. In the deep, dark world of the ocean, they cannot even see their own fingers. Their demonic forms are subjected to endless punishment, pulled into the deepest abysses where water rushes into their lungs, causing them to swell and tear. Yet, even in this state, a single breath of life remains, and they continue to suffer for hundreds of thousands of years. No demonic being can escape this abyss, and no one can save them, unless they find the heart to repent and can bring forth the Buddha-name of Namo Amituofo.

There are also those crushed beneath towering mountains, their bodies flattened layer by layer, unable to even cry out in their agony. Their cheeks are dry of tears, having wept for aeons, yet they remain trapped by the weight of their own heavy, negative karma. These are but a few examples of the suffering that demonic beings endure. There are countless other scenes of torment where there is no end in sight. The Buddha-heart cannot bear to witness such suffering; I only hope to save them all.

The Path of Repentance and Return

Whether they are demonic beings from the cosmos, or those within the human and heavenly realms, their numbers are vast and boundless. Whenever the Causal Conditions mature, the Buddha-land is ready to save them. Therefore, you must turn back quickly. Do not remain trapped in your delusions. Today, in this Dharma assembly, the Buddha-light permeates the entire universe. Each of you is a child of the Buddha. Quickly set your course and travel toward the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo