In the practice of the school, the three essential provisions of Faith, Vows, and Practice are not merely the requirements for achieving rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. They are, in truth, the fundamental conditions for every step of progress in your spiritual cultivation. To begin, you must establish a firm foundation of faith in the Buddha. From this faith, you must then generate a sincere and earnest vow. Once this vow is set, you must proceed to put it into action, step by step, with unwavering diligence and sincerity.
The Vows of
Consider the journey of Dharmakara Bhikshu. He made the Forty-eight Great Vows, and through his commitment, every single one of those vows was fulfilled. When he successfully constructed the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, he simultaneously attained Buddhahood and became known as . This manifestation of Namo Amituofo serves as a beacon for all beings, leading us to follow in his footsteps and move forward according to our own vows. His life is the ultimate testament to the power of a vow that is perfectly aligned with the truth.
The Selfless Path of the
For a Bodhisattva, the path involves seeking the Buddha's way above while delivering sentient beings below. To achieve this, one must not only perfect the Six Perfections but also make a profound vow to realise one's true nature and attain Buddhahood. Furthermore, one must be able to act upon this vow to save others, for this is the very condition of becoming a Buddha. If your vow is strong, your path to Buddhahood will be successful. However, this vow must be made for the sake of all beings, not for yourself. It must never violate the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. If you can align your own aspirations with the Forty-eight Great Vows of Namo Amituofo, you will surely receive the support of the Buddha’s vow-power. You must practise this with your feet firmly on the ground, acting with a spirit of , for only then can you truly succeed.
A Sanctuary of Universal Equality
The -Nature Land at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, was established precisely because of the vow-power of Practitioner Su to save countless suffering beings. This Dharma-Nature Land serves a vital purpose. It does not only lead and guide spirits and demon crowds from all directions; it also encompasses the fourfold assembly of disciples who, within their own bodies, accept the resolution of conflicts and the of countless, uncountable beings. It is a spiritual kingdom of equality where there is no distinction between high or low spirits. Every single being receives the equal illumination of the Buddha-light and the energy contained within that light.
The Direct Path to
The ultimate goal of your practice is to achieve Awakening and realise your true nature. If the fourfold assembly of disciples wishes to attain this, you must quickly make your vows and live according to them. As stated in the Infinite Life Sutra (The Buddha Speaks the , Infinite Life, Adornment, Purity, Impartiality, and Sutra), you must "arouse the Bodhi mind and single-mindedly recite Namo Amituofo." This is the essential vow and practice for those of us on the Pure Land path. By keeping this focus, you will find the way to leave suffering behind and find true happiness, ultimately fulfilling your wish to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
