When a being finds a source of refuge, they naturally turn to it with their entire heart and soul. This is the instinctive action of a lost and helpless spirit seeking a place of safety. This need for reliance is profound and urgent. If you choose to rely upon the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, you must understand that their is boundless. How could they ever reject a suffering being who turns to them for help?
Therefore, I invite all beings to follow the vows of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. By doing so, you will receive their , resolve your suffering, and in your next life, you will be reborn into the Buddha-lands. Among these, the Forty-eight Great Vows of are widely praised and propagated by all Buddhas. This reflects the vast mind and immense capacity of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, who wish for all beings to leave suffering behind and find happiness. They teach and transform beings according to their individual Causal Conditions, never showing bias or promoting only their own path.
The Living Example of
Because Namo Amituofo has established deep connections with all beings, these connections are truly boundless. When a being’s heart opens and the conditions for awakening manifest, they come to understand the vows of Namo Amituofo and, by practising them, achieve liberation. This is a source of great for all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. It is the greatest fortune a being can encounter!
Now, consider the fourfold assembly of disciples. You carry the heavy burden of accumulated over countless aeons. You study the Buddha’s teachings, specifically the path of Namo Amituofo. You recite the sutras daily, but I must ask you:
Do you truly understand the Forty-eight Great Vows of Namo Amituofo?
Do you know how to put these vows into practice in your daily life?
Are you following the teachings with sincerity and diligence?
Have you made the vows of Namo Amituofo your own personal vows?
Are you actively doing what the sutras teach, while avoiding what they forbid?
Have you cultivated the same vast, compassionate heart as the Buddhas?
Perhaps you feel that the vows and practices of the Buddha are so profound and vast that you are not yet capable of fully embodying them. If this is the case, look to the one who stands before you—Practitioner Su. He has followed the heart and vows of Namo Amituofo, walking the path step by step until he realised his true nature. Practitioner Su demonstrates the path to Buddhahood; you should observe him, learn from his example, and you will surely gain great benefit.
The Responsibility of the Practitioner
Once you have achieved self-liberation, you must join the Buddhas in the work of saving the world. With a body that has realised its true nature, you must carry out the work of rescuing all beings. You currently carry a body burdened by karma, and the infinite, boundless beings surrounding you—your parents and teachers from past lives, your , and your family members—are all connected to you by karmic affinity.
These beings now rely upon you. Whether they are here to settle debts, seek revenge, repay kindness, or simply ask for help and deliverance, you must respond with compassion. Because you are now studying the Buddha’s path and following the Buddha’s practice, you must be diligent. You must seek to rediscover your true nature and put the Buddha’s heart and vows into actual practice. By doing so, you will transform your karmic creditors and inspire them to reconcile with you.
Purification and the Path to the Western Pure Land
You must also focus on the purifying , heart, and spirit. By creating an environment where this purification can take place, your heart will become still and peaceful. When your karmic creditors see that you are repenting, changing your ways, and practising with tireless diligence, they will begin to understand their own suffering through listening to the sutras and hearing the . They will then wish to leave their suffering behind.
Under the blessings and the Buddha’s light, and through the invitation of Practitioner Su, they will be willing to resolve their grievances. As they hear the Buddha-name being chanted, they will walk toward the golden light, leave behind their suffering and resentment, and receive . They will be reborn into the Western Land of Dharma Nature, the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, or into the Celestial or human realms.
This is the natural process of reconciliation, which resolves the suffering of all beings. In this moment, they leave suffering behind and find happiness; this is what you are meant to do, and it is the true expression of compassion. Furthermore, because of your diligent practice, if you achieve the fruit of rebirth in the Western Pure Land, the karmic creditors within your body can also follow you to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the greatest fortune for all beings!
However, this cannot be forced. It must come from a sincere vow within your heart to save yourself and rescue others. Only then can you truly put it into practice. You must be willing to break through the difficulties and tests in your practice, remaining strong, certain, and persevering as you continue to walk forward on the great path of practice.
