Cherishing the Precious Opportunity for Awakening

My dear students, you must always keep a heart of gratitude. Everything you have in this life is hard-won and precious; it is not easily attained. You must cherish this human life and this physical body. You have traversed the path of the secular world, and now, you have the rare opportunity to engage in true spiritual practice.

The Art of Cherishing

To walk the path of awakening, you must learn to value the elements of your existence:

• Cherish Time: Every moment is fleeting; do not let a single second pass in vain.
• Cherish Every Minute: Time is the vessel for your practice; use it wisely.
• Cherish Your Sincere Heart: Your original, pure intention is the foundation of your journey.
• Cherish What Is Before You: Every morsel of food, every piece of clothing, and the very place where you reside are all gifts that have come to you through complex causes and conditions.

Although you know that this physical world is an illusory environment, you must understand that it is precisely within this human body and this illusory realm that you must practise. You are here to rediscover your true nature and ensure that you do not fall back into the cycle of reincarnation. Once you have clearly recognised the truth of your existence, you must cherish this human body as a vehicle for attaining Buddhahood.

What to Release and What to Hold

There are many things you must learn to let go of to progress on the path:

• Release Emotional Attachments: Do not dwell on worldly sentiments or allow them to cloud your judgement.
• Cease Wrong Actions: Do not engage in behaviours that deviate from the Right Way.
• Do Not Cling to Consciousness: Let go of the habitual patterns of the mind that keep you trapped in samsara.
• Do Not Be Swayed by Physical Sensations: Do not be overly concerned with the comforts or discomforts of the body.
• Abandon Doubt and Anger: These are obstacles that hinder your progress and obscure your wisdom.

You must treat your physical body with care, but do not indulge it, nor should you abuse it. Without this human body, you would have no way to realise your true nature or attain Buddhahood. Without this body, you would lose the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. Furthermore, without this body, you would be unable to save yourself, save other beings, or guide your family members toward rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

The Magnificent Dharma Affinity at Hsiang Kuang

You must deeply cherish the magnificent Dharma affinity you have found here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre:

• The Presence of Namo Amituofo: Namo Amituofo is truly residing here in this bodhimanda, transmitting the teachings of the sutras.
• Constant Guidance: The Buddha’s words are provided at all times to teach and guide all the students who protect the Dharma.
• The Compassion of Practitioner Su: As an awakened being, Practitioner Su provides for the fourfold assembly, delivers lectures, and works to resolve the conflicts of karmic creditors from countless lifetimes.
• Leading the Way: Practitioner Su leads all students to rediscover their true nature, save the world, and deliver beings.
• The Thrice Yearning Ceremony: This ceremony is a powerful means to perform Chao Du for beings to be reborn in the Western Pure Land.

If you did not have this Dharma affinity, all your wishes would be difficult to realise. Everything you encounter here is so rare and precious; it is truly difficult to encounter in millions of years.

A Call to Diligence

My students, you must be proactive. You must break through and overcome the various tests that arise in your practice. Only when you raise your own strength can the Buddha’s power be fully received and applied. This human body, this time, this place, and this affinity are all things you must cherish deeply.

Use everything you have well, carry on the Pure Land teachings, and walk firmly within the True Teachings. This message was recorded by the Buddha’s disciple, Shi Haize.

Namo Amituofo