Believe in Your True Self

The Burden of Experience

My children, do you truly believe in yourselves? To believe in yourself means that if you perceive a path to be correct and righteous, you must have the courage to walk it. To believe in yourself means that when you are certain of your ability to accomplish a task, you can bring it to a successful conclusion. If you have never encountered a significant obstacle in your life, you might answer this question with an immediate and confident, "Yes, I believe in myself!" However, if you are someone who has been scarred by the trials of life, your answer will naturally be more cautious and reserved.

As we grow older, the responsibilities we carry upon our shoulders inevitably increase. Consequently, we become increasingly careful and hesitant in our actions. Within this process, we find ourselves entangled in countless thoughts, comparisons, the opinions of others, and the persistent anxiety over gain and loss. My children, do you realise that these thoughts, comparisons, and the constant weighing of gain and loss are all forms of pollution? They are not who you truly are. The heavier this pollution becomes, the further you drift away from your original, true self.

The Necessity of Diligent Practice

You may believe that you are capable of achieving certain goals, but such results will not manifest out of thin air. You must put your beliefs into physical action; otherwise, your words remain nothing more than empty talk. This is especially true in the context of your spiritual practice. If you desire to reach a certain state of being, will it simply happen because you wish for it? Before you have successfully transformed your karma and reached the state of an awakened being, you remain bound by the laws of karma and cause and effect. These laws continue to influence the outcomes of your life.

If you are a being still governed by heavy karma, every single detail of your life is influenced by the seeds you have sown in the past. Therefore, it is not yet certain that everything will unfold exactly as you wish. However, if you do not make the effort to practise, you will only drift further and further away from your goal. This is why the act of practice is of paramount importance. It is the bridge between your current state of confusion and your ultimate destination.

Navigating the Laws of Karma

Before you have transformed your karma, you exist within the realm of impermanence. You must possess strong meditative concentration to subdue both your internal afflictions and the external environment. Only then can you proceed smoothly on your path without being disturbed by external conditions, external forces, karmic creditors, spiritual attachments, or the interference of demons. Believe in yourself, for your original nature is inherently perfect, yet it is currently obscured by the obstacles of pollution. The entire process of your practice is simply the journey of facing your karma and finding your way back to that original nature.

Returning to Your Original Nature

Believe in yourself, for your true self is inherently cool, calm, and free from worry or affliction. It is naturally endowed with Wisdom (Prajna), virtue, and auspicious characteristics. You do not need to seek these things outside of yourself; they are already present within you. Currently, because of your delusion, you seek happiness in the external world, which only brings you more suffering and distances you further from your true self. The process of practice is the act of turning your gaze inward to rediscover what has always been there.

The Sanctuary of Hsiang Kuang

Believe in yourself, for at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, you have the guidance of the Buddha and the presence of Practitioner Su. As long as you maintain a sincere heart, hold onto righteous intentions, and remain selfless, your path will be clear. If your goal is to rediscover your true self, unleash your inherent potential, and save beings, you will receive the assistance of the Buddha, Practitioner Su, and the Dharma protectors. You will surely fulfil your wish to find your true self and achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss without any obstacles.

Namo Amituofo