Stepping Forward on the Pure Land Path

The Eternal Invitation of the Western Pure Land

For ten kalpas, the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss has remained open, waiting to welcome all who recognise its beauty and vow to enter. This invitation is not extended solely to the beings of this worldly realm. It reaches out to the Bodhisattvas from the ten directions of the Buddha-lands as well. All these beings share a singular, joyful aspiration: to journey to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Once there, they gather beneath the throne of Namo Amituofo to listen to the sutras, hear the Dharma, and make offerings to the Buddhas of the ten directions. Supported by the compassionate power of Namo Amituofo’s Forty-eight Great Vows, they hear the holy name of the Buddha, cultivate all virtues, and ultimately attain Buddhahood.

The Reality of Practice at Hsiang Kuang

True practice in the Pure Land school is a journey of steady, grounded progress. It requires us to move forward step by step. At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, we are incredibly fortunate to have the guidance and assistance of Namo Amituofo, our Teacher, and Practitioner Su. Through our actual practice, we begin to decode the mysteries of our own bodies. We must come to understand that our physical forms are burdened by the karma and karmic creditors we have accumulated over accumulated lifetimes. When this karma manifests, it brings forth various forms of consciousness, sensations, perceptions, and suffering. To address this, we must:

• Practise sincere repentance and feel true shame for our past actions.
• Adjust our hearts and minds to change personality traits.
• Resolve conflicts with our karmic creditors through the practice of Chao Du.
• Work diligently to eliminate our obstacles and reduce our karmic burden.

Addressing the Heavy Burdens

The path of practice requires us to focus our efforts on the most difficult areas. What are these heavy burdens that we must address? They are the deep-seated habits and the "self," personal ego, and selfishness that are most resistant to change. We must confront the behaviours that we repeat over and over again, the habitual patterns that keep us trapped in samsara. Specifically, we must address the following:

• The Five Poisons: Greed, Anger, Ignorance, Arrogance, and Doubt.
• The Five Desires: wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep.
• The specific cravings for these desires: greed for wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep.
• The destructive emotion of jealousy, which prevents us from being happy for the success of others.

We must learn to let go of these attachments. Do not cling to them, and do not let your days pass by in a state of complacency. You must be diligent and mindful.

The Transformative Power of the Holy Name

You must hold firmly to the holy name of Namo Amituofo. Never let it slip from your mind. You should strive to align your heart with the Buddha-heart, chanting until you reach a state of one-pointedness, and eventually, a state of natural, effortless recitation. Through the power of the merit and the majestic spiritual influence of the holy name, Namo Amituofo can wash away even the most stubborn personality traits and evil habits. By chanting the name of Namo Amituofo thousands of times each day, you will purify your body, mind, speech, and thoughts. Continue this until the chanting becomes natural and effortless, and you will find yourself stepping forward on the path to liberation.

Namo Amituofo