Do Not Waste Your Precious Time

My children, do not let your time slip away in vain. In the context of your spiritual practice, time is incredibly precious. It is a resource that, once spent, cannot be recovered. You must understand that the moment of Awakening can arrive at any time. It may occur while you are chanting a single Buddha-name, or perhaps when you hear the sound of rain falling upon banana leaves. In that singular instant, the true nature of reality is revealed, and one attains Awakening.

The Foundation of Sudden Awakening

Many practitioners yearn to be the one who experiences this sudden flash of insight. However, you must understand that such an Awakening is not a matter of luck. It is the culmination of a long and arduous process:

• Diligent practice:
• It is the result of your previous efforts to remove defilements and attain purity.Accumulated merit:
• It is the fruition of the diligent practice you have cultivated over many past lives.Unwavering persistence: Even in this life, you must continue to work without slackening, clearing away the dust of worldly attachments.

When you reach the final, most critical moment, the light of wisdom suddenly appears. It sweeps away the darkness of ignorance, and the world is filled with light. Without that prior, sustained effort, there would be no such moment of Awakening.

The Urgency of Self-Correction

In this life, you have been fortunate enough to obtain a human body. This is the perfect time to engage in True Cultivation. Do not waste this opportunity. In your daily life, you must strive to change your ways and address the "self," personal ego, and selfishness. Every small fault must be corrected with the utmost sincerity. Do not allow small errors to accumulate into major transgressions, for once they become habitual, it is difficult to stop or reverse them. Such actions lead to the breaking of Precepts and may even result in falling into the hells. To stray so far from the path of Awakening is a profound tragedy.

Transcending Worldly Emotions

As a practitioner, you must first clearly understand your current situation. You are not merely a person living in the mundane world; you are a being who has chosen the path of purification and transcendence. You must not allow yourself to be stained by worldly emotions. Emotion is like a silken thread; it binds the heart and obstructs the spirit, making it impossible to see your original, true self. Before you have reached the state of Awakening, and while your meditative concentration is still developing, you are easily swayed by your environment. If you lack the strength to transform the environment, you must not allow yourself to become entangled in worldly emotions.

The Path of the True Practitioner

You must walk the Buddha's path with steady, solid steps. By doing so, you will rediscover your true self and reclaim your original capabilities. A true practitioner is one who:

• Faces all situations with clarity:
• You can confront any environment without being turned by it.Maintains wisdom:
• You can understand the nature of all situations without being deceived by them.Saves beings:
• You can help others without being influenced by their confusion.Saves the world: You can stand firm against the tides of chaos without being disturbed by the surrounding turmoil.

This period of your life is a time for saving the world, delivering beings, and ensuring your own rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Do not let this precious time pass you by.

Namo Amituofo