Arise and Act: The Path of Devotion

Teachings from Namo Amituofo, recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

The Foundation of Faith and Vows

In the study of the Buddha's teachings, we speak of the four stages: right faith, right understanding, practice, and verification. In the Pure Land school, we focus specifically on Faith, Vows, and Practice. By examining these, we can clearly see the vital importance of both faith and action. Faith is the root from which our vows arise, and these vows serve as the guiding light that directs our journey forward.

In your daily life, your practice is the process of continuously accumulating the three provisions necessary for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. By chanting Namo Amituofo and making the sincere vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in this very lifetime, you are engaging in the essential vow and action required to attain Buddhahood. Specifically, to arouse the Bodhi mind and single-mindedly recite Namo Amituofo is the supreme path to achievement.

The Daily Practice of a Pure Land Practitioner

As ordinary people living within this Five Turbidities and Evil World, we are often weighed down by our past karma. Therefore, you must rely on your vows to arise and act, maintaining this momentum without interruption. If you are fortunate enough to encounter the guidance of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, ancestral masters, and true spiritual friends, you are a person of tremendous blessing. In the Pure Land path, we rely on the dual support of self-power and Buddha's blessings. Your basic daily practice should consist of the following:

• Prostrations: Bowing to the Buddha to humble the ego and show reverence.
• Chanting Namo Amituofo: Maintaining the continuous chanting of Buddha's name to purify the mind.
• Reciting the Sutras: Studying the sacred texts to deepen your understanding of the Truth.

If you can diligently arise and act, maintaining these practices without interruption, your own efforts will be bolstered by the Buddha's blessings. This synergy will allow your purification and practice to advance steadily.

Overcoming Obstacles through Diligence

To arise and act is a duty that every practitioner must recognise and fulfil. You must move forward with diligence, never allowing yourself to become lax or stagnant. Within this active practice, you must also be proactive in changing your personality traits. If you encounter personal challenges or if your karmic creditors manifest to create obstacles, you must face them with courage. By breaking through these barriers and continuing your practice, you satisfy the necessary conditions for success in your cultivation.

The Promise of Rebirth

It is my sincere hope that all students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre will maintain the continuous chanting of Buddha's name. Under the protective support of Namo Amituofo, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and Practitioner Su, you will surely find success in your diligent practice. May you attain Awakening in this lifetime, follow the Buddha to save all beings, and successfully fulfil your vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, thereby leaving the six realms of rebirth behind forever.

Namo Amituofo