The sincerity and earnestness expressed by my beloved disciple are truly moving. As a teacher, I feel a deep sense of comfort and pride in such dedication. I urge Venerable HaiZe, Venerable FaXi, all other venerable monastics, and the entire fourfold assembly of disciples to follow this example. You must learn to emulate this spirit, for it is the very light of the path.
To rediscover your true self-nature, you must be willing to endure great hardship. Throughout history, even those who have returned as enlightened beings to guide others have not been exempt from the rigorous tests and tempering required to achieve spiritual success. There is no shortcut to the realization of the . Every practitioner must undergo a process of refinement, often through trials that are deeply challenging and transformative.
Consider the iron rod that is ground down countless times until it becomes a delicate embroidery needle. Consider the dull, rough stone that must be carved and polished with intense, focused light before the diamond within can be revealed. When the light finally strikes it, the stone reflects a brilliance that is truly breathtaking. In this world, there is no such thing as a free lunch; there is no spiritual achievement that comes without the foundation of diligent practice.
The Boundless Scope of Deliverance
Practitioner Su has demonstrated this path through a life of steady, step-by-step practice. This has led to the inconceivable achievement of the Body . By opening the layers of infinite space, Practitioner Su has enabled the deliverance of countless beings who have been trapped in the darkness of the cycle of rebirth for thousands of years. Even beings from distant planets and realms that you have never imagined have found rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss through this work.
To break through the barriers of time and space, and to open the layers of the universe to save those in need, is a monumental task. Yet, Practitioner Su has achieved it. By relying on the great compassionate vow of , the work of rescuing infinite suffering beings and guiding them to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss has been fulfilled. Such accomplishments cannot be purchased with wealth or worldly status. They require the accumulation of good roots from past lifetimes, tremendous , and the most magnificent causal conditions.
The Compassionate Guidance at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Today, Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is blessed by the presence of Namo Amituofo. Practitioner Su serves with every ounce of life and energy, offering constant guidance to all of you. Sometimes this guidance is gentle and nurturing; at other times, it is a stern rebuke or a sudden, challenging question designed to test your resolve. I see all of this, and I understand the profound behind these actions. It is not only I who understand; Namo Amituofo, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the ancestral masters, Skanda , and the Dharma protectors all understand.
They are watching over you with great care. As long as you truly generate the Bodhicitta, practise with diligence, repent sincerely, and commit to following Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su in the work of saving the world, your own achievements will be equally inconceivable.
A Final Exhortation to the Fourfold Assembly
You must understand that the concepts of delusion, discrimination, and attachment, as well as the need to change your personality traits and habits, are not merely academic terms at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. They are real, daily tests of whether you have truly learned to "see through" and "let go." Namo Amituofo, myself, and Practitioner Su cannot remove these obstacles for you. We can only show you the way. You must rely on your own sincere realization and your genuine desire to return to your true self-nature and your original home in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
If you cannot withstand the tests and tempering along the way, you will perceive the path as suffering. You may feel that you cannot succeed, leading to resistance, regression, or interference from and attached spirits, eventually causing you to give up halfway. Having reached the mountain of treasures, to return empty-handed or to retreat after having cultivated some blessings is a profound tragedy. As long as you have a single breath remaining, there is always time to turn back. Do not let this opportunity, which is difficult to encounter in millions of years, slip through your fingers.
It is often said that it is difficult to obtain a human body, difficult to hear the Buddha’s teachings, and difficult to encounter the Pure Land path. Do not take these words lightly; they are the absolute Truth. Your value lies in the fact that you have obtained a human body and have the opportunity to hear and practise the Buddha’s teachings. The true light of your self-nature is waiting for you to reclaim it, and the work of saving sentient beings through the Dharma Body is waiting for your diligent effort. Do you remember the verse of Samantabhadra Bodhisattva?
This day has passed, and our lives are reduced accordingly.
Like fish in a shrinking pool, what can there be?
The great assembly must practise with diligence, as if saving one's own head from fire.
Always be mindful of impermanence, and be careful not to be lax.
