The Heavy Responsibility and the Long Road of the Dharma

April 12, 2019.

During the Tang Dynasty, I set out on a journey to seek the Truth and to realise the ultimate reality of existence. Clad in my monastic robes, I travelled thousands of miles, venturing far into the Western Regions to seek the sacred scriptures. Along the way, I faced countless trials and tribulations. Often, I would walk for days without seeing a single household or a soul to offer assistance. I frequently found myself in perilous environments, surrounded by danger. Yet, my heart remained firm and fearless. I had already dedicated my body and mind to the service of the infinite realms. This body and this life were no longer my own; they belonged to the Dharma.

The Path of Total Dedication

I lived for the sake of all suffering beings, so that they might see the glimmer of hope that leads to liberation from the cycle of rebirth. I lived to ensure the continuation of the Buddha’s teachings. If I could survive, it was for this purpose; if I could not, it was simply because my affinity with this world had come to an end. Life and death are inevitable, and I have always been prepared to depart from this world. I, Xuanzang, have lived with a clear conscience, and I have no regrets in death.

Fortunately, with the protection of the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, the Dharma protectors, and the support of the kings and people of the various nations I encountered, my efforts were not in vain. I finally reached India, the sacred land where the Dharma Jewel and the greatest scholars of Buddhism were gathered, and I studied at the Nalanda Monastery. I engaged in diligent practice, always cautious and never daring to slacken for even a moment. I knew the weight of my responsibility; I feared that any negligence on my part would lead to errors in the transmission of the teachings, which would be a betrayal of the Buddha’s profound grace.

The Preservation of the Mahayana Dharma

Upon completing my studies, I returned to my homeland. I gathered the sutras and collaborated with the most brilliant minds in the country—those who had mastered the Sutra, Vinaya, and Abhidharma of both the Mahayana and the Small Vehicle traditions. We established a translation centre, first at the Hongfu Temple and later at the Ci'en Temple in Chang'an. Through the grace of the Emperor and the support of the Dharma protectors, this monumental task was carried out successfully. It is because of this that Mahayana Buddhism has been able to continue its life in China to this very day.

The Challenges of the Age of the Dharma’s Decline

Today, we find ourselves in the age of the Dharma’s decline. The lifeblood of the Dharma appears fragile. Many monastics today are either unaware that their practice has deviated from the true teachings, or they are lost in mere intellectual debates and superficial discriminations of words and phrases. Even when they attempt to save suffering beings, their efforts are often focused on the external appearances of relief, neglecting the true, internal work of meditative concentration and the realisation of one's true nature.

The Supreme Path of Pure Land

The World-Honoured One has instructed us that in the age of the Dharma’s decline, the Pure Land path is the most certain way to achieve success. The Pure Land is a magnificent, pure, and virtuous Dharma, born from the great compassion of Namo Amituofo and the Ultimate Vow to save all suffering spirits who are sinking into the depths of samsara. The practice of chanting Namo Amituofo is a truly accessible and magnificent method that brings benefits to both the living and the deceased.

• It is a method that is easy to practise for all beings.
• It provides a way for both the living and the deceased to find liberation.
• It is the most direct path to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

However, I observe that many who chant Namo Amituofo today do so only with their mouths, while their hearts are far removed from the Buddha. Very few truly enter the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, a reality that causes the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas to sigh with sorrow. Fortunately, my disciple, Practitioner Su, has fought to rise above these challenges. By finding a glimmer of hope in the midst of despair, the light of Awakening has been revealed, injecting a new ray of hope into the Pure Land path.

The Courage of Practitioner Su

Practitioner Su has sought the Dharma through genuine, verified practice. Through thirty years of diligent cultivation in the Pure Land, the Dharma Body of an awakened being has been revealed. Throughout this journey, Practitioner Su has endured slander from those who do not understand. Even those who were once acquaintances have listened to these slanders and drifted away, which is a profound loss for them. They do not realise that within the true self lie immeasurable Wisdom, virtues, and auspicious characteristics. When Practitioner Su manifests various inconceivable states while saving the world, these people, in their ignorance, dismiss it as a deviant path. How will they ever repay the karmic debt of such speech?

Practitioner Su does not fear these false words. In this mission to save the world during the age of the Dharma’s decline, Practitioner Su performs the difficult task of saving others—this is the heart and action of a Buddha or Bodhisattva. Countless suffering sentient beings have already been saved and reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss through Chao Du. This brings great comfort to Namo Amituofo and to me.

A Rare Opportunity at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

To all the disciples at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia: you have encountered Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. You must hold tightly to this precious Dharma affinity. This affinity is not something that can be found at any time or in every lifetime; it is difficult to encounter in millions of years. It is truly magnificent and rare. These are words of Truth. I hope that you will all have faith, listen, and follow this path. Namo Amituofo.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.