Moving Forward in the Biting Cold Wind

The Crucible of Practice

Practitioners, if you have not yet experienced the biting cold wind blowing directly against your face, forcing you to clench your teeth and pull your collar tight—or perhaps even feeling the chill seep into your very scalp without the protection of a hat—then you have not yet truly tested your resolve and perseverance in seeking the Dharma. This cold is a mirror for the soul. It reveals whether your commitment is superficial or if it is anchored in the depths of your being.

When you find yourself in such a state, you must still strive to take a step forward. Even if your progress is slow, you must continue to move. Do not allow your heart to be shaken by the harshness of your environment. Instead, let your resolve become even more steadfast. Why must you persist? Because for every day you achieve progress, the beings you are destined to save suffer one day less. If you were to shrink back and fail to achieve, those beings would remain trapped in the depths of suffering, waiting in vain for the salvation that you are meant to provide.

The Compassionate Vow to Save All Beings

The biting cold wind is not just a physical state; it represents the difficult environments and challenging situations you will inevitably face in this world. As long as you are firm in your purpose and act according to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, you must proceed without hesitation. Do not let yourself be swayed by bias or wrong paths. When you know you are on the right track, you must move forward with unwavering focus.

You must learn to let go of the stubborn personality traits you have cultivated in the secular world. Be willing to accept the counsel of others. If their advice can help you progress on the Buddha's path, you should embrace it with an open heart. Even if this requires a profound and powerful transformation of your character, you must be willing to change. If you can follow the guidance of the Buddha and Practitioner Su, and if you can listen and act accordingly, you will be able to move forward even when the wind is at its most bitter. This is the attitude that every true practitioner should possess.

The Strength Found in Faith

The ability to maintain a firm stance and continue moving forward amidst the biting cold is a testament to your unwavering faith in the Buddha and in yourself. This faith is not a passive belief; it is a powerful, driving force that propels you forward. Sometimes, it is precisely within the cold wind that you see problems you would otherwise never notice. When these issues arise, you must face them directly, overcome them, and resolve them. Believe in yourself, and in the midst of adversity, continue to walk straight ahead. Never, under any circumstances, retreat.

Nurturing the Seeds of Awakening

My children, you who are the children of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, you are under the protection of the Buddha and Practitioner Su. Before you reach the state of an awakened being, it is essential that you maintain a disciplined daily routine without interruption. Only through such consistency can you eventually stand on your own. Only then will you be able to withstand any storm, any rain, and any biting cold wind that life throws your way. You must be able to move forward through these tempests so that you may eventually save those beings who are currently trapped in the same cold winds as you.

If you do not do this, these beings will have no one to guide them. They will remain ignorant of the treasure of the Tathagata within their own true self. They will not recognise their original, true face, and they will continue to act according to their karma. They will remain in a state of confusion, unable to awaken, and will spend their entire lives caught in the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death.

Those who have not passed through the biting cold wind will find it difficult to achieve success. They will find it even harder to accept change—especially the various changes that occur in the environment and in the relationships between people. Therefore, moving forward in the biting cold wind is something that every practitioner should do, and must do, for the sake of all beings.

Namo Amituofo