Stepping Out of the Mundane Body

This interview was recorded on April 27, 2019, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Venerable Yongning, who sought deliverance through the teachings of the centre, shares profound insights on the nature of the spirit and the necessity of diligent practice to attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"The path of practice is one that you must walk alone from beginning to end. The only companion that truly grows with you is the spirit residing within your body. This spirit has existed throughout the vastness of the universe; it is something truly magnificent and unique. Within this spirit lie ancient memories, and within those memories, you will find that you are already capable of everything. Have you ever wondered why some people in this world are born with extraordinary talents? It is because those are skills they mastered in the past. After they were reborn into this life, the memories stored within their Alaya consciousness were not completely washed away. That is why they possess these unique abilities from the moment they are born. Others carry with them special missions; because of vows they made in the past, the capabilities they once possessed have been preserved for this lifetime.

The Inconceivable Power Within

Everyone carries inconceivable power buried deep within their being. As you continue your purification and as your afflictions diminish, you will eventually realise it. Among the six realms of existence, the human world is truly magnificent. In the human world, one can cultivate pure Goodness to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, or one can commit evil deeds and suffer retribution in hell. Furthermore, the conditions and opportunities you encounter are of vital importance. Of course, after you encounter these conditions, it ultimately depends on how much you are willing to engage in diligent practice.

You must learn to step out of the mundane world. You have obtained this human body for this lifetime, but how many years of this worldly life are actually available to you? Now that you have encountered the Buddha’s teachings, how many years do you have left? How many more years will you spend trying to adjust your temper? How much time will you need to solidify the Buddha-name so that it can be used at the moment of death, ensuring your rebirth in the Western Pure Land? In reality, none of you have much time left. If you have the opportunity to meet a practitioner, do not wait any longer. And for those who are already walking the path of practice, you must not be negligent for even a single day.

Practice as a Cool Breeze

Practice is not meant to be a solemn or heavy burden; it is the act of performing Buddha-work with a cool, clear heart. Carry a heart of service, and you will find that practice does not have many obstacles. Obstacles are merely external appearances; it is only because you care about these external appearances that they become obstacles. Yet, these external appearances are only for this lifetime. Why do you linger on what you use and what you do in this life? What is it that you care about most in this world?

Even if you care deeply about these things, will you not eventually lose them? What, then, is truly real? And what is merely false? Within the realm of the spirit, all physical bodies are false. They are merely tools provided to assist us in our practice, to help us become a Buddha, and to save sentient beings. Do not be caught up in worldly emotions or worldly identities. It is time to see clearly through the illusory nature of this dream. Practice with ease within this dream, accomplish this beautiful dream of becoming a Buddha and saving sentient beings, and fulfill the vows you have made over many lifetimes. You are all Buddhas; you have all come here to become a Buddha. Namo Amituofo."

The message was recorded by the Buddhist disciple Shi Faxin.