The Path of Following

The Search for Refuge

Why do we feel the need to follow someone or something? It is because we seek a sanctuary for our hearts and a firm foundation for our physical existence. We yearn for something to hold onto, a place where our spirit can rest and our body can rely. But who should we truly follow? We must follow that which provides genuine refuge for our spirit and support for our body.

Since time immemorial, within the cycle of reincarnation, men and women have relied upon and followed one another. How many have lived for the sake of such worldly attachments, only to find that these very attachments led them to their downfall? We must be careful not to mistake fleeting worldly connections for the ultimate refuge.

Following the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way

Instead, we must follow the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. When the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were in the stages of their initial practice, they followed the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way with unwavering dedication. Their journey was marked by several essential qualities:

• They cultivated their practice with painstaking effort, working diligently to purify their minds.
• They remained active and persistent, never faltering in their commitment to the path.
• They followed the teachings with humility and obedience, learning from every experience.

Only through such devotion could they break free from the suffering of reincarnation, attain the fruit of enlightenment, and enter the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss according to their vows.

The Inner Compass of the True Self

We must also follow our true self and our innate conscience. Within every person's heart, there exists a natural standard of morality. No matter how deep one's confusion may be, this inner standard never truly leaves or disappears. It is the conscience of our true self. Everyone possesses it, yet due to our ignorance, we allow this inner light to be obscured by the dust of the world.

Yet, when we finally open our hearts to look within, we find that this true self is beautiful and flawless, simply waiting for us to develop it. The transmission of the Buddha’s teachings is a responsibility that belongs to us all. To contribute our efforts to the Pure Land is a duty that rests upon the shoulders of all the Buddha's children. This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.