This is a record of an interview with Venerable Yongning, who reflects on her practice and the mission of the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Australia. This interview was recorded by the chief writer, Shi Faxin, on July 29, 2019.
Venerable Yongning speaks:
". It was July 29, 2019. After the conclusion of the assembly, I returned once more to this pure ground. This time, I had less than a month—it was a race against time, a moment to truly face my practice and allow my heart to settle into a state of profound purity. I spent my days bowing and paying homage to the Buddha. As I bowed, my thoughts gradually faded away, leaving only the Buddha-name in my heart. When faced with the challenges that manifest again—whether it be a sense of being drowsy or the stirring of one's own personality—I realise that these physical ailments are not random. They can be traced back to specific thoughts or ideas that have taken root.
The Necessity of Constant Purification
Now that Practitioner Su has travelled to Japan, it provides a rare opportunity for all of us to quieten our minds, focus on bowing to the Buddha, and engage in purification, and then more purification. This is a time to avoid unnecessary chatter and to maintain a state of inner stillness. This is not a time to relax, but a time to seize every precious moment. The Dharma affinity of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre continues to branch out and flourish, following the ripening of in various parts of the human world. Every connection, whether subtle or profound, is being continuously strengthened. This is the manifestation of the Buddha's for all beings, and it signifies that every member of the fourfold assembly must shoulder the responsibility for these beings.
The Responsibility of the Fourfold Assembly
Beyond the task of saving the fifty trillion cells within our own bodies and guiding them toward rebirth in the Western Pure Land, every time we help another person encounter the Buddha’s teachings and understand the necessity of seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land, we are simultaneously saving their fifty trillion cells as well. With every step we take and every Buddha-name we chant, we are forming deep connections with the earth and all living things. Through spiritual deliverance, we use a heart of compassion to save the beings throughout the vast Dharma Realm. Practice requires the persistence of a dedicated heart and the strength of perseverance.
Walking the Path of
The path to realising one's true nature must be walked in a grounded, step-by-step manner, without clinging to any illusory matters. When we experience physical suffering, we must know how to repent. We must ask ourselves: are these afflictions arising because of selfish thoughts? Are we thinking only of ourselves? Before we studied the Buddha’s teachings, we did not know that such thoughts were detrimental, but after learning the Buddha’s teachings, we should be even more cautious.
Creating a Pure Land on Earth
The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia now shoulders the path of inheriting and transmitting the Buddha’s teachings. By spreading this education, we ensure that the elderly find peace in their final years, the young receive proper guidance, and the middle-aged find stability. We lead everyone toward a state of purity and goodness, creating a Pure Land on Earth. By delivering all beings, we bring harmony to all things, transforming the nature of decay and emptiness into eternal peace. The human body can be utilised to its fullest potential; those who hear the Dharma can all become members of the mission to save the world. This physical body is not meant for waste or indulgence, but for taking real, meaningful steps forward. The achievements of the human world are still bound by birth, aging, sickness, and death, whereas the achievements of the Dharma Realm are beyond birth and death. The compassionate power of Namo Amituofo is truly manifest here. Let us follow the path of truth together.
