The Eternal Lesson of Seeing Through and Letting Go

This is a record of an interview with Venerable Fuhui, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. She now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon her life and her profound insights into the practice of seeing through and letting go. Recorded by the chief writer, Lay Practitioner Cao Rudi, on July 26, 2017.

Venerable Fuhui speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Venerable Fuhui. I wish to share a reflection on the path of practice, specifically regarding the art of seeing through and letting go. It is a lesson that is both vast and intimate, and one that I have contemplated deeply throughout my journey.

Layer upon layer, the heart is locked. Without this, one cannot cultivate in coolness and ease. Such is the state of the world and its people. Yet, when one truly sees through and lets go, the situation changes entirely. With no-self and no-mind, one acts naturally, and a different realm of existence unfolds.

The Weight of Attachment

To see through and let go is not an easy task, yet it is an essential, non-negotiable lesson on our path of practice. When I first encountered the test of familial affection, I realised that my innate mission was to dedicate myself to the cause of saving beings. My child was still young, yet with my husband's consent, I made the resolute decision to leave my family behind. To say there was no struggle would be a lie. However, I had to constantly remind myself that there was only forward, never backward. In this life, aside from saving beings, I had no intention of returning to the red dust of the mundane world.

In the beginning, there were dark nights when I would hide from my master to wipe away the tears sliding down my cheeks. I missed my home, my husband, and my child, and I was terrified that my master would see me and worry. But the path of becoming a nun was my own choice. I hardened my heart, worked diligently with my master, and understood that enhancing my own capabilities was the ultimate way forward. I filled my time with practice, leaving no gaps for idle thoughts to wander. I simply did what needed to be done.

A Vow to Save Beings

I accumulated over a decade of energy. During this time, with the support of lay practitioners, I finally rented a piece of land in Tongluo, Miaoli. We built a simple iron-sheet structure, which became my formal base to begin receiving beings and joining the ranks of those dedicated to saving the world. The journey was one of constant vigilance. Although our days were simple and austere, with only one meal a day, we always maintained the purity and goodness of the Great Xing Shan Temple. We had no magnificent halls, yet we had a constant stream of visitors.

I say visitors, because not everyone who came to visit was a student of Buddhism, nor did they all understand what true practice meant. When I eventually left my physical body, the time for that vessel had come. My resolute decision to let go of the physical body, and my subsequent ascent to the heavenly realms, was something even I had not anticipated. Fortunately, in this life, I was able to meet Practitioner Su, who guided me to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Eternal Lesson of Letting Go

To see through the Universal Principles and to be able to let go of the things one cares about most—this is a lesson to be learned for a lifetime. Even now, having reached the Western Pure Land, I do not dare to take this lesson lightly. I fear that if a single thought arises, it might disturb the pool of clear water, and my progress in practice could suffer a great setback. Seeing through and letting go is not easy, but it is a necessary, mandatory course on our path of practice, regardless of whether you are still in the red dust of the world or have already arrived in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

I wish to encourage everyone to work together, to strive to let go, and to attain pure, great liberation. Namo Amituofo."