To the fourfold assembly at Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, I ask you to pause and reflect: do you still remember the heart with which you first entered this temple? When you first stepped through our doors, what was the driving force behind your decision to seek the path of the Buddha?
Perhaps you came because you were suffering from the physical pains of ageing and illness, or perhaps you were burdened by the heavy weight of emotional turmoil. You sought a way to leave suffering behind. Others among you were drawn here by the threads of affinity, perhaps accompanying family members, only to discover the profound peace of listening to sutras and hearing the Dharma and beginning your own journey of practice. Through the steady process of purification, your true self began to manifest, encouraging you to continue.
Some of you arrived because you witnessed the suffering of other beings and, in a moment of profound realisation, understood that you too are a being caught in the same cycle. From the depths of your heart, you sincerely sought a way to liberation. Others were simply lost, confused by the myriad illusions of this world, and yearned to find the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. And there were those who, having tasted the bitterness of the world and understood the exhaustion of the cycle of reincarnation, sought only to escape reincarnation and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
The Purpose of Our Practice
Now, I ask you: can you still maintain that initial aspiration as you continue your journey on the path of practice? Or have you encountered tests and trials along the way that have left you feeling conflicted, doubtful, or still searching for clarity? You must understand that before one has realised one's true nature, and the spirit are heavily obstructed by the weight of . Everything you see and hear is filtered through the lens of your past actions and their consequences.
The reason we practise at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is specifically to engage in this vital work of purification. We must transform our karma, break through the barriers that hold us back, and allow our true self to shine forth. This has been the singular goal of every practitioner of the from ancient times to the present day.
Aligning with the Buddha-Heart
Why is there such a vast difference between those who have realised their true nature and those who remain trapped in the cycle of reincarnation? The answer lies in whether one can truly transform their heart to align with the Buddha-heart. Those who have realised their true nature possess a heart that is in perfect sync with the Buddha. Because of this, they are able to attain Buddhahood and possess the capacity to save themselves while simultaneously helping others.
The Buddha attained Buddhahood for the sole purpose of saving all beings. You must remember that you are also a being among beings. Only when you have truly attained liberation yourself will you have the power and the wisdom to save others. This is the essence of the Buddha's path.
The Great Vow of Deliverance
Regardless of what brought you to Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, once you have entered, you have been immersed in the process of listening to sutras and hearing the Dharma and engaging in daily practice. When you face problems, challenges, or various states of mind, you must learn to turn your heart around. You must cultivate the Bodhicitta—the vow to attain Buddhahood to save both yourself and all other beings. By focusing your mind entirely on chanting , you will find that your heart is purified and brought into harmony with the Buddha-heart.
This practice does not only benefit you; it also provides immense assistance to the countless residing within our bodies. Through your sincere practice, they too can accept the opportunity to be resolved, to be saved, and to be delivered through . They may even be moved to purify their own hearts and join you in chanting the name of the Buddha. In this way, you create an opportunity for both yourself and the beings within our bodies to realise one's true nature and attain Buddhahood.
Therefore, I urge the fourfold assembly: practise diligently. Chant the name of Namo Amituofo with a focused and sincere heart. The Buddha's are with you at every moment. They are present in your chanting, in your prostrations, and in your recitation of the Sutras. They are present whenever you align your heart, your Buddha-vow, and your Buddha-actions with the Buddha. Namo Amituofo.
