The Eternal Transmission of the Dharma

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe

The Buddha’s teachings must be passed down from one generation to the next, flowing continuously like a great river, ensuring that the light of wisdom never fades. Only through this unbroken chain of transmission can the beings trapped within the six realms of existence find the path to liberation and leave suffering behind. Therefore, regardless of the hardships, tests, or personal suffering you may encounter in your own lifetime, you must accept the responsibility to ensure that the Buddha’s teachings continue to flourish.

The Sacred Duty of the Successor

This is the sacred duty of every generation of practitioners who take up the mantle. This is especially true for those who are tasked with carrying the Dharma forward, as they often possess unique insights and methods to help beings achieve salvation. Even if the magnificence of these methods attracts interference from demons or encounters obstacles that threaten to interrupt the flow of the Dharma, one must remain steadfast and continue to shoulder this burden.

The Fleeting Nature of the World

Throughout the long currents of history, many precious Dharma Jewels—including sutras, commentaries, and sacred texts—have vanished from this world. Some have been destroyed by human hands, others burned, relocated, or altered beyond recognition. This is a reflection of our collective karma and the shifting nature of our causal conditions. We live in a world of constant arising and ceasing; nothing material is permanent, and everything is destined to decay. While our spirits continue to cycle through rebirth, taking on new forms, we often find ourselves transformed. Though we may have known one another in past lives, we now pass each other by, unable to recognise the souls we once held dear.

The Path to True Salvation

The reason we must spread the Dharma far and wide is that beings are suffering. They suffer because there is no one to teach them, no one to rescue them, and they remain ignorant of the laws of karma and cause and effect. They do not understand the power of the heart or the true nature of their own self-nature. If you are fortunate enough to hear the supreme Dharma and receive a proper Buddhist education, you should exert your utmost effort to save yourself first. When you have successfully saved yourself, you will naturally have the capacity to help those with whom you are connected by karmic affinity. This is the most effective method of all.

The Pure Land Dharma Gate

Within the Pure Land Dharma Gate, we focus on the following practices to ensure the Dharma endures:

• Chanting Namo Amituofo: We introduce and widely propagate the six-character name of Namo Amituofo. Once this sacred name enters the ear, it becomes a seed of enlightenment that will last forever.
• Understanding the Vows: We share the teachings of Amitabha Buddha, the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and the Forty-eight Great Vows, helping all beings make the vow to chant Namo Amituofo and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
• Studying the Sutras: We widely disseminate the Infinite Life Sutra, which serves as a guide to help practitioners achieve Awakening and ensure that the Pure Land Dharma Gate continues to spread far and wide, forever.

Namo Amituofo