Fierce Diligence on the Path to Awakening

The Call to Fierce Diligence

If you are a practitioner who truly wishes to rediscover your original true self, you must ensure that every minute and every second is not spent in vain. There should be no room for delusions or messy thoughts to arise. If a delusion or a messy thought does emerge, you must immediately use your awareness to stop it. This is the essence of maintaining a clear and focused mind on the path of practice.

Cutting Through the Illusions of the Past

Do not allow any memories of the past, any lingering emotions, or any events that have already occurred to surface in your mind. Even if they do appear, you must cut them off instantly. You must realise that everything is but an illusion; everything is empty. The past cannot be retrieved, and the emotions have already passed. You must seize the present moment, for it is the only place where true practice can occur.

The Power of the Buddha-name

The energy you recover through a single, sincere recitation of the Buddha-name far outweighs the weight of a thousand memories and emotions from the past. You must have this understanding if you wish for your practice to truly advance. Consider the following truths regarding your progress:

• The weight of the past: If you find yourself stagnant and unable to move forward, it is because you are still entangled by the past.
• The burden of attachment: It means your heart still harbours attachments and you are still looking for a way to retreat.
• The necessity of severance: If you truly desire progress, you must sever these ties immediately.

The Foundation of Vows

Only when your heart holds a true Vow can you make genuine progress. Without a Vow, it is difficult to sustain your practice. In this quiet retreat at the Buddha-land, if your Vows are sincere and your practice is fiercely diligent, Awakening is within your reach. Let us commit ourselves to this path, leaving behind the shadows of the past to embrace the light of the true self.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo