The Path of Diligent Practice

On April 13, 2019, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, Venerable Yongning shared profound reflections on the nature of Buddhist cultivation. Having dedicated their life to the Buddha’s path under the guidance of Practitioner Su, the Venerable discusses the vital importance of daily discipline, the pitfalls of judgmental thoughts, and the necessity of maintaining an unshakeable vow to attain Buddhahood.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. What is the true significance of our daily practice? It serves as the very root of our journey along the Buddha’s path, ensuring that we do not become lazy or arrogant. To encounter the Causal Conditions for practice is something truly magnificent. Think about it—how many lifetimes of reincarnation and longing must one endure before finally encountering the Buddha’s teachings? It is only because we have made such great vows in our past lives that we are able to gather here today at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, working alongside the Buddha and Practitioner Su to save the world. This is a rare and precious connection; we must cherish every single day we have together."

The Trap of Worldly Judgment

"Sometimes, even while we are practising, we fall back into the habit of viewing matters through a worldly lens. Under the influence of a rigid sense of morality, we rush to judge things as either right or wrong. The moment our eyes perceive something, our head and our entire body are immediately stirred by these external conditions. The mind begins to churn incessantly. When we see someone else’s faults, we think to ourselves, 'They should have done this,' or 'They shouldn't have done that.' Whether or not we express these thoughts aloud, this constant mental agitation has already triggered a vibration in every single one of our fifty trillion cells."

"We often mistakenly believe that only we know what we are thinking. We fail to realise that the moment a thought arises, it permeates the entire Dharma Realm. Corresponding sentient beings are drawn to us, and the recording spirits by our side make a note of it. The Yama Kings of the hells are perfectly clear about everything we do in the human world—even our fleeting thoughts are laid bare. They are fully aware of the karma we have created throughout our many lives. This shows us that the Law of Cause and Effect is inescapable. It also reveals just how deep and far-reaching the consequences of a single negative thought can be, all of which will eventually manifest as retribution upon our own bodies."

Reflecting the Self in Others

"When we see the faults of others, we can say that we are actually seeing our own personality reflected back at us. Everything we encounter in the external world is, in reality, composed of our own thoughts. If we think good thoughts, we will encounter goodness; if we think evil thoughts, we will reap evil consequences. This is the Truth, and there is no escaping it. Why has the Buddha established the daily practice of one thousand prostrations for the fourfold assembly? It is to assist us by keeping us so busy with our daily practice that we have no time to dwell on other matters."

"Implementing this practice is the greatest form of purification for oneself. The more we purify, the clearer our understanding becomes when listening to the sutras, and the better we understand how to conduct ourselves on the Buddha’s path. Beyond opening up space to help sentient beings, our ultimate goal must be to realise our true nature so that we can be the masters of our own minds. Otherwise, when thoughts arise, it is very easy to become subject to spiritual attachment, lose our direction, and even develop a retreating heart."

The Stepping Stones to Buddhahood

"The process of practice is inherently filled with many tests. If we can view these challenges positively and treat them as stepping stones toward attaining Buddhahood, we will not become attached to the states we encounter in the moment. Did Shakyamuni Buddha not pass through countless trials when he came to this worldly realm to transmit the Dharma? Did Namo Amituofo not have to make the Ultimate Vow to achieve his path to Buddhahood? The Buddha and the ancestral masters are our best examples for learning. We must not be negligent or arrogant."

"We must be aware of every single thought, and from that awareness, we must gain wisdom—this is what we call diligent practice. Most importantly, we have a great teacher here in the human world, Practitioner Su, who can help everyone see their problems clearly. Being willing to change and willing to act is the greatest sincerity one can show in learning Buddhism. I hope that everyone can exert great strength and never retreat. There are still so many sentient beings throughout the universe and the void who need us to exert our efforts to save them once we have awakened. Our faith in the Buddha must be supported by an unshakeable will. Namo Amituofo."

This message was recorded by the disciple of the Buddha, Shi Faxin.