A Rich Harvest for the Journey Home

The Preciousness of Our Human Life

Namo Amituofo teaches us that a human life is remarkably short, passing like a shadow in the sun. For every practitioner, the fundamental question is how to conclude this life with a rich, abundant harvest that allows for a return to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. If we fail to cultivate our true nature, we risk withering away, only to be drawn back into the endless cycle of six realms of rebirth. The outcome of our journey depends entirely on how we utilise this physical body and whether we truly live out the profound meaning of our existence.

This human form is truly priceless. At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, where Namo Amituofo truly abides, we are provided with the perfect environment for the purification of our body, mind, and spirit. This process of purification can be extended infinitely, leading us step by step toward the ultimate goal of becoming an awakened being. We must simply walk this path with sincerity, offering our efforts without seeking any reward, for the merit generated by such selfless practice is beyond all measure.

The Sacred Duty of the Monastic

Diligent practice is the fundamental duty of every practitioner. This is especially true for those who have chosen the monastic life. Every offering received by the monastic community is a manifestation of the sincerity and hope of our Dharma protectors. They provide these offerings with the heartfelt expectation that, free from the worries of food, clothing, and shelter, the monastics will practise with unwavering focus to achieve the state of an awakened being and subsequently propagate the Buddha’s teachings and the Pure Land path to all beings.

There is a traditional saying that warns us: "Eating a single grain of rice from a donor is as heavy as Mount Sumeru; if one does not achieve the Way in this life, one must repay the debt by wearing fur and horns in the next." This serves as a solemn reminder that if a monastic accepts offerings but fails to attain the Way, they will inevitably fall into the animal realm in their next life to repay the karmic debt incurred by the offerings they consumed. Therefore, diligent practice is not merely a choice; it is our essential duty and the only way to walk the path correctly.

Cultivating the Seeds of Awakening

Every small effort, every bit of progress, and every moment of sincerity serves as the essential provisions for achieving the state of an awakened being. Once you understand this principle and the gravity of your situation, you must commit yourself to diligent practice. If you desire a rich harvest at the end of your life, you must ensure that your journey is marked by a process of constant, earnest, and persistent effort.

At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, we follow the Buddha-actions. We must chant Buddha's name with unceasing diligence, ensuring the sound of Namo Amituofo never fades from our hearts. Our vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss must remain firm and never retreat. We must work to change our personality traits, learn to practise visualisation, and maintain a life of purity. By doing so, we move steadily toward becoming an awakened being, eventually becoming as free and at ease as Practitioner Su, who travels between this world and the Western Pure Land with complete liberation. I share these words to encourage all the fourfold assembly of disciples at Hsiang Kuang. Namo Amituofo.