Children, Do Not Be Afraid

Teachings from Namo Amituofo, recorded by Venerable HaiZe.

October 16, 2022.

The Buddha’s Infinite Protection

My children, you who sit beneath the Buddha’s seat, do not be afraid. The light of the Buddha shines upon you with perfect equality, shielding and protecting every one of you. You need only to place your complete faith in the Buddha.

Before you have successfully transformed your karma, you remain under the control of the forces you have set in motion in the past. Your karmic creditors and spiritual attachments manifest in accordance with your thoughts, your words, and the actions of your Body, Speech, and Mind. These forces are the architects of the suffering you experience—the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death.

The Path of Awakening Through Suffering

As you experience these hardships, you begin to feel your own pain deeply. Yet, this is also a gateway to a greater realisation. By understanding your own suffering, you can expand your heart to perceive the suffering of all other beings. This realisation makes your desire to leave the Five Turbidities and Evil World and escape the miseries of this realm even more urgent and sincere.

When you feel the weight of your own burdens, know that there are countless beings around you who are suffering a hundred, a thousand, or even ten thousand times more than you are. This suffering is the bitter fruit of the negative causes you planted in the past, born from ignorance and a lack of clarity. Now that the conditions have matured, you are tasting the results. Therefore, you must cultivate a heart of repenting and face these beings with sincerity and compassion.

The Buddha-Name as Your Talisman

No matter how much time you have left in this life—whether you have many years or only a few moments—please remember never to forget to invoke the Buddha-name. The name of Namo Amituofo is your greatest protective talisman. You must learn the skill of chanting Namo Amituofo while you are still alive; this is the fundamental practice for anyone walking the path of the Pure Land.

The Pure Land exists because of this very practice. Chanting Namo Amituofo has the power to purify your Body-Mind-Spirit, to dissolve heavy karma, and to bring peace to all beings. I have imbued the Buddha-name with all of my merit and the power of my vows. I hope that you, my children, will hold onto it tightly and never let it leave your heart.

Finding Refuge at Hsiang Kuang

If you encounter the pain of illness, you must invoke the Buddha-name even more fervently. Let every word and every sentence be filled with true sincerity and a focused heart. If your life in this world has reached its end, I will lead you to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. If your time has not yet come, this practice will help to alleviate your illness. If you can resolve your conflicts through Chao Du, you will help your karmic creditors leave their suffering behind, and your own burdens will be lightened.

Therefore, my children, remember that at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre—the place where Namo Amituofo truly abides—you can continuously receive the light of the Buddha. This light will bring stability to your heart and to the hearts of all beings. If you ever find yourself in difficulty, do not be afraid. As long as you listen to the teachings and engage in diligent practice, many things can be resolved, and you will surely find your way through.

Namo Amituofo