No Matter What: The Sacred Duty of the Monastic

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

No matter what, once you have entered the Buddha’s gate and become a disciple of the Three Jewels, you have taken a sacred step. If you are a monastic, wearing the robes of the Buddha, you have accepted the heavy responsibility of carrying on the work of the Tathagata. Every word you speak, every action you take, and every move you make is observed by the eyes of sentient beings. You represent the entire monastic community.

The Weight of the Robe

Therefore, every monastic has a profound responsibility to practise diligently. You must strive to achieve the state of Buddha-Recitation Samadhi, where your meditative concentration is unshakable. To attain Buddhahood, you must perfect the Six Perfections of the Bodhisattvas:

• Generosity: Giving freely of your time, resources, and teachings to help others.
• Discipline: Maintaining the Precepts with unwavering integrity.
• Patience: Enduring all hardships and provocations with a calm heart.
• Diligent Practice: Applying yourself to the path without ceasing.
• Meditation: Cultivating a mind of deep peace and wisdom.
• Wisdom: Realising the true nature of reality through the clarity of your practice.

Each of these perfections must be fully realised to attain the Buddha’s path. Furthermore, every single one of these perfections requires the presence of compassion to be truly complete. It is precisely because this path is not easy that those who attain Buddhahood are so rare and precious. This is also why those who realise their true nature and attain Buddhahood are held in such high esteem by all.

The Goal of Awakening

No matter what, the ultimate purpose of being a monastic is to realise your true nature and to save sentient beings, helping them leave suffering behind so they may find rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the goal for which all monastics must strive with diligent practice. The successful completion of each perfection signifies that you have cleansed your mind of past filth and defilements. When all such stains are removed, and there is not a single trace of attachment left, that is the moment of Awakening.

Remembering Your Responsibility

No matter what, you must remember your responsibility at every moment. This remembrance will help you remain diligent and prevent you from becoming lax. Do not forget the sentient beings who are currently suffering and waiting to be saved. This includes the karmic creditors, attached spirits, and demon crowds that manifest within your own body and mind. By resolving the conflicts with these beings, you can help both yourself and them. This will allow you to overcome the obstacles of physical suffering and karma, giving you the courage to face problems and break through them.

A Heart of Gratitude

No matter what, you must keep a heart of gratitude for all people, all events, and all sentient beings. In particular, offer your deepest gratitude to Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, to Practitioner Su, and to all sentient beings. Everything that Namo Amituofo does is simply a matter of duty—it is all for the sake of saving beings, guiding them to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, helping them achieve ultimate liberation, and ensuring they attain Buddhahood. Namo Amituofo.