Great Master Xuanzang's New Year Joyful Purification Dharma Assembly
Teachings from Great Master Xuanzang
January 24, 2020
The Flow of Time and the Seeds of
Time flows onward like a mighty river moving toward the east, washing away the dust and grime of our past lives. If you have not cultivated your spirit over countless lifetimes, how could you be sitting here today, listening to the ? Every one of you gathered under the guidance of Namo Amituofo is a practitioner of purity. You are all heroes of the spirit who have, in previous lives, attained great virtue and accumulated immeasurable merits. Now, you have manifested in this place, gathering together in this lotus-scented land.
As we stand at the threshold of a new year, we must reflect on the Causal Conditions that have brought us together. Though the actions of the past are behind us, the fruits of those actions remain. We must accept the consequences of our past deeds with a clear heart, knowing that every cause has an effect. As the old year passes and the new one arrives, ask yourself: how is your heart? When you seek to fulfil your wishes, look inward to align with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. Purify your energy, your heart, and your physical actions. Let the name of Namo Amituofo purify the very heavens.
The Path of Purification and Deliverance
To truly understand the essence of the Dharma, you must listen to the sutras and hear the teachings. Many of you are accompanied by and spirits with attachments. Through the power of the , you can perform to help these beings share in the benefits of the Dharma, transforming your karmic debts into peace. It is a rare and precious opportunity to have Namo Amituofo lead the ceremony, allowing infinite suffering beings to find liberation.
You must pray for progress on the Buddha's path. This requires a continuous effort to change your latent habits or bad character traits. You must change them again and again until they are completely gone, returning to your original, true nature. Awakening is the only goal that truly matters. To achieve this, there is no other path but the one leading to the of Ultimate Bliss. You are all here for the sake of the Dharma, regardless of how you spent your past. Live in the present moment, for this is the time to act. The Buddha-light shines upon all who have the affinity to receive it.
Letting Go of
Open your heart and mind to embrace the vastness of the universe. The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is a place of cultivation, and the Buddha-heart and Buddha-vows reside within each of you. You have encountered Namo Amituofo, the most honoured and the King among Buddhas. Do not hesitate; follow this path immediately to liberate yourself from the cycle of reincarnation. By doing so, you will be able to travel freely to and from the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, fulfilling the purpose of your life and honouring your connection to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
The monastics are dedicated to spreading the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha, keeping the Pure Land Dharma deep within their hearts. With Namo Amituofo as our teacher and the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss as our home, Practitioner Su leads the way forward. Whether in Taiwan, Hong Kong, or here in Australia, the work of purification leads us to realise our true nature. To succeed, you must:
- Release all personal ego and selfishness.Let go of the concepts of "I," "me," and "mine."Abandon all attachments to family and worldly relations.Remove any trace of the "self" so that you may live as one with all beings.
Every action you take should be for the sake of all beings, and every achievement should be dedicated to saving them. Do not do anything for your own sake. Leave the affairs of the red dust behind. Since this body is merely a temporary vessel, use this "temporary" body to find the "eternal" truth. This is the mark of true wisdom. Dedicate your body, mind, and spirit to the countless worlds, and do not look back at the path you have travelled.
The Mission of the Temple
To leave home is to truly abandon the attachments of the household, discarding desires to walk the path of the Dharma. By shedding your worldly clothes and donning the monastic robes, you are reborn. You must no longer be concerned with the or . Your Six Roots must be pure, and your wisdom must be clear. If you can achieve this, you will be the one who benefits the most. The infinite Buddha-light shines upon the great thousand worlds; even if your physical eyes cannot see it, it is not absent.
The Namo Amituofo Village is being built so that there is a place of return, a place where you can enter the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and be reborn from the lotus. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is being constructed, waiting for those who have developed great vows and actions. It also waits for all of you to achieve success in your practice. As your Dharma affinity matures, the temple will naturally rise. The entire Dharma Realm awaits this day. All those waiting to be saved will be saved, as Namo Amituofo reaches out His hand to welcome you into the West.
Practical Guidance for the New Year
The New Year represents hope in the hearts of people, bringing with it a new atmosphere. Yet, even this is not separate from the laws of cause and effect. How can you escape the cycle of karmic suffering? You must cultivate goodness in your heart and actions, serving others without a trace of self-interest. Listen well and speak well, avoiding the creation of negative through your speech. This is the method to change your heart and transform your destiny.
Do not be selfish; cultivate a heart of . This is what Practitioner Su constantly reminds you of, day after day. How much of this have you truly achieved? How much have you changed your latent habits or bad character traits? How much have you purified yourself? You must be diligent in your daily practice, for these are the foundations that cannot be interrupted:
- Chanting the name of Namo Amituofo.Performing prostrations to the Buddha.Reciting the Sutras.
Open your heart and fill it with Dharma . Do not let the demons of the mind—driven by desires, personality traits, and bad habits—take control. Wake up and raise your awareness. Every day can be a good day if you put in the work to cultivate your mind. When your heart is pure, no external environment can disturb you. Do not be turned by the environment; instead, turn the environment through your own practice. When (Discipline), Concentration and Wisdom are achieved, greed, anger, and ignorance will be extinguished. This is the true skill of a practitioner. When you can master your own mind, you are truly free. May you all realise your true nature, return to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and fulfil your vows. Namo Amituofo.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library