Recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe
Noon Offering, May 11, 2025
The Metaphor of the Rolling Sands
Rolling yellow sands—this image describes the desert winds whipping up dust, causing it to swirl and fly in every direction. When one stands amidst such a storm, the path ahead becomes obscured. One cannot see the way forward, nor can one discern the landscape. This is a powerful metaphor for the human condition. Many people live their lives in this state of confusion, unable to see the road ahead, unsure of how to proceed, and deeply uncertain about what the future holds for them.
When you commit yourself to the vast ocean of the Buddha’s teachings, your understanding will grow with each passing day. As you continue your diligent practice, the fog of confusion begins to lift, and your future goals and prospects become clear. This clarity of purpose serves as a guiding light, driving the heart and actions of the practitioner to move ever forward. It is through this steady, unwavering progress that one can achieve the ultimate goal of .
The Danger of an Aimless Life
The image of rolling yellow sands should serve as a stern warning to every practitioner. You must not allow your heart and actions to become lost in this swirling dust. When a person lives without a clear direction, they are like a spirit without a body, drifting aimlessly through the void. They have no destination, no future, and no purpose. They are truly like the rolling sands—blown by the winds of , but to where? What is their ultimate destination?
The greatest tragedy in human life is to pass the days without a goal. To let day after day slip by, allowing this precious human body to remain idle and without accomplishment, is a profound loss. You have been granted this rare opportunity to use this temporary body to find the eternal truth of your self-nature. This is an incredibly precious gift. You must never let your life flow away in vain.
The Path of True Cultivation
To encounter the Gate and to have the opportunity to rediscover your true self is a goal that many practitioners have failed to reach over countless lifetimes. Do not let the temporary confusion of the present moment trap you in a state of uncertainty. Do not overthink the path. The vastness and the inconceivable nature of the Buddha’s teachings cannot be grasped through intellectual speculation alone. Instead, they must be realised through the simple act of listening and following the teachings with a sincere heart.
Do not dwell on the past, and do not worry about the future. For the students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, the most important task is to chant Namo Amituofo all the way. Hold fast to the Buddha-name with absolute sincerity. As you do so, the Buddha's will permeate your practice. Through the purification of your body, mind, and spirit, you will inevitably gain unique insights and profound realisations.
The Power of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
You must be diligent in your practice, and then be even more diligent. You must focus on purification, and then on even deeper purification. You must strive for breakthroughs, and then for even greater breakthroughs. It is vital that you provide your body, mind, and spirit with the motivation, energy, and clear goals required to move forward on this path.
Students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, you must believe that you are currently in a most magnificent place—a place where Namo Amituofo truly abides. This is a place that has the power to save countless suffering beings. Faith in the Buddha is the essential foundation. As long as you possess the vows and the practice, you will allow your body to function at its highest potential. By doing so, you will realise your true nature, which will enable you to save yourself and help countless suffering beings escape the realm of the rolling yellow sands. You will move toward a future that is meaningful, autonomous, cool, and free, ultimately finding your way to rebirth in the Western Pure Land.
