The Endless Vow of Compassion

The Eternal Vow to Save All Beings

To alleviate the suffering of all sentient beings and to guide them toward the liberation of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is a mission that knows no end. This is the eternal vow of the Buddha, a commitment that transcends time and space, dedicated to the salvation of every spirit across the vast expanse of the Dharma Realm. The work of delivering beings from the cycle of reincarnation and guiding them to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is an infinite, continuous process.

Human desires are difficult to satisfy. In the relentless pursuit of these desires, people often create immeasurable and boundless sins. The human world is saturated with wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep, as well as greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, and doubt, which bring endless suffering, sorrow, and the ceaseless cycle of reincarnation. These forces bind us to the cycle of reincarnation, creating a destiny of perpetual wandering and pain.

The Heavy Chains of Desire and Reincarnation

From the moment a spiritual life begins its existence in this world, the cycle of reincarnation is already in motion. It acts as a naturally formed gravitational pull, one that operates without human intervention and is difficult for any individual to alter on their own. However, this cycle can be transformed. By relying on the power of compassion, the power of vows, the power of merit, and the power of diligent practice, one can navigate the relative relationships within the laws of karma and cause and effect. To transform the resulting karma, one must exert an equivalent amount of effort to achieve a change in the outcome; otherwise, one will continue to follow the original path dictated by the laws of karma and cause and effect.

This means that if you wish to transform the pre-determined outcomes of your life, such as the inevitable experiences of birth, aging, sickness, and death, you must exert an equal force of merit and practice to offset these karmic results. Only then can you achieve the state of no-birth, no-aging, no-sickness, and no-death. There is no such thing as a free lunch in this world; nothing is gained without effort. Everything is a matter of reaping what one has sown.

Transforming Karma Through Great Compassion

Within the framework of the laws of karma and cause and effect, the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, adjustments or changes can only be made by those who possess great compassion, great wisdom, great vows, and great power, and by those who have realised their true nature. This is precisely why those who have realised their true nature are so rare, precious, and difficult to encounter.

As stated in the Infinite Life Sutra, in the chapter regarding the poor obtaining treasures, the Buddha’s influence is described as follows: Wherever the Buddha travels, whether to cities, towns, or villages, all are transformed by His influence. The world becomes harmonious, the sun and moon shine clearly, and wind and rain arrive at the proper times. Disasters and plagues do not arise, the country is prosperous, and the people are at peace. There is no need for weapons of war, as everyone values virtue, benevolence, and courtesy. There are no thieves, no injustices, and the strong do not oppress the weak. Everyone finds their rightful place. The Buddha says, I grieve for you even more than parents grieve for their children. I have become a Buddha in this world to use Goodness to overcome evil, to pull you out of the suffering of birth and death, and to enable you to attain the five virtues and ascend to the peace of the unconditioned state. This describes the Buddha’s supreme merit, vow power, practice, blessings, compassion, and wisdom. It is the purest and most benevolent influence, flowing endlessly wherever the Buddha passes, allowing all spirits to receive the Buddha’s teachings.

The Infinite Merit of the Buddha

This is the Buddha’s endless, compassionate Bodhi vow and dedication. It is a commitment that never changes and never wavers; this is the most precious aspect of the Buddha. Because the Buddha possesses the power to teach, care for, and transform various problems and disasters through His great compassionate vows, He can change the destiny of beings. However, if one’s Dharma affinity is insufficient, it is difficult to receive the inconceivable benefits of the Dharma that the Buddha offers to sentient beings. This is why being born before or after the time of a Buddha is considered one of the eight difficulties.

The Buddha’s grace toward sentient beings is boundless, and it is truly difficult for us to repay. Yet, the Buddha does not seek repayment from sentient beings. He only wishes for us to follow His teachings and practise accordingly, so that we may eventually realise our true nature, attain the same Buddha-power as He has, and then make great vows to propagate the Pure Land method of chanting Namo Amituofo. By doing so, we can save sentient beings, teach all those with karmic affinity, and guide them to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, ensuring that the lineage of the Pure Land teachings never ceases.

The Sacred Mission of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

The Dharma Body of Namo Amituofo and the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss He created encompass this Dharma Realm, other realms, and the Milky Way. Countless and boundless spirits, along with the Buddhas of the ten directions and three periods of time, share one Dharma Body and all enter into the Dharma Body of Namo Amituofo. That the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre can receive the true presence of Namo Amituofo is a testament to the immense good roots, blessings, and causal conditions of the fourfold assembly of disciples. This magnificent Dharma affinity comes from the manifestation of Practitioner Su in this world and the combination of various opportunities. It is so rare and difficult to encounter that you must never treat it lightly or let it pass in vain. Do not enter the mountain of treasures only to return empty-handed.

At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, under the true presence of Namo Amituofo and through the boldness, constant persistence, and dedication of Practitioner Su—who acts on behalf of the Buddha’s vows and works in unison with the Buddha—the mysteries of space and the secrets of the three hun souls and seven po souls are being unravelled one by one. Once unravelled, the work of salvation proceeds. Those who receive the benefits of the Dharma are the vast and boundless suffering spirits. Furthermore, through the Dharma Body, the Centre performs Chao Du for spirits in star systems beyond the Milky Way, allowing them to be delivered and reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

A Call to Diligent Practice

The fourfold assembly of disciples at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre must now learn and emulate these practices within the temple. You must overcome the various obstacles, trials, and tests that manifest before you so that you may be capable of shouldering the great responsibility of guiding and teaching spirits in the future. You must make the realisation of your true nature your most urgent priority and practise with diligent, unceasing effort. Each of you should ask yourselves if you possess the great vows and great power, just like Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, to alleviate the suffering of all sentient beings, to save spirits, to help them end the cycle of reincarnation, to transcend the three realms, and to guide them to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, forever and without end.

This message was recorded by the Buddha’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo