Life and Death, Life after Life

The Endless Cycle of Karma

On the third day of the Awakening the Life-Heart, Living a New Life Dharma assembly held in Yilan, Namo Amituofo offered profound teachings on the nature of our existence. Within the currents of karma, we are born according to the dictates of our consciousness. We are born again and again, manifesting in this world according to our deepest desires. This cycle of birth and death, life after life, makes it incredibly difficult to attain the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. We are trapped in a loop of our own making, driven by the momentum of past actions.

The Illusion of Worldly Pleasure

We often chase after worldly pleasures, believing they will bring us satisfaction. In truth, these pursuits are merely forms of suffering. We attempt to find joy within this suffering, yet such joy is ultimately empty and fleeting. Since these worldly phenomena have no true, lasting existence, how can we truly know them? The drama of suffering is not real; only the Truth is real. The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is free from suffering; therefore, you must not seek the seeds of suffering in this world.

Finding True Freedom in the Pure Land

The physical body creates obstacles for us, but if the mind is free from attachment, there is no suffering. If you continue to hold onto worldly desires, you will inevitably return to this cycle of birth and death, returning to the mundane world again and again. This mundane world is filled with dust and defilements, binding us tightly in its web. The invisible forces of karma are difficult to master, but you must know how to return to your true nature. Find your freedom and liberation. Life after life is not the ultimate reality; enter the emptiness of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The Pure Land is true freedom, and this freedom is beyond the mundane.

The Path of Repentance and Return

You must learn to let go; do not bring unnecessary suffering upon yourself. Repent and follow the Buddha, dedicating your entire being to this path. By doing so, you will escape the suffering of karma and find your way home.

Namo Amituofo.

These teachings were recorded by the Buddha’s disciple, Shi Fa Xi.