The true power of life originates from a state of no-mind. When there is no fluctuation of mental notes, no entanglement of , and no distress from birth, aging, sickness, and death, one is in alignment with the reality of the true self. A mind without attachments can contain the infinite: infinite hearts, infinite people and things, the infinite universe, the infinite present, and the infinite past. To teach and transform beings, a mind without attachments can more clearly reveal the endless history of suffering that beings have endured, as well as their current thoughts and actions. The ability of to clearly foresee and hear the physical and spiritual problems of beings is a manifestation of the natural capacity of a mind without attachments; it is not something achieved through external forces.
If it is difficult for you to empty your mind, it means your heart is already tainted. You will inevitably suffer, and you will always be burdened by the ego. It becomes difficult to clarify your thoughts, difficult to understand the truth, and you remain trapped in the darkness of the past. It is hard to open your mind-capacity to embrace others, and you will always be tormented by emotions. You will find it difficult to escape the manifestations of birth, aging, sickness, and death, leaving you feeling conflicted, helpless, and uneasy. In such a state, you need to purify your heart and uphold the . However, if you find it difficult to internalise the great even when you hear it, and if you struggle to steady your mind despite your efforts, it is because your heart is not yet sincere or clear enough. When thoughts are difficult to stop, and you cannot purify your heart or uphold the Precepts, rebirth becomes your only path to life.
The Weight of the Past and the Chains of Karma
Memories of the past are often impossible to forget, difficult to sever, and hard to cast aside. They become significant obstacles to your practice. From the perspective of ordinary people, one might not think there is anything wrong with holding onto memories. Yet, you must realise that every single action and thought from the past has not vanished. They are all stored within the , and they all carry the laws of karma and cause and effect.
Even if these are events of the past, if your thinking and recalling of them trigger emotional fluctuations, you are stirring up your and causing your karma to manifest. This is the reason why you suffer and why karmic creditors come to seek revenge. If you can encounter a true spiritual friend who assists you in resolving these grievances, you can help each other find relief from suffering. This is why we repeatedly remind everyone that if you wish to practise purification, you must live in the present. Before you have reached the state of an awakened being and before you have attained meditative concentration, do not dwell on or review the past.
The Radiant Path of True Rebirth
Rebirth is a path to a new life—a completely new way of living. In your heart, there is no past, only the present, and you do not dwell on the future. Learning the Dharma and chanting is rebirth. Leaving the secular life to practise is rebirth. Thoroughly changing your personality traits and habits until they no longer exist is rebirth. Truly transforming yourself from the bottom of your heart and moving toward a new life is rebirth. Having faith in the existence of the of Ultimate Bliss and vowing to be reborn there is rebirth. If you are truly reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, that is the most supreme and complete rebirth of all.
Rebirth is not for yourself, nor is it for personal gain. It arises from a great , a selfless and state, for the benefit of all beings. It is the ability to save beings from the cycle of birth and death and to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Only with such positive and active energy can you achieve a true transformation and reach the goal of rebirth.
The Eternal Quest for
The true self is empty, without mind, without thoughts, and without self; this is your original face. Infinite wisdom, virtues, and auspicious characteristics exist within it. The purpose of rebirth is to reclaim these abilities and energies of the true self, and to save beings so they may leave suffering behind and be reborn in the Western Land. This great goal urges you not to relax or become lazy. You must make sincere vows, act with truth, let the power of compassion manifest, request the Buddha's , and be active and persistent. Keep the Buddha-name in your heart 24/7, using pure thoughts to suppress delusions and messy thoughts. Through meditative concentration, you will eventually sever these thoughts and give rise to wisdom, leading to an early Awakening.
The Boundless Mission of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
The past is beginningless, and the future is endless. The moment for rebirth is right now. It is achieved by putting in the work within your heart, starting from stopping the flow of wandering thoughts. It begins by developing your abilities through compassion for the sake of saving beings, by opening your mind-capacity to treat others with sincerity, and by learning to embrace all things without calculating personal gain or loss. You must understand these methods and then put them into practice to receive the benefits of the Dharma. No one can stop you from doing this; it depends entirely on whether you have the determination and boldness to let go of the past and seize the opportunity for rebirth and Awakening. This is where you must put in the work in your practice. Once you break through and act in reality, you have taken a giant step forward.
The work of the heart is endless, with no visible finish line, and the meaning of a reborn life is equally infinite. Always keep yourself living in the present moment of rebirth until you realise your true nature and have the ability to lead all beings back to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the eternal mission of all disciples at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
The Infinite Light of the Spirit
The sensitivity of awareness and the true self are so wonderful, but how many people can attain them? The sutras tell us to have faith and follow the teachings, but how many truly practise them? We continue to create karma on the long road of reincarnation; when will it ever stop? Rebirth is a bright path. The physical body is a temporary existence that will eventually end, and human life has its limits, but the life of the spirit is infinite. Changes in Causal Conditions follow the movement of the heart. Attain the power of a new life through rebirth, let this new life become more powerful, and radiate infinite light.
This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
