To be pure is to be without stain; to be good is to be without malice. Why is it that those who seek to realise their true nature through the path must first attain a state of pure and good character? The answer lies in the nature of our original self. Our true nature is a vast treasury of light, completely free from any impurity or defilement. If there is even a trace of contamination within our hearts, we cannot call it pure or good, and we will find it impossible to rediscover our original face.
The Obstacles of the Worldly Mind
People in this world often crave noise and excitement. They are driven by selfishness and self-interest, always prioritising their own gains and losses. In their pursuit of personal desires, they may even harm others to satisfy their own vows. They find it difficult to let go of their emotional attachments, and they are often weighed down by greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, and doubt, as well as the temptations of wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep. These attachments are the greatest enemies of ; as long as we cling to them, we remain far from the realisation of our true nature.
The Unmoved Mind in a Noisy World
Once a practitioner has realised their true nature and attained a state of pure and good character, they remain unmoved even when placed in the midst of a noisy and chaotic environment. They are not influenced by external circumstances. Instead, their purity remains untainted. In fact, they act as a purifying force within that very environment, bringing peace and stillness to the surrounding clamour. This is the state where the practitioner transforms the environment, rather than being transformed by it.
Cultivating the Heart through Daily Practice
Attaining a heart of pure and good character is not an unreachable goal. In the Pure Land path, our purification is a process of working on the heart. The environment—including the people, events, and objects we encounter—is merely an external condition. Through the diligent practice of (Discipline), Concentration and Wisdom, these external conditions become the very tests that reveal the progress of our daily practice.
In every moment, in every action, and in every word we speak, we must maintain the dignity of our precepts and the depth of our and wisdom. When we view all beings as one, we realise that everyone is born equal. We understand that your well-being is my well-being, and when you leave suffering behind, I find true happiness. By naturally drawing closer to one another in this way, how could our wisdom not open? Eventually, we will surely see our original face.
The Broad Path of Saving Beings
After one has realised their true nature, the path to saving beings becomes infinitely broad. One is no longer restricted by external conditions and can be at ease anywhere. Because of this pure and good heart, one no longer sees bad people, unpleasant events, or undesirable things. Even in the most difficult situations, the pure and good heart of the practitioner purifies the other party. They see and hear only the good, as if it were their own. Because no negative thoughts or arise, everything they encounter is seen as flawless and kind. Even if there are genuine imperfections, a person who has realised their true nature will only focus on the small merits or virtues present. Even when they do see the faults of others, they are able to transform those thoughts into pure goodness. This is the manifestation of a heart filled with compassion and wisdom.
The Power of Compassion and Wisdom
A person who is truly pure and good, or who has realised their true nature, is always in a state of meditative concentration, anchored by compassion and wisdom. Wherever they go, they can turn enemies into friends. They can inspire respect from heaven, earth, and spirits, bringing about favourable weather and peace, free from disasters. They can turn crises into turning points and help those in despair find hope. Everything happens naturally. What a precious and rare person this is! If you are fortunate enough to meet such a person, it is truly a great blessing. Within the six realms of existence, only in the human world can one achieve such a transformation and reach such a state. This is the magnificence of the human path.
The Sanctuary of Hsiang Kuang
The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia is precisely such an environment. Under the protection of and Practitioner Su, who has realised his true nature, the fourfold assembly of disciples who practise here are shielded from external interference. They are able to look within to see the problems in their own hearts. They are working diligently and persistently, moving forward on the path toward developing their true nature and reaching the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
I, Ashvaghosha, am delighted to see all of you making such progress. May you soon attain Buddhahood and save all beings, helping them to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
