Removing Defilements and Attaining Purity

The Veiled Nature of the Heart

Every being possesses an inherent true self and Buddha-nature. However, this original brilliance is obscured by heavy layers of confusion, much like the sun being hidden behind thick, dark clouds. Because of this, we cannot see the light of our own nature. The Pure Land path offers us a clear timeline for awakening, which can only be realised when our hearts become perfectly pure and perfectly good, completely free from even the slightest trace of defilement.

In our current practice within the Pure Land, our primary task is to remove this confusion, one layer at a time. The process of removing confusion is, in essence, the very process of our spiritual practice. This is the path of removing defilements and attaining purity. If you can maintain this effort with unwavering consistency, you will eventually create the opportunity to see your true nature and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Fruits of a Purified Spirit

Whether or not you consider yourself a formal practitioner, the act of removing defilements and attaining purity is inherently beneficial. When one undergoes purification, the spirit becomes remarkably sensitive and clear. The heart becomes pure, true, and kind. As this process deepens, your spiritual space begins to open up. You may find that you can communicate with earthly creatures, receive their messages, and even engage in spiritual dialogues with them.

This state of purity and goodness serves to elevate your spirit significantly. As you continue to purify and refine your heart, your spirit will ascend to even higher levels of clarity and wisdom. This continuous cycle of purification and elevation eventually leads to the ultimate goal: seeing your true nature and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, thus attaining Buddhahood.

The Necessity of a Pure Environment

If you find yourself living in the midst of a great dyeing vat—a world filled with worldly desires and distractions—it is extremely difficult to maintain your state of purification. It is even harder to progress further, to refine your purity, and to successfully rediscover your true self. This is precisely why those who seek the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, and who wish to rediscover their true self, must seek out a pure place within the Buddha’s gate to practise and undergo purification.

Today, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, we are blessed with a unique environment. Namo Amituofo is residing here, and both I and Practitioner Su are here to protect all of you. This centre is the most ideal place for you to remove defilements, attain purity, engage in diligent practice, see your true nature and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo.