The Foundation of Faith

Faith is the source of the path and the mother of all merits. It is the foundation of right faith and right understanding in Buddhist education, and the core of Faith, Vows, and Practice. Whether you are studying any branch of the Buddha’s teachings, faith must always come first. You must have faith in yourself, faith in the Buddha, faith in your true spiritual friend, and faith in the existence of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Strength of Unwavering Faith

Faith is the power that supports firm action. Unshakable faith allows one to overcome ten thousand difficulties and surge through the most turbulent waves. If your faith is not firm, it is like a stone that appears hard on the outside but is soft and powerless within. When such a stone strikes an obstacle, a slightly harder exterior might offer some resistance, protecting the weak interior. However, some stones shatter with a single blow—they are simply unable to withstand the impact. Once shattered, the fragments scatter, and the life of that existence in this lifetime comes to an end.

Where do these fragments go? It depends entirely on the thoughts at that final moment. They will fall into one of the six realms of existence. As for whether they can ever step onto the Buddha’s path, that depends on the causal conditions and evolution of that future lifetime.

Navigating the Five Turbidities

The worldly realm is known as the Five Turbidities and Evil World. It is filled with the turbidity of the kalpa, the turbidity of life, the turbidity of beings, the turbidity of afflictions, and the turbidity of views. All kinds of impurities exist in this world, and every creature lives according to its own karma. Regardless of which realm a being belongs to, they all face these turbid environments. The only difference lies in the level of impurity, which varies according to the layer of space they inhabit.

Even celestial beings, who possess great blessings, must still face these impurities. Compared to the Three Evil Realms—the hells, hungry ghosts, and animals—their lives are relatively pure, abundant, and enjoyable. Naturally, the higher the celestial realm, the purer the environment.

The Illusion of the Worldly Realm

There are so many different situations and levels of space. They exist without interfering with one another, maintaining a fragile peace. Each being spends their life in their respective environment, day after day, year after year. When the physical body reaches its end, they enter another lifetime, continuing this cycle of rebirth. This is the reality of the worldly realm. Sentient beings have become so accustomed to this that they believe life is simply meant to be this way.

However, through practice and purification, one eventually learns the truth: all these various situations and the cycle of rebirth are merely dreams—illusory and unreal. There exists a true, authentic self. This true self does not need to experience the joys and sorrows of these dreamlike illusions, nor does it need to be tempted by wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep, or the greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, and doubt. There is no karmic pull here; there is only the cool, pure, bright, and free state of eternal joy, true self, and purity.

Returning to the Original Nature

You must rely on this physical body within this Five Turbidities and Evil World to face the various negative karma created by your past, illusory self. You must transform, reform, and restore yourself back to your original, pure, and perfect nature. In this process of transformation and restoration, you must encounter a true spiritual friend whose guidance allows you to step onto the right path.

Once you embark on the path to awakening, if you can treat everything you see, hear, and encounter as mere illusions, phantoms, and shadows, you will pass through smoothly without obstacles. You will be able to reach awakening and see the true face of your self-nature. If, however, you remain attached to everything you encounter, grasping tightly to these illusions or allowing your mind to fluctuate with these phantoms, your journey will be bumpy and difficult. You will not know when you might finally reach awakening.

The Great Mission of Saving Beings

Every being in the six realms and the ten directions must truly and deeply believe that they possess this authentic self—a Buddha-nature, self-nature, and original nature identical to that of Namo Amituofo and all Buddhas. It has only been obscured and confused by the various karmic consciousnesses accumulated over countless lifetimes. As long as you purify yourself and remove these impurities, you will certainly be able to extinguish your faults, cultivate goodness, and see your original nature.

Believe in yourself, believe in the Buddha, believe in your true spiritual friend, and believe in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. If you believe in what has been said, you will be able to understand; once you understand, you will be able to practise; and once you practise, you will be able to attain the fruit. Helping all beings achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land and attain Buddhahood is the one great causal condition for which all Buddhas and patriarchs and venerable masters appear in this world. Namo Amituofo.