The Truth: Awakening to the Reality of Our Existence
Teachings from Venerable KaiLin
July 27, 2019
July 27, 2019
In our modern era, the world is a cacophony of noise, overwhelming information, volatile emotions, and fragmented mental notes. These elements weave together, creating a state of constant agitation that makes it nearly impossible for people to find true stillness within their hearts. Most individuals exist in a state of restless agitation, yet they remain entirely unaware of this condition. They are like travellers lost in a storm, unable to see the path ahead because their vision is obscured by the dust of their own making.
The Cluttered Sanctuary of
Originally, the space within our cells is pure, empty, and tranquil. However, due to the constant interaction of external information, emotional turbulence, wandering mental notes, and the rigid patterns of our personalities, this inner sanctuary begins to change. Slowly, new residents begin to take up space within our very cells. These new residents—our anxieties, our attachments, and our grievances—do not arrive alone. They constantly call out to their companions, inviting more clutter into our inner world. Eventually, the entire space within our cells becomes so crowded that there is not a single gap of emptiness left. This is the root of our suffering.
The Physical Toll of Mental Turbulence
When our inner space is filled with such density, our physical bodies begin to manifest the consequences. We start to experience a variety of distressing symptoms, including:
- A profound sense of heaviness that makes every movement feel like a struggle.
- Persistent aches and soreness that refuse to dissipate.
- Sensations of numbness or tingling in the limbs.
- A constant feeling of tightness or constriction within .
- Involuntary muscle spasms or cramping.
In a desperate attempt to resolve these physical problems, we often react with further emotional distress, pressure, tension, and dissatisfaction. This reaction only serves to attract even more negative energy into our cells. This creates a vicious cycle that, in the eyes of Venerable KaiLin, resembles an infinite loop. We find ourselves trapped, endlessly repeating the same mistakes and suffering the same consequences. If one does not encounter the right Causal Conditions in this lifetime, this cycle will continue until the very end, and one will have wasted the precious human body they worked so hard to attain.
A Precious Opportunity for
Those of you who are currently present at Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre—both the monastics and the fourfold assembly—possess and Causal Conditions far greater than those of the average person. You have the unique opportunity to clearly understand the truth of reality and to see through the illusions of this world. You must also have a clear understanding of the direction of your life and your future goals. If you fail to do so, you are squandering the blessings and Causal Conditions you have accumulated over countless lifetimes.
By allowing the opportunity to break free from this cycle to slip through your fingers, you are effectively abandoning your chance to achieve the magnificent . This is, in truth, a deeply selfish act. If you do not take these issues seriously, it matters little what role you hold within the temple or how many years of experience you possess. When it comes to the prospect of rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, there is simply no possibility of success if you remain stagnant.
The Solemn Duty of the Practitioner
Furthermore, failing to address your own internal state may eventually cause great harm to the reputation of the temple itself. Venerable KaiLin wishes to state this clearly and unequivocally: only by truly facing your own problems, and by actively changing, improving, and adjusting your heart, can you make progress. Only then can you encourage your to resolve their conflicts with you, ensuring they no longer obstruct your path forward. Only then can you have the necessary confidence on the road to rebirth.
This is a magnificent and supreme path, but it is also a path that you must walk alone. No external force can help you change; no one can do the work of purification for you. The only true medicine is your own heart, your own perseverance, and your own . You must constantly urge yourself, discipline yourself, and push yourself forward. This is the only way to reach the destination. Namo Amituofo.
Venerable KaiLin
Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Facie
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library