Before you chose to leave home and enter the monastic life, did you truly prepare yourself? Did you search your heart and confirm that you could honour the sacred robes you wear? To be a monastic is to commit oneself to the and to offer one's body, mind, and heart to the service of the across infinite realms. It is a vow that transcends the ordinary life, yet it is one that must be upheld with absolute sincerity.
How many have stood before the Buddha, making the Four Great Vows, only to cast those promises aside as if they were dust? On the day of your ordination, you pledged to save all beings, to end all delusions, to learn all the Dharma gates, and to attain the supreme path of Buddhahood. Yet, how quickly can the world wash away such noble intentions? When a monastic becomes stained by the pursuit of fame, wealth, and worldly recognition, they may still carry the outward appearance of a practitioner, but their inner world has become hollow. If the heart lacks cultivation and inner depth, is this not a betrayal of one's own vows?
The Trap of Worldly Desires
Many choose the path of the monastic specifically to escape the and of this world. However, if one leaves home only to become entangled in the very same habits they sought to abandon, the consequences are severe. To carry the name of a monastic while indulging in worldly attachments is to damage the image of the Buddha’s gate. Such actions do not go unnoticed by the laws of ; indeed, the gates of the hells are already waiting for those who misuse their position.
It is a sobering truth that throughout history, many who wore the robes have found themselves standing before the gates of the hells. The path of the monastic offers only two ultimate destinations: either a return to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss or the experience of suffering retribution in hell. Life in this world is but a fleeting moment, lasting only a few decades. Why would you continue to strive for things that you cannot take with you when the time of death arrives?
The Path of True
Instead of chasing shadows, you must actively and diligently work to sever your negative habits. Do not walk blindly toward the hells. You must find a moment of true awakening. Ask yourself in every waking moment: are my current actions and thoughts leading me toward the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, or are they pulling me away? No one can make this decision for you, for the direction of your life originates entirely from your own heart.
To find your way, you must settle your heart upon the Buddha-name. By chanting , you can begin to remove the layers of delusions, discriminations, and attachments that cloud your vision. Only then will you be able to see this world clearly for what it is. You will finally understand that the matter of life and death is the most urgent and significant task of all. It is the most important duty of this human body to chant Namo Amituofo and seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
A Final Exhortation
The responsibility of the monastic is vast, and the opportunity to practise is precious. Do not let this life pass in vain. Reflect constantly, look within, and ensure that your every thought is aligned with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. By keeping your heart focused on the Buddha-name, you will find the strength to overcome any obstacle and the clarity to walk the path of the with unwavering resolve. May you cherish this opportunity, for the sake of all suffering beings and for your own ultimate liberation.
Written by Venerable KaiLin. This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Faci, who served as the chief writer.
