The Essence of Compassion in the Thrice Yearning Ceremony

The Profound Meaning of Compassion

In the second session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, we focus on the virtue of Compassion. Compassion, in its truest and most essential sense, is the act of pulling beings out of the depths of suffering. Throughout history, countless individuals have contemplated this profound meaning. They have sought to understand the depth of this virtue, yet understanding alone is not enough.

If one does not put these teachings into genuine, daily practice, it is difficult to truly embody the living vitality of a compassionate heart. Compassion must be a dynamic force that flows through your every action, not just a concept held in the mind.

The Path of the Awakened

If you wish to alleviate the suffering of others, you must first develop a deep, empathetic awareness of the suffering that permeates the lives of all beings. Furthermore, you must possess the necessary skills and the spiritual capacity to guide them toward liberation. Those who have realised their true nature are the ones who truly possess this power.

Only those who have realised their true nature attain the Dharma Body, which serves as the foundation for the elevation of one's original spirit. This realisation is the key to unlocking the capacity to help others on a profound level.

The Work of Deliverance

By inviting spirits, resolving conflicts, and utilising the power of the Dharma Body, one can perform Chao Du for the countless karmic creditors and attached spirits that linger in the shadows. This is the work of a true practitioner:

• To guide them toward rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is to bestow upon them the greatest happiness; this is the mark of a being of Great Compassion who seeks to pull all beings from their agony.
• To help them leave suffering behind is the ultimate expression of the Great Compassion that defines the Bodhisattva path.

Those who exist in this world with every thought focused on saving beings, helping them leave suffering behind and attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, are the true practitioners of Great Compassion.

A Pure Land on Earth

At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, where Namo Amituofo is residing here, Practitioner Su, who has realised his true nature, leads the community. This is how we are building a Pure Land on Earth, moving steadily toward the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. We invite you to join us in this mission, ensuring that our practice remains aligned with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.