Samadhi refers to the state of deep peace and wisdom, a condition where one’s meditative concentration has reached a level of perfect stability and luminous clarity. To abide in Samadhi means that throughout the twenty-four hours of the day, you remain anchored in this state of unmoving, radiant light. This is not merely a temporary experience; it is a profound state of the heart and spirit.
For those who have realised their true nature and attained a state of , may move through the world, yet the mind remains entirely undisturbed by external circumstances. Whether you are facing the challenges of daily life, enduring attacks from negative forces, or suffering from the slander and gossip of others, you remain as steady as a mountain. This is the true mark of having attained meditative concentration. When your concentration is perfected, you are truly abiding in Samadhi.
The Path of the Six Paramitas
This concentration is the very foundation of the Three Learnings of , Concentration, and Wisdom. It is also the culmination of the Six Paramitas, the essential virtues that guide a practitioner toward :
Generosity: Giving freely of one's resources, time, and to benefit others.
Discipline: Maintaining the Precepts to keep the body and mind pure.
Patience: Enduring all hardships and provocations without resentment.
Diligence: Striving continuously in one's practice without laziness.
Meditation: Cultivating the stillness required to see the truth clearly.
Wisdom: The ultimate insight that arises when the mind is perfectly still and clear.
These virtues are not separate; they are a sequential path. Through the practice of these six, one naturally arrives at the state of deep, unshakable meditative concentration.
Stability Amidst the Waves of
There is a vast difference between the stability of one who has realised their true nature and the constant, turbulent fluctuations of those still bound by karma. The former is a state of profound peace, while the latter is a state of being pulled in different directions by the forces of desire and attachment. We must aspire to the state where we can truly say: I vow to abide in Samadhi, and to constantly radiate light to illuminate all beings.
At the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, we are in the place where truly abides. For those who have faith in the Buddha, this faith must be as firm and unmoving as a mountain. Your practice must be one of following the teachings faithfully, guided by the wisdom of Namo Amituofo, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and Practitioner Su.
A Continuous Practice of Faith
For those who have faith in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, the heart of your Buddha-recitation must be equally steadfast. Your practice of chanting Namo Amituofo should be continuous, flowing through every moment of your day without interruption. The fourfold assembly of disciples at this centre is blessed to be under the guidance of Namo Amituofo, the presence of Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and the leadership of Practitioner Su, who ensure that the lecturing on the Dharma never ceases.
During the , with Namo Amituofo presiding and the Dragon and Heaven Dharma Protectors constantly guarding the assembly, we hope that all disciples can share in the vow of the Dharma Treasury: I vow to abide in Samadhi, and to constantly radiate light to illuminate all beings. In the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, Namo Amituofo has been in this state of deep meditative concentration for ten kalpas, continuously teaching the Dharma without pause. We pray that all beings may receive the immense benefits of this vow and find their way to that same state of eternal peace.
