Dialogue with Namo Amituofo on the Suffering of Sentient Beings

The Endless Ocean of Suffering

The disciple asked: Namo Amituofo, may Your compassion shine upon us. Throughout the vastness of the Dharma realm, the number of sentient beings who come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre seeking Chao Du and rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is immeasurable and boundless. They are almost beyond calculation. These suffering spirits cry out for rescue, longing to leave their pain behind. How can this work of salvation ever be completed? I humbly request that You, Buddha, let fall the sweet dew of Your teachings and provide us with Your compassionate guidance on the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

Namo Amituofo replied: The number of sentient beings is immeasurable and boundless. Their suffering is without end, stretching across spaces that cannot be calculated by any human measure. Time itself flows on without cessation, and the suffering caused by karma in the Saha world is endless. The cycle of the six realms of existence continues without pause.

Who hears the cries of these suffering beings? Who listens to their mournful weeping in the dead of night? Their stories are like the cold, desolate wind blowing through the darkness. These truths should allow all my children to awaken. These spirits are like patients suffering from a grave illness; one must roll up one's sleeves and hold the tools of salvation to rescue them.

The Sanctuary of the Forty-Eight Vows

However, many spirits do not understand this. My compassion has entered this space, and the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has manifested. Those in the vastness of the Dharma realm who know of this place should come quickly to seek help. My Forty-eight Great Vows are dedicated to saving all beings. Every single vow is designed to resolve the suffering of beings. As long as they recognise Namo Amituofo, I will support them on the path to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Consider the time when Shakyamuni Buddha descended to this world. For forty-nine years, He taught and transformed beings, walking and begging for alms to connect with those who had affinity. Wherever He went, He answered questions and resolved doubts. The teachings He left behind were collected into sutras, and generation after generation has followed His instructions.

The Discipline of the True Path

Yet, sentient beings are still plagued by ceaseless delusions. They find it difficult to let go of their discriminations and attachments. How, then, can they find peace and clarity? If you wish to find true liberation, you must learn to reduce your desires. You must recognise your original true self, which will naturally draw the right conditions to you without you having to ask.

You must seek to transcend worldly concerns and value your true nature. Your true self is priceless, and the Wisdom that arises from it will help you assist others. Everything you do should be for the benefit of others, not for the self. By doing this, you can resolve the doubts of others, and as you provide answers, they will naturally be convinced and follow the teachings.

When you can respond with Wisdom, you will be able to influence and teach others effectively. You must maintain harmony within the fourfold assembly of disciples. When you gather here with a clear mind and have realised your true nature, the six-fold harmony of the monastic community can be maintained. Only then can the work of saving the world be truly effective and manifest before all beings.

Cultivating the Lotus of the Heart

Know that the Buddha's presence in the Dharma is not something remote or unreachable. By upholding the Precepts, you will attain meditative concentration, and from that, Wisdom will bloom. You will see the laws of the world and all phenomena with absolute clarity. You must be vigilant against the five desires: wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep. By mastering these, you will not stand before the gates of the hells.

When the ledgers are opened in the halls of the underworld, you will be able to correct every past mistake, and your name will be removed from the records of suffering. You will be light of heart as you travel to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The six realms of existence in the Saha world are endless, and because of this, there are infinite suffering beings. You must be spontaneous and active in your efforts to save them, for this is the greatest blessing one can possess.

The Eternal Light of the Dharma

All phenomena are created by the mind. When you have the beings in your heart and your own selfishness is extinguished, you become a vessel for the Dharma to save others. All Buddhas and Bodhisattvas will protect you. The disciples at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre must diligently cultivate and irrigate the lotus heart-field every day. May your hearts always be fragrant, purifying the precious land and the lotus platforms. The Pure Land is clear, pure, and unstained. In every lifetime, you must strive to clarify your mind, for Awakening is your original state.

You must cherish every single being, for every one of them possesses the Buddha-nature. When will you become a Buddha or a Sage? It is not a matter of time; it is a matter of the present moment. Practitioner Su has manifested in this world many times, and he has never lived for himself; his body and mind are dedicated to the service of all beings. Everywhere he goes is a path to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The light of your true self and the light of the Buddha are things that you and I both possess. It is simply a matter of nurturing your heart and nature, removing the impurities, and letting the purity manifest. The Buddha-light of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre shines throughout the vastness of the Dharma realm. Let us walk the path to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss together, entering the Land of Ultimate Bliss, where all spirits will attain the Buddha's path together. The holy name of Namo Amituofo will be transmitted forever, illuminating the great universe.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo