Ask Yourself: A Reflection on the Path

The Sanctuary Where Namo Amituofo Abides

My children, you must understand that the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is a place where Namo Amituofo truly abides. It is a sacred Buddha-land where the distinction between the Buddha and the demonic is clearly defined, yet it is also a place where all beings are recognised as one in their original nature. Within this unified existence, how can you truly respect the Buddha-nature of all beings? How can you do so without being led astray by their confusion or the heavy influence of their karmic creditors, which causes your spirit to be drawn out of your body, leading you to fall into a state of drowsiness or to wander aimlessly into other spaces?

The Harmonious Balance of Compassion and Wisdom

To overcome these obstacles, you must employ both compassion and Wisdom in equal measure. You must learn to use them in harmony, supporting one another as you walk this path. With firm determination and a compassionate heart—both for yourself and for all sentient beings—you must face the challenges of drowsiness and the distractions of other spaces. While your heart should be filled with the spirit of repenting, you must not be led by the very beings you seek to help. True Wisdom lies in your ability to transform the hearts of these beings, to resolve their grievances, and to successfully perform Chao Du for them.

Confronting the Weight of Responsibility

My children, I ask you to pause and look within. Ask yourself: is there something you are unwilling to face, or perhaps even afraid to accept? The mission of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is vast and profound: to save all beings throughout the Dharma realm, to rescue those suffering in the depths of hardship, to deliver beings from the demon realms, and to take upon oneself the suffering of all beings to help them find liberation. You must realise that you, too, are a being within the Dharma realm, and you are also one of those suffering beings. Therefore, when you save others, you are simultaneously saving yourself.

Confidence Born from Diligent Practice

Do you lack confidence in your own abilities? Do you believe that you are incapable of performing Chao Du or reaching Awakening? If you allow such thoughts to take root, you will inevitably try to escape the work, failing to engage in diligent practice and growth. You might even find yourself shifting your attention to other, less important matters. This causes your spiritual achievements to stagnate, or worse, to regress. You must understand that true confidence is built upon action and realisation. If you do not actually practise and prove to yourself that you are capable, you will never break through the barrier of self-doubt. Do not overthink, and do not be swayed by fleeting emotions. Simply move forward and do the work.

Walking the Path Together

The work undertaken by Practitioner Su is not the task of one or two individuals alone. It is a monumental endeavour to save the world, to help beings leave suffering behind, and to guide them to rebirth in the Western Pure Land. All students of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre must share this responsibility and face it together. You must be of one heart and one vow, exhausting your own strength to help beings find relief from their pain. This heart of service is of the utmost importance. Can you give your all? Can you break through your limitations? Are you willing to carry this responsibility without escaping or turning away? Everything depends on this heart of yours. You must face the truth directly and take up this burden with a sincere heart. If you can charge forward with your full strength and give everything you have, you will see inconceivable results manifest. This is because the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is supported by Namo Amituofo, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and Practitioner Su, who, along with the fourfold assembly of disciples, face every moment, every hour, and every event together. This matter of life and death is contained within this very effort.

Moving Forward Without Fear

My children, move forward directly. Let there be no hesitation or concern in your heart. Do not let the fear that you cannot endure or that you are not capable hold you back. Do not let these thoughts bind you and prevent you from exerting your full strength. As long as you follow the guidance of the temple and the path of Practitioner Su, and as long as you diligently carry out the tasks assigned to you, you are acting for the benefit of all beings. Give your full effort to these tasks. Do not doubt, and do not worry. Cherish this opportunity to accumulate merit and virtue, to cultivate both blessings and Wisdom, and to reach Awakening. These are the essential provisions for saving yourself and saving all beings. Namo Amituofo.