The Call to Face the Truth

This article records the thirty-first letter from the late Venerable Master Wei Chueh, the founder of Chung Tai Chan Monastery. Having sought spiritual deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, the Master now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This message was recorded on July 17, 2017, as a direct appeal to his former disciples and the monastic community.

Venerable Master Wei Chueh speaks:

"Regardless of your original motivation for studying the Buddha’s teachings, and regardless of the reasons behind your decision to become a monastic, from this moment forward, your focus should no longer be on yourself. Instead, you must learn to see others. You must see the countless beings throughout the vastness of space who are currently waiting to be saved. I am aware that there is a certain level of shock surrounding these messages, and I know that each of these letters has been read by many. I am asking you to speak to your Venerables—to the teachers you follow, whoever they may be. These matters involve the absolute truth, and I sincerely hope that the monastics will come forward to face this reality. This situation should be resolved between the monastics themselves before they address the public. Continuing to dwell in suspicion and doubt is not a path to a solution. These are the genuine facts. I believe that at times, your own faith may be shaken, yet you struggle to protect your existing beliefs, your loyalty to Chung Tai, and your devotion to me, Wei Chueh. In the past, I might have simply asked you to believe in me, but today, I urge you to face these truths directly. I am willing to set aside your personal faith in me if it means that we can rescue every possible spark of hope for sentient beings.

The Responsibility of the Practitioner

I want everyone to attain Buddhahood, and that is why I must act in this way. I wish to use all my strength to assist Chung Tai and all disciples who have a karmic connection to the Buddha’s teachings. I hope you will all come forward to confront these issues. No matter why you began your practice or why you entered the monastic life, you must stop living for yourself. You must look out at the world and see the beings in the void who are crying out for salvation. In the current state of the Buddha’s teachings, it is very difficult to achieve this. If we fail to save these many beings, they will continue to suffer in agony, and who is to say that you yourself will not be among those crying out for help one day? You cannot continue with the mindset that 'as long as I am fine, that is enough.' Such an attitude not only guarantees that you will not achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, but it also risks creating heavy karmic retribution. The mindset of modern practitioners truly needs a significant adjustment. Many people believe that because they have made a donation, they are superior to others. This is not the correct behaviour. The state of 'doing without doing' is something very few people have truly mastered.

The Inevitability of Cause and Effect

Venerable Master Sheng Yen has already spoken much on this, and Namo Amituofo, in His infinite compassion, has also provided many teachings. Everyone should carefully absorb these essential points of practice, as they relate most directly to your own future. You come into this world alone, and you leave it alone; you face birth and death entirely by yourself. This has always been an unchanging fact. You alone must bear the consequences of your own karma. If you have the opportunity to change something, your merit will be immense. The world—the entire void—may very well be transformed because of you. Anyone can step forward to take on this role. Right now, the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has taken the lead and stands at the forefront. It remains to be seen who is willing to follow and support this effort. If these True Teachings were to disappear, it would not only be the beings throughout the void who suffer; I believe that the major Buddhist institutions will not be able to escape the laws of cause and effect.

The True Path of Deliverance

Many of you would prefer to believe that these words are nothing but nonsense, but can these real, observable phenomena truly be dismissed as nonsense? If you continue to resist, you will surely face the consequences of your actions, because what you are obstructing is the cry for salvation echoing through the void. I have already seen it with my own eyes: many followers of Chung Tai and many wandering spirits with karmic connections have already rushed to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre to seek Chao Du. There are truly so many. There are also many from Venerable Master Sheng Yen’s Dharma Drum Mountain, as well as from many other places where Dharma assemblies are held. For those spirits who have not yet departed, there are far too many who seek deliverance during the weekly Thrice Yearning Ceremonies. You should believe in these truths and participate here. The vessel of the True Teachings has already set sail. If you still claim to be a follower of the Buddha, you should trust in this place. I am waiting for you to come forward and verify this for yourselves. Everything here is real, and I am ready to provide a response at any time. I am Wei Chueh, the old master of Chung Tai. Namo Amituofo."