The Sixth Letter of Lay Practitioner Huang Nianzu

The Hidden Truth of Spiritual Deliverance

The great catastrophe facing the Buddha’s teachings today lies in the insincerity of the human heart. I have come to realise that a significant reason for this decline is the lack of genuine Chao Du. In my past studies of the Buddha’s teachings, I always knew that Chao Du was necessary, yet the true nature of this practice remained elusive. It is difficult to clarify or truly understand where beings are actually sent through such rituals. Most people prefer to rely on their own assumptions, believing their limited understanding to be correct. In my own life, I did not place enough importance on this matter. Everyone’s Causal Conditions for learning the Buddha’s teachings are different, and my own connection to this specific aspect was not fully developed, which is why I suffered so greatly. I urge all of you: you must perform Chao Du!

The Obstacles on the Path to Awakening

I only now understand that promoting a true, supreme Dharma is an incredibly difficult task. Because it is a supreme teaching, beings without sufficient merit find it hard to believe. Furthermore, because it is a supreme teaching, your own karmic creditors will interfere, for they do not wish to see you achieve success. Consequently, there are many obstacles that block the path. I, Lay Practitioner Huang Nianzu, am speaking clearly enough, am I not? If you do not believe in this place, it is because your path is being obstructed. Where else could you find such a magnificent teaching? There is nowhere else, my friends.

The magnificence of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is known throughout the vast emptiness of space, yet why is it unknown to this Saha world? Beings use sleep, their habitual tendencies, and their stubborn personalities to resolve problems, which fundamentally obstructs their own keen awareness. There is so much that you do not know. How, then, can you know of this place? How can you be certain whether you have missed the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way? I am in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and I can tell you that this place is truly wonderful; it is the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss itself. It all depends on whether you are willing to believe.

The Essence of Sincere Recitation

I use the experience of my entire life spent studying the Pure Land path to tell you this: seeking rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss was always my ideal. However, as to how one truly grasps this, I can only say: do not doubt. You must not doubt, for I fear that once you doubt, you will lose your faith. I used to recite the Buddha-name over one hundred thousand times a day, yet I still had not reached the ultimate. The true ultimate is that a single, sincere recitation of the Buddha-name is enough to attain rebirth. Do you believe this? More than one hundred thousand recitations are not as effective as one single recitation filled with absolute sincerity. Why did it take me so long to understand this?

The Magnificent Power of the Dharma Assembly

At Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, what you must—and absolutely must—participate in is the Chao Du performed during the Dharma assembly. I often watch as the fourfold assembly of disciples writes all their physical ailments upon the memorial tablets. When the heart is sincere, the response is miraculous. Some have barely finished writing when their illnesses are healed; the speed is extraordinary. I have seen the karmic creditors who were possessing these individuals enter the memorial tablets immediately. The comfortable environment within these tablets can manifest according to the needs of the beings. At that moment, I thought to myself: if the whole world were like this, it would be difficult for the Buddha’s teachings not to flourish.

The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre was originally quite closed, not accepting outside influence. At that time, I, Lay Practitioner Huang Nianzu, could not say much, for the one in charge is Namo Amituofo. I only secretly wished: how wonderful it would be if it could open up to the world?

A Message to Xia Fasheng

Finally, the Buddha is indeed compassionate. Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has grown rapidly. Although the main temple halls have not yet been built, and there is only one white building for practice on the four-hundred-acre property, I, Lay Practitioner Huang Nianzu, have one hundred percent confidence in this place. The great temple that will span the city is not a fantasy. I do not believe in the doubts and pessimism that others hold. I believe in this place and in everything I have seen with my own eyes. I know that everyone will surely achieve success.

Once this temple opened, the first person I thought of was Xia Fasheng. In those years, Fasheng trusted me more than anyone else, and our Causal Conditions are exceptionally deep. You are not young anymore, are you? On the day you return home, I will come to receive you. But you must have enough faith to be able to go. It is like a television channel; your frequency must match, otherwise, even if I can see you, you will not be able to see me! That would be difficult. Fasheng should understand these words. I am waiting for you in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss for the day of your completion. Your grandfather will also come. My teacher, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, is very concerned about the construction of the great temple; he is helping day and night. You know his character well; such diligent effort is his style. If you cannot reach Australia, make a phone call. There are still tasks in this world that you, Fasheng, must complete. Once they are finished, your time will be near. Listen to my words. You have met Practitioner Su; you must listen to my words. Recite Namo Amituofo diligently, and wait for that day to return home to the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Written by Lay Practitioner Huang Nianzu

Interview content recorded by the Buddha’s disciple, Shi Faxi