Dear practitioners, as you immerse yourselves in the vast ocean of the Buddha’s teachings, do you find yourself drifting within its boundless currents? Allow these currents to wash away the dust of your worries and the heavy burdens of your afflictions. Have you ever marvelled at the brilliance and beauty of the waves as they collide, each one shimmering with a light that is truly moving? Whenever you experience a moment of deep understanding, a knowing smile naturally arises. This is the result of a profound exchange between your heart and the heart of the Buddha, a moment where you stand in awe of the unfathomable depth and brilliance of the . The Dharma is deep, yet it can always be deeper; beyond its brilliance lie even more inconceivable truths. All of these treasures can be found within the great ocean of the Buddha’s teachings, and one need only draw from it to taste a nectar of incomparable sweetness.
The Great Under the Tree
In my heart, there is infinite gratitude. Consider the prince of the Kapilavastu Kingdom who left his home in search of the ultimate Truth. He sought answers through ascetic practices, yet found no resolution. He eventually abandoned his attachment to these harsh austerities, letting go of everything completely. It was only when he had fully surrendered all attachments that the Truth was revealed. Beneath the Bodhi tree, as he gazed at the morning star, he was struck by a sudden, wondrous realisation: All sentient beings possess the wisdom and virtue of the Tathagata, yet they cannot realise it due to their delusions and attachments. This great awakening permeated his entire body and mind. Every pore of his being opened, radiating a magnificent light that shook the heavens and the earth. He attained Awakening, subdued the path of demons, and ultimately achieved the Buddha’s path. This was the supreme realisation of the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way—the answer to the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death. It was a truth that had never been heard from ancient times until that moment. Having attained this, he was invited by celestial beings to turn the Wheel of the Dharma. The one who attained this supreme truth is known as Shakyamuni Buddha, the World-Honoured One.
The Heart as the Source of All Things
From that time forward, kings and ministers from the ancient Western regions flocked to learn from him, seeking guidance on their various doubts and attaining supreme wisdom. The Buddha travelled throughout many lands, resolving the confusion of the masses. During his forty-nine years of teaching, wherever the Buddha walked, the world was blessed by his compassionate rain, and countless beings were saved from their suffering. The essence of the Buddha’s teachings is that all phenomena arise from the heart; the heart is the mother of all phenomena. If one succeeds in the work of the heart, the Buddha’s path is attained.
The Path to Liberation from Samsara
To escape the great difficulties of birth, aging, sickness, death, and the cycle of rebirth, the World-Honoured One transmitted the Dharma of and the of Ultimate Bliss. From that point on, under the protection of the Buddha’s compassionate grace, the light of Namo Amituofo and the Western Pure Land has illuminated the flow of the Dharma. The cycle of rebirth can be turned, and all spirits within this worldly realm may enter the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This path is what we call the Pure Land Dharma Gate.
The Vital Connection of Faith, Vows, and Practice
The Pure Land path has passed through the era of the True Dharma and the era of the Semblance Dharma, reaching today’s era of the Dharma Decline. Throughout this time, the rise and fall of the Pure Land teachings have brought immeasurable benefits to countless beings. Yet, as we reach this final era, while many people know the name of Namo Amituofo, they do not understand the essence of the practice. They know how to chant the Buddha’s name, but their chanting lacks power. This is because they do not understand the Forty-eight Great Vows of Namo Amituofo. One must connect their heart to these vows, and these vows must be supported by action. If one’s practice is misguided, it is because they have not attained the correct understanding. Even if they have attained the understanding, if they fail to practise correctly according to the Right Way, their efforts will be in vain. Their words will be empty, and the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss will remain distant and unreachable.
The Living Presence of Namo Amituofo at Hsiang Kuang
Today, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Practitioner Su is leading the community in the dedicated practice and propagation of the Pure Land path. They focus solely on chanting the great name of Namo Amituofo with a single, undivided heart. Through this, they have performed for countless spirits, aligning their hearts and vows with those of the Buddha. Because of these causal conditions, Namo Amituofo truly abides at this centre, working together to save all beings. This is the source from which the healing of the heart, the resolution of grievances, and the liberation of the spirit emerge.
A Sanctuary of Eternal Dharma
All students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre have gathered here, encountering the presence of Namo Amituofo. Helping all students realise their original nature and assisting spirits in achieving rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is the supreme Dharma joy, one that is truly irreplaceable. The ocean of the Buddha’s light flows into this place, ceaseless and eternal. Ultimately, the power of the Buddha and one’s own efforts must complement each other. Practitioner Su has attained the , subduing the hosts of demons and guiding them into the Buddha’s path. Crossing mountains and seas, traversing the void of the ten directions, and entering the galaxy, this power shakes the ocean of the Dharma. It is the supreme power of the Buddha, a path of incomparable wonder, where the fragrance of virtue permeates and inspires all who encounter it. Namo Amituofo.
This message was recorded by the Buddha’s disciple, Shi Haiyuan.
