The Trap of the Illusory Realm: The Thirteenth Letter of President Zhao Puchu

Can you truly fathom the terrifying nature of this illusory realm? Once you step into this web of illusions, even the sharpest and most clear-headed mind will be deceived. You will begin to believe that everything you see before you is absolute, objective reality. This realm is designed to confuse you, to tempt you, and to leave your spirit in a state of total disarray. It can make you feel so lost and unclear that you might even desire to remain trapped within it forever. Are you still wandering in this illusion? Have you truly awakened yet?

The Labyrinth of the Worldly Realm

If you are deeply lost, you will find yourself unable to pull away. If you are only slightly lost, you might still retain a flicker of awareness. Yet, from the very moment you descended into this world, you have been locked in a struggle against these illusions. Has anyone ever truly walked out of this maze with ease? Are you still lost in the fog? You must hasten to find your way out. This worldly realm is nothing more than a captivating, illusory trap. Driven by the seven emotions and the five desires, you have become so distracted and soul-weary that you have remained here for thousands of years, unwilling to depart.

The Lost Path of the Monastic

The compassionate calls of our Father, Namo Amituofo, echo through the universe, yet they often fail to awaken our hearts, which remain stubbornly attached to this world. To the monastics: perhaps you have heard the compassionate voice of Namo Amituofo and felt the urge to return home. You chose to leave the dust of the world behind to walk the path of practice. However, from my perspective, many of you have become even more deeply lost. You have forgotten where home truly is, let alone how to find the path that leads back to it. Many monastics have become tainted by the pursuit of fame and profit. Before even setting foot on the road home, they have already fallen into a dark trap, sinking deeper and deeper. For them, home remains forever in the distant, unreachable horizon.

Finding the Way Home

In my own life, although I dedicated myself to the integration of Buddhism, I did not understand the vital importance of returning to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. I lost my way on the path home. My spirit became scattered, trapped within the very spaces I had clung to so tightly. It was my great fortune to be rescued by the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, where Practitioner Su, with boundless compassion, reached out to guide me back home.

I wish to tell everyone, whether you are a monastic or a lay practitioner, that we are all one family. The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is our true home. You must take this matter seriously, for if you do not, you will never be able to return. Wandering in samsara is a bitter experience. Turn back now, and cast yourself into the embrace of our compassionate Father, Namo Amituofo.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Fajing.

Namo Amituofo