How to Spend Each Day

The Equal Gift of Time

Time is a truly impartial force; it treats every being with the same measure, regardless of their status or circumstances. Throughout history, even as the methods of calculating time have evolved and shifted, the fundamental reality remains unchanged. For every sentient being, the time available within a single day is identical. The true measure of a life is not found in the length of one's years, but in how one chooses to utilise these precious hours and minutes. This is the essence of living a meaningful life within this rare and valuable human body.

While it is true that beings in different realms of existence may experience the passage of time differently, for those of us residing within the same space, a day remains a day. Within this shared temporal framework, beings in every realm create their own unique vitality. The choices we make today dictate the nature of our future lives. What causes such vast differences in our destinies? It is the heart. It is the state of our mind that determines whether we remain trapped in the cycle of rebirth or ascend toward liberation.

The Heart as the Architect of Destiny

The heart of a being caught in the cycle of rebirth is inherently impermanent and easily swayed. Because our minds are constantly shifting, our lives become a reflection of this instability, drifting through the currents of karma. To practise the Dharma is to resolve to stop this heart from wandering aimlessly through the endless cycle of suffering. We must cease the habit of allowing our minds to roll through the waves of karmic forces.

Therefore, we must diligently practise the Precepts, Concentration and Wisdom. We must strive to extinguish the fires of greed, anger, and ignorance. By making a firm vow to seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, we transform the impermanent into the eternal. We transform the heavy weight of karma into the lightness of liberation, finally stepping out of the cycle of rebirth and into the infinite light of the Western Land.

Seizing the Rare Opportunity

Within this grand framework of practice, how should you, as a child of the Buddha, spend your days? You must engage in diligent practice. This means you must be willing to recognise your faults, change your ways, and exercise the utmost caution to ensure you do not repeat the same mistakes. By doing so, you create the opportunity to resolve the conflict with your karmic creditors, overcome the heaviness of being drowsy, and begin the process of healing the ailments of body and mind.

You must understand that obtaining a human body is an incredibly rare occurrence. To hear the Dharma is even more difficult. Furthermore, to encounter the teachings of Namo Amituofo, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and Practitioner Su is a rare opportunity that one might not find even in the span of countless aeons. Recognising this, you must summon a courageous heart, unwavering perseverance, and a steadfast spirit to face and break through every test that comes your way. Understand that every time you pass a test, you have taken another step forward. Therefore, you should move forward without fear, actively and diligently spending every second, every minute, and every day of your life.

A Daily Practice of Purity and Devotion

To live each day in accordance with the Truth, you must commit yourself to a life of discipline and devotion:

• Punctuality and Service:
• Ensure you never arrive late or leave early. Attend your morning service on time, every single day, without fail.Diligence in Chanting:
• Practise chanting Namo Amituofo with unwavering focus. Do not be lazy; live each day with a selfless, no-self attitude.Direct Progress: Keep your eyes fixed on the goal and move straight ahead, never allowing yourself to be distracted by the illusions of the world.

Furthermore, you must cultivate the virtues that purify your heart and mind:

• Overcoming Greed:
• Spend each day upholding the Precepts, practising Generosity, and serving the community.Overcoming Anger:
• Spend each day in meditative concentration, filled with gratitude, compassion, and joy.Overcoming Ignorance:
• Spend each day increasing your Wisdom and keeping your mind focused solely on chanting Namo Amituofo.Overcoming Arrogance:
• Spend each day treating all beings with respect, remaining humble and modest in every interaction.Overcoming Doubt: Spend each day with absolute faith—believe in yourself, and believe in the Buddha.

Continue this practice until you reach an awakened being. Once you have saved yourself, you must also save other beings, guiding them toward rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Walk alongside Namo Amituofo, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and Practitioner Su, and commit yourself to the great path of saving the world, rescuing suffering beings, and spreading the Dharma. This is how you spend each day in the light of the Buddha.

Namo Amituofo