The New Era: A Call to Return to Our True Nature
The Forty-sixth Letter of President Zhao Puchu
September 20, 2017
A Mirror to the Soul
Come closer, and then closer still. Do you truly see your own face? I must speak plainly to you: you are covered in dust and grime. This description is not an exaggeration. I encourage you to take a mirror and look at yourself with complete honesty. Why have you allowed yourself to become so tarnished? It is not because you have been playing in the mud, nor is it because you have been working with great diligence. Rather, it is because you have been exhausted by this world of the and the , yet you remain entirely unaware of it.
Furthermore, this Five Turbidities and Evil World forces you to constantly package yourself, to pretend, and to arm yourself against others. You have become covered in filth, and yet, you do not even realise it. New cosmetics are constantly hitting the shelves, and it is no longer just women who use them; men, too, have begun to wear masks of artifice. No matter how thick the makeup you apply, it cannot hide the profound exhaustion etched upon your face.
The Illness of a Modern World
Have human beings led the world in the wrong direction? We have created an environment where there is not a single breath of fresh air to sustain us. Consider the symptoms of our current age: the relentless, rapid pace of life that leaves no room for stillness; a hyper-competitive market that pits neighbour against neighbour; and a pervasive, insatiable greed that drives us to constantly seek more, never satisfied with what we have.
This atmosphere has spread across the entire globe. Are you not tired, my friends? Because of these trends, humanity has fallen ill, and we are so sick that we cannot even identify the cause. Going to the doctor and taking medication has become a natural, everyday occurrence. The inner emptiness, the stifling pain, and the emotions that find no outlet have made psychological counselling and therapy a common feature of our society. Meanwhile, the climate grows erratic and unpredictable, and sea levels rise as the ice caps melt. Scientists and researchers are now frantically searching for new planets to inhabit, hoping to migrate to a new world when the end arrives. What has truly happened to this worldly realm?
The Only True Remedy
The countless medicines developed by humanity cannot compare to the healing power of a single recitation of the name of Namo Amituofo. Any planet discovered by science lacks the magnificence and perfection of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. The catastrophes facing our Earth can only be saved by the Buddha’s teachings. All these changes are created by the human heart. A single heart filled with greed is enough to generate countless negative factors, which then spread like a contagious disease. Selfishness and self-interest make the human heart look truly ugly. It was once said that one should sweep the snow from one's own doorstep, but now, people do not even know one another. These various chaotic phenomena are pushing human beings one by one into a pit of fire. Do not let the hells become a destination for mass migration; the suffering there is not something you can easily endure.
A Lifeline in the Storm
In the vast, turbulent ocean of life, there is still a piece of floating wood that can save you. Are you willing to grasp it? As long as you are willing to give yourself one more chance, your life can be saved, and even completely transformed. Summon your courage, hold firmly onto this lifeline, and allow yourself to be reborn. Let the sacred name of Namo Amituofo be deeply engraved in your heart-fields. It will be the best medicine when you are ill and the critical key to your survival in times of crisis.
Do not let your mental note pass in vain, for this can extinguish all the sufferings of existence. When you have the Buddha in your heart, He will naturally remove all obstacles and eliminate all afflictions. The dust and grime are created by the human heart; when you possess a bright, clean, and pure heart, you will naturally possess a clean face. Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo. Let this sacred name of Namo Amituofo spread throughout this catastrophic worldly realm, transforming the human heart into a heart of Goodness. Namo Amituofo has long since built the most beautiful Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, waiting for everyone to migrate there together.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library