Following the teachings is the most important lesson I have learned from my master. It is a fundamental Truth that I have had to put into practice step by step in my own life. Throughout my journey, I have found that there are far too many thoughts and complex mental patterns that constantly interfere with my progress. Everything I have learned in the past, my habitual tendencies, and the personality traits I have cultivated over many years of life often clash with the path of practice. This is a crucial point that many practitioners fail to notice: they focus too much on the external appearance of their practice while neglecting the essential cultivation of the heart.
The Internal Friction of the Soul
When we begin to practise, we often find that our old ways of thinking and our deeply ingrained habits create friction. It is easy to become preoccupied with how we appear to others, but true practice requires us to look deep within. We must ask ourselves if we are truly nurturing our inner nature or merely performing the motions of a practitioner. If we do not address the root of our personality and our habitual tendencies, we will find that our practice remains superficial, unable to withstand the challenges of daily life.
At the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, the methods and principles shared are quite different from those found in the outside world. It is precisely because of this difference that the Centre serves as a clear stream of . By remaining apart from the influences of the outside world, we avoid becoming tainted by its confusion. Recently, I have observed many new members of the temple facing significant interference when they begin their daily practice of prostrations and reciting the Sutras. Their spiritual obstacles manifest in ways that can be overwhelming. This is a phenomenon that can only be truly understood in a pure environment like this one.
The Clarity of the Pure Land
In truth, our physical bodies are often occupied and controlled by and spirits. Many times, we are not the ones truly in charge of our own actions. We find ourselves burning with intense emotions, trapped in states of irritability and anger, all because of our own personality, habits, and strong subjective views. If you listen carefully to the Dharma talks given by Practitioner Su and truly apply these teachings to your daily life, you will experience profound changes and realizations. My greatest insight recently is the realization that everything is my own problem; there is nothing external that is truly to blame. This statement may seem simple and clear, but how many of us can truly live by it in our daily lives?
Every single day, we must learn a little more from listening to the Dharma. Compared to the academic study of the Sutras that I pursued in the past, these teachings are much easier to understand and far more practical for our daily lives. This is the great blessing of the people in this era. However, you must be wise in choosing what you listen to and discerning the authenticity of the teachings. If a teaching does not provide you with any benefit or lead to any positive change, I suggest that you move on quickly to avoid wasting your precious time on unproductive paths. Through the foundations of prostrations, walking meditation, reciting the Sutras, and listening to the Dharma, you can allow your heart to settle and deepen. Only then will you be able to experience the benefits and the preciousness of the practice, allowing you to walk this path for a longer and further distance. It is only through this deep, consistent practice that you can share the value of the Buddha’s teachings with all beings.
A Vow to Protect the Temple
I feel some regret that I cannot be there to practise alongside the fourfold assembly and participate in the journey to save the world. However, I will continue to watch over the temple and the fourfold assembly from the void. I will be your best Dharma protector, ensuring that this place remains a beacon where the Buddha’s teachings can flourish once again. May we all continue to move from confusion to , from wrong paths to the right path, and from impurity to purity. .
