Knowing, Cherishing, and Cultivating Blessings

The Boundless Ocean of Suffering

During the Thrice Yearning Ceremony held on April 28, 2019, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided profound guidance on the importance of recognising, cherishing, and cultivating our blessings. Countless spirits are currently trapped in a state of endless suffering. They face disturbances and hardships that are difficult to comprehend, and often, there is no one to assist them. They are tossed about in the vast ocean of karma, suffering the searing heat of their own past actions. Their pain is so extreme that they weep without tears, their silent cries echoing in the void of their own making.

The Illusion of Wealth and Poverty

The disparity between the lives of the poor and the wealthy is stark, yet both are bound by the same karmic laws:

• The poor struggle to find enough food to survive, often resorting to scavenging for scraps in bins. When they reach out for help, they are met with cold, judgmental stares, while their children suffer from malnutrition and physical weakness.The wealthy, conversely, indulge in expensive meals, consuming the flesh of chickens and fish. They are unaware of the heavy karmic debt created by such killing. They live in luxury, travelling freely, yet their children are often spoiled and do not understand the necessity of cherishing their blessings.

The Cycle of Birth, Aging, Sickness, and Death

Even for ordinary families living together, the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death brings both joy and sorrow. Eventually, all these experiences become memories of the past, and one is pulled back into the cycle of rebirth once more. We must realise that these worldly conditions are transient and that we are merely passing through.

The Path at Hsiang Kuang

Students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre are fortunate to reside here in peace. You do not need to worry about food, clothing, or shelter, as you are provided for in this shared environment. You are here to:

• Engage in group cultivation to support one another.Practise individually to rediscover your true self.Receive the protection and assistance of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.

You must know your blessings, cherish them, and cultivate more. Accumulate merit and virtue through diligent practice. Under the protection of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, you will transform confusion into awakening and eventually attain Buddhahood. Spread the Buddha-name throughout the universe to save all beings and guide them to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo