The Seventh Letter of Lay Practitioner Huang Nianzu

25 June 2017

I never imagined that this world would be so incredibly difficult to save! Despite my earnest and heartfelt counseling, the majority of people still view such efforts as madness. Practitioner Su, perhaps in this entire world, you are the only one who possesses the sincere heart and the magnanimity required to truly save beings. Even our beloved Venerable Master Chin Kung has remarked that sentient beings lack the necessary fortune, and he often speaks of these matters with a light touch. One must ask: is there anyone left in this world who will treat others with a truly sincere heart and initiate the genuine vow of sacrifice and dedication? It seems exceedingly difficult. Since ancient times, who has not acted primarily for their own benefit? This appears reasonable and natural to most, but as a practitioner of the Buddha’s teachings, one must ask: is this truly the path of compassion?

The True Essence of a Practitioner

What does it mean to be a practitioner of the Buddha’s teachings? It means to emulate the great compassion, the great vows, and the great magnanimity of the Buddhas. It also requires the skill of no-mind. My beloved Teacher, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, dedicated nearly five years of intense effort to compile the Infinite Sutra (The Buddha Speaks the Mahayana, Infinite Life, Adornment, Purity, Impartiality, and Enlightenment Sutra). This was his true, magnificent work. He completed this exquisite, supreme Dharma, which is the Great Sutra of the Great Vehicle. It teaches you the most fundamental principles of how to be a human being and the profound principles of how to become a Buddha. If you can truly put these teachings into practice, you will attain Buddhahood.

The Magnificence of the Infinite Life Sutra

Everything I am saying now is being conveyed through the blessings of my Teacher. To practise the Buddha’s teachings is to experience a state of profound Dharma joy; it is the true path to liberation. If you remain entangled in a multitude of worldly affairs, you will be unable to achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and you will only end up covered in the mud of worldly attachments. What, then, should you do? The Buddha’s teachings are often misunderstood by the masses. Why is this? It is because people have not cultivated themselves well. Naturally, if the practice is not genuine, the results will not be apparent. As the saying goes, there is always a mountain higher than the one you are standing on. There are many people who are clear-sighted and intelligent; whether or not one has truly cultivated is written clearly upon their face. I urge you to change your heart. If you refuse to change, and in the end, you blame the Buddha for not blessing or protecting you, then you are in a truly dire situation.

A Call to Genuine Practice

Alas, I am truly frustrated by this situation. If I did not shout to stop them, I would feel I had failed in my duty. In truth, I am not angry, but I must act in this way. I hope that sentient beings may still encounter such a magnificent and supreme Dharma. Whether the Dharma remains holy or becomes diminished depends on you. I hope that you are still willing to believe in the words I have spoken and that you are still able to listen to them with an open heart.

Written by the hand of Huang Nianzu

Recorded by the Buddha’s disciple, Shi Faxi