The Path of Learning by Example

The Essence of Learning by Example

To learn by example is to observe, to reflect, and to embody the virtues of those who have walked the path before us. Since you have chosen to embark upon the noble journey of spiritual practice, you must be prepared to leave behind the habits, personality traits, desires, and attachments that defined your worldly life. These old ways are like heavy garments that prevent you from moving freely toward the light of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. You must shed them with courage and resolve.

Practitioner Su has walked this path with unwavering dedication. The processes he has undergone, the profound insights he has gained, and the trials he has faced are all essential lessons for every practitioner. You are encouraged to look closely at his life, his lectures, and his daily conduct. In his teachings and his actions, you will find the blueprint for your own transformation.

Cultivating a Righteous Mind

As disciples of the Buddha, you must ask yourselves how to align your lives with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. When you encounter difficulties, how can you maintain an attitude that is positive, righteous, and free from the creation of negative karma? You must learn to stand firm in your position, ensuring that your heart remains pure even when the world around you is in chaos.

• How can you remain physically active in your duties while keeping your heart unmoved by external circumstances?
• How can you truly see through and let go of the deep-seated attachments to family and personal affection?
• How can you stop being swayed by the environment and instead learn to transform the environment through the power of your own practice?

These are not merely intellectual questions; they are the practical challenges of your daily life. You must strive to answer them through your own diligent practice and your commitment to the Dharma.

The Bodhisattva Spirit of Compassion

True practice is defined by the depth of your compassion and the vastness of your mind-capacity. How can you give your heart and soul to the work of the temple without seeking any reward? Your only desire should be for all beings to reach an awakened state and to carry on the tradition of the Pure Land. You must learn to offer compassion without a sense of self, even when you are met with unreasonable treatment from others.

Consider the depth of the Bodhisattva spirit:

• How can you perform the work of Chao Du to save the Dharma Body of those who have passed?
• How can you take upon yourself the suffering of all beings without a single complaint or regret, saying only that it is worth it?
• How can you cultivate the singular intention of saving demon crowds, guiding them from the path of demons into the Buddha's path?
• How can you develop a heart so vast that even those beings who attach themselves to your body can be saved through your compassion?

The Ultimate Goal of Buddhahood

Follow the example of Practitioner Su in all things. Your life should be dedicated to the temple, to the core of the Pure Land school, and to the mission of leading all beings to leave suffering behind and find happiness in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. If you are willing to seek awakening and preserve the Pure Land teachings, you will find that you are never alone; you will be supported with the full power of the Buddha-vow.

You must learn how to be selfless, how to be free from the ego, and how to save others without a single word of complaint. Your speech and conduct must be upright, clean, and pure. Your perseverance must be as firm as a diamond, allowing you to enter into the Buddha-heart, the Buddha-vow, and the Buddha-actions. By subduing demonic enemies and mastering the subtle Dharma, you will inspire even the most resistant beings to respect the truth and willingly surrender to the light of the Buddha.

Walking the Path of the Holy Assembly

Learn from the purpose and the spirit with which Namo Amituofo established the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Like Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, you must engage in lectures without fatigue or hesitation. When beings hear the Dharma, they will find the path to awakening, understand the essence of the teachings, and be able to leave their suffering behind much sooner.

Follow the example of the holy assembly in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Wear the armour of the Great Vows and work to lead all sentient beings of the ten directions into the Western Land. By doing so, you ensure that they find peace and happiness in this life, and that at the time of their passing, they will be able to chant Buddha's name and be reborn in the Pure Land. Strive to be like Practitioner Su: diligent in your practice, awakened in your nature, and free to travel back and forth to the Western Land to continue your work of salvation. Namo Amituofo.