Reflections on This One Precious Life

The Fleeting Nature of Existence

How will you spend this one, precious life? We arrive in a rush, and we depart in a rush. In the fleeting moments between our arrival and our departure, how are you choosing to live? This is a question that every practitioner must ask themselves with absolute sincerity. Life is transient, like floating clouds and a light breeze, yet we often lose ourselves in the trivialities of the mundane world. To truly understand the value of this life, we must look beyond the surface and reflect upon our purpose.

The True Meaning of Renunciation

Practice is the essential path forward. When we speak of letting go of the world, we are not suggesting that one should abandon their responsibilities. Rather, we let go of our attachments to the world so that we may perfect our own character. Only after we have achieved this inner stability can we truly begin to save the world from its suffering. We distance ourselves from the worldly distractions so that our hearts may become pure. It is through this purity that we become an awakened being and gain the capacity to save all beings.

Navigating the Laws of Karma

We come into this world from the cycle of reincarnation, and we must recognise that all people and phenomena are merely manifestations of karmic conditions and the causes and effects. We create causes, and when the conditions mature, the results manifest. Everything we experience—birth, aging, sickness, and death—is governed by these immutable laws. Therefore, you must be diligent in stopping evil and cultivating Goodness. What is the definition of these terms? To act for the benefit of others is Goodness, while to act solely for the benefit of one's own ego is evil. You must learn to let go of the self—your body, your feelings, and your perceptions—for these are the very things that bind you to the cycle of reincarnation.

Awakening from the Illusory Trap

Do not be confused by the people, things, or environments that keep you trapped in reincarnation. Do not be deceived by the illusory world, for if you allow yourself to be lured into these illusions, you are simply falling back into the trap of reincarnation. When will you finally find liberation? You must maintain a state of constant clarity. When you face the various illusions of this world, you must be able to transform the environment rather than being transformed by it. If you can do this, you will no longer be controlled by the force of your karma.

The Path of True Cultivation

You must actively engage in Body-Mind-Spirit purification. The purer your body, mind, and spirit become, the more clearly you will see the truth of reality, and the less likely you will be to fall for the illusions of reincarnation. Stop busying yourself with the false appearances of this world—things you cannot take with you when you die, and which only serve to accumulate more karma. Instead, busy yourself with True Cultivation. Find your way back to the true self that has been covered for so long. When your spirit is free, you will be able to travel back to the Western Land at will, and you will have the power to save infinite beings, helping them achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Namo Amituofo.

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable Fa Hui