Life is often defined by moments of busyness, helplessness, and powerlessness. When we find ourselves trapped in difficult situations, we are faced with a critical choice: do we break through, or do we give up? These two paths lead to entirely different destinies. For the practitioner, every single day is precious. Each moment holds the potential for , for realising one's true nature, and for returning to the original self. Therefore, even when you encounter profound difficulties, you must face them with courage and strive to break through.
For the average person in the world, days often pass in a repetitive cycle. We do not know when the impermanence of life will arrive. Sudden, unexpected situations often catch people off guard, leaving them feeling overwhelmed. Many people choose to give up or are defeated by these circumstances. They may collapse on the road of life, or perhaps sit by the wayside to rest before slowly continuing their journey. Those with a strong will, however, will shake off their fatigue, stand up, and continue moving forward. Whether you are a practitioner or living a worldly life, you must strive to break through your current situation. You must never waste a single minute or second of this precious life. Consider how many people struggle desperately just to keep their next breath in this human world.
The Infinite Possibilities of Human Life
If you have a deep experience of life, you will understand that it holds infinite possibilities. Only when one possesses a human body and encounters difficulties can one create new opportunities for growth. But we must ask: is this new opportunity merely part of the cycle of and fate, or is it a chance to break through the cycle of rebirth? Will you find a guide to rely upon and achieve eternal liberation? The practitioner who chants the name of is truly fortunate. By relying on Namo Amituofo, the Forty-eight Great Vows, and the of Ultimate Bliss built upon those vows, you will never lose your guide or your support.
The only danger is if you do not believe in your own ability to break through your difficulties. You must take action; only then will you have the opportunity to manifest that breakthrough and create a new path. This is a task worth dedicating your entire life to. Once you reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, you will have attained the path to eternal liberation and Buddhahood. Let us now discuss how to break through these difficulties.
The Guidance of a True Spiritual Friend
First, you must have the guidance of a true spiritual friend or a virtuous teacher. Such a teacher is met through and must lead you according to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way—the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path includes Right View, Right , Right Speech, Right Thought, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Concentration, and Right Diligence. By following this path, you will be able to distinguish between the True Teachings and false paths during this age of the ’s decline, where it is difficult to discern the truth. If you fail to meet a true spiritual friend and instead follow false teachings, you will drift further and further away from the righteous path, never achieving liberation or attaining Buddhahood.
In this age of the Dharma’s decline, the Pure Land path is the key to achievement. This was the essential instruction given by Shakyamuni Buddha to all beings in this era. Because beings in this age have heavy spiritual obstacles, they must rely on the dual power of the Pure Land—one's own practice and the power of the Buddha—to attain Buddhahood. Therefore, regardless of the sect, any teaching that guides beings to enter the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is a True Teaching. This is the primary criterion for distinguishing between the right and the wrong.
Regardless of the circumstances, the priority for any practitioner is to change their personality traits and habits, and to rediscover their original nature. This is something every student of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre knows well, as Practitioner Su constantly reminds us. Students of Hsiang Kuang must know that Practitioner Su is a rare and precious spiritual friend and teacher who has realised his true nature. His teachings are based on the righteous path, the Truth, and the original nature. You must keep his teachings firmly in your heart and act upon them; if you do, you will surely gain great benefits.
Distinguishing the False from the Real
To break through difficulties, you must clearly distinguish between what is false and what is real. Anything that changes due to external environments, people, time, or space is an illusory, false state. Your physical sensations, the cycle of rebirth, and even your dreams are all illusory. What does not change due to external environments, people, time, or space is eternal and unchanging; this is the Truth. Your true nature and the reality of the Truth are real and not false. Do not be attached to illusory states; do not hold onto them tightly. You must make good use of this rare human body to use this temporary existence to find the eternal Truth. Only then can you find your true nature and be permanently free from suffering and the cycle of rebirth. Many people who study Buddhism can speak eloquently about this, but knowing is not enough. You must practise it in reality. Only through true practice can you obtain true benefits and develop true skills.
Establishing Clear Goals and Direction
All Buddhist teachings return to one point: the realisation of one's original face, the purification of one's nature, and the entry into the stillness of Nirvana. This is the Truth; it was so in the past, it is so now, and it will be so in the future. To reach this ultimate goal, Awakening and rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss must become the most important objectives of your practice. Those who are diligent in their practice understand, as Zen Master Zhongfeng mentioned in the , that Namo Amituofo is my heart, and my heart is Namo Amituofo. At that moment, my heart is the Buddha, and the Buddha is in my heart; Hsiang Kuang is the Western Pure Land, and the Western Pure Land is Hsiang Kuang.
The Courage to Persevere
You must have persistent perseverance, determination, and boldness. You must not be afraid, hesitant, or doubtful. The process of seeking the Dharma is never smooth sailing. You will face various tests: tests from demons, tests from the Buddha, tests from other beings, and tests from your own mental states. Every test is related to your own personality traits and habits. The personality traits and habits you currently possess have been cultivated over countless lifetimes and are a major obstacle to attaining Buddhahood. When you truly enter the path of seeking liberation, you will inevitably face a series of tests. This is why many seek the Dharma, but few attain Buddhahood or are reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. You must have firm perseverance, determination, and boldness to overcome all difficulties and move forward courageously on the Buddha’s path.
Cultivating Merit and Wisdom
Finally, you must accumulate merit and cultivate both and wisdom. Practice requires breaking through various difficulties. What are these difficulties? They include:
during the recitation of sutras, prostrations, chanting the Buddha's name, or studying the teachings.
Friction and conflict when interacting with others.
The difficulty of aligning your heart and speech, leading to concealment or dishonesty.
Physical and psychological obstacles.
Current physical pain, illness, and other health issues.
These are all problems that must be faced; they cannot be avoided. Many of these are not caused by a single factor, but by a combination of internal personality traits, external behaviour and tone, one's perspective on people and things, and even the presence of or attached spirits. At such times, a true spiritual friend can assist you in seeing the root cause of these problems clearly. By explaining these issues and providing solutions, they can help you improve, break through your difficulties, and move forward step by step on the path of practice to attain Buddhahood, save yourself and others, and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss to enter the stillness of Nirvana.
Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
