Raising the Mind of Reverence
Teachings from Namo Amituofo
Recorded by Venerable HaiZe on July 15, 2023
Teachings from Namo Amituofo, recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe, on the fifteenth of July, 2023.
True reverence must arise from within the heart. It is the foundation upon which all spiritual progress is built. If your heart is clouded by the , it becomes nearly impossible for the light of reverence to shine through. These poisons act as heavy veils that obscure your original nature: greed, the insatiable desire for worldly gain; anger, the fire that burns away your peace and patience; ignorance, the lack of understanding regarding the true nature of reality; arrogance, the pride that prevents you from learning and bowing to the truth; and doubt, the hesitation that keeps you from fully committing to the path.
However, when you cultivate a heart of contentment and gratitude, the mind of reverence will naturally blossom from within. This is the state of mind that allows you to truly receive the teachings.
A Rare and Precious Encounter
To cultivate this reverence, you must first contemplate the rarity of your current situation. You must realise the following truths: the Buddha’s teachings are profoundly difficult to encounter in this vast cycle of rebirth; this human body, which allows you to practise, is precious and difficult to obtain; and you have the unique opportunity to encounter the presence of Namo Amituofo, the teachings of Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and the guidance of Practitioner Su, all manifesting in this world at the same time.
This is an opportunity that is difficult to encounter even in millions of years. You are now under the guidance of Namo Amituofo, practising the great of attaining Buddhahood in the alongside a community of fellow practitioners. This gives you the genuine chance to realise your true nature and attain Buddhahood in this very lifetime. How magnificent and rare this truly is. When you hold this understanding in your heart, reverence will naturally arise.
The Power of the
At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, the Thrice Yearning Ceremonies are led by Namo Amituofo himself, with Practitioner Su guiding the assembly through the preliminary recitations. As the sound of the Buddha-name fills the space, Practitioner Su performs and visualisation to assist all beings. Practitioner Su has taught that if you are not drowsy, if you do not let your mind wander into other spaces, and if you chant the sutras and the Buddha-name with the assembly, you are actively participating in this grand Chao Du.
By doing so, you receive the immeasurable and boundless merit and the benefits of the Dharma. This teaching carries a profound meaning. The merit generated through the Chao Du performed by Practitioner Su is so vast that it cannot be calculated. If you can truly cooperate and participate with a focused mind, the merit you receive from the three days of Thrice Yearning Ceremonies each week will be beyond measure.
The Essential Nature of Merit
In your journey of practice, you will find that everything requires the accumulation of merit: to progress in your practice without encountering obstacles, you need merit; to be diligent and eventually realise your true nature, you need merit; to resolve conflicts with your , you need merit; and to successfully be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, you need merit. All these achievements depend entirely upon the accumulation of merit.
Practitioner Su works with immense diligence to generate this boundless merit, offering it as a gift for you to utilise. As long as you do not succumb to during the ceremonies or during the morning chanting and Chao Du sessions, you can receive this infinite treasure of merit. Such a rare and magnificent opportunity is unfolding right before your eyes. You must cherish it deeply. The merit from Chao Du is immeasurable, and its utility is endless. With such support, why should you ever worry about your chance for rebirth in the Western Pure Land? Your wish to realise your true nature and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss will be fulfilled if you seek it within a heart of reverence, and it is within that same heart of reverence that you shall attain it.
Namo Amituofo
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library