The Truth of My Journey to the Western Pure Land
A Message from Master Sheng Yen
Recorded at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
The Unveiling of a Hidden Truth
Namo Amituofo. I am Master Sheng Yen. It is a rare and precious opportunity to send this message from the of Ultimate Bliss. I ask that you open your hearts and believe in the truth of what I am about to share.
Many people have found it difficult to accept the reality of my passing. They cannot believe that their beloved teacher, Master Sheng Yen, could have experienced such a departure. When I was in the human world, my health declined, and I suffered from kidney failure. Those with true insight and wisdom understood clearly that such a painful end was not an auspicious sign of rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
The truth is that I had fallen into the hells to suffer for my past . It was through the compassionate intervention of Practitioner Su—whom you now respectfully address as Practitioner Su—at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre that I was rescued. After being brought up from those depths and listening to the for a period of time, I was guided by Practitioner Su to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
A Heartfelt Plea to the Dharma Drum Mountain Community
I understand that many of you cannot accept this. You find it impossible to believe that your teacher could have faced such a fate. Because of this, even though I have written many letters since arriving in the Western Pure Land, my words have gone unheeded. I have hoped that someone from Dharma Drum Mountain—any practitioner, whether a monastic or a lay practitioner—would come forward. It would be even better if Venerable Guo Hui could come to understand the truth of this situation. Only by acknowledging the facts can Dharma Drum Mountain have the opportunity to change its ways.
Unfortunately, my letters have been like stones cast into the sea, disappearing without a trace. Some who have dared to believe have even faced punishment from the monastic community. I sigh with regret. I do not blame you, my students; I blame myself. When Shakyamuni Buddha was in the world, He clearly indicated that in this age of the Dharma’s decline, the only path for beings to achieve liberation is through the Pure Land teachings.
The Ultimate Achievement of the Pure Land
Despite this, I continued to uphold Zen as my primary focus, ignoring the fact that rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is the ultimate achievement for any practitioner in the human world. Without this, one inevitably remains trapped within the six realms of rebirth. All the knowledge one acquires and all the worldly achievements one attains in this life are merely stored as data within the . They do not lead to true liberation.
The ultimate purpose of the Buddha’s teachings is to:
- Find true liberation from suffering.Transcend the cycle of birth and death.Escape the three realms of existence.Learn the Buddha’s path to achieve Buddhahood.
This can only be accomplished by relying on the Ultimate Vow of Namo Amituofo. To be truly reborn in the Western Pure Land is the only way to ensure that one has not lived in vain as a disciple of Shakyamuni Buddha, having worn the monastic robes.
Repentance and the Path Forward
During these days in the Western Pure Land, I have realised that I must let go of everything. I am diligently studying and practising before the Buddha, hoping to attain Buddhahood as soon as possible so that I may return to the human world to save the students of Dharma Drum Mountain. I wish to repent for the mistakes I made during my time in the human world. It is a great pity that by the time I am able to do so, many of my students may have already been lost to the dust of the mundane world.
I take this opportunity to earnestly plead with anyone at Dharma Drum Mountain who believes in my words: please come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. I hope to transform the atmosphere of Dharma Drum Mountain. Remember these words: the Zen style remains, but the Pure Land is the foundation. If you are not reborn in the Western Pure Land, this life has been lived in vain. Please take these words to heart; this is my deepest hope. I pray that you will believe, so that your life will not have been wasted.
The Magnificent Promise of Mituo Village
The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia is preparing to build the Mituo Village, and this project requires your full support. This is an extraordinary event that is incredibly difficult to find. I am calling upon all those who have a karmic affinity with this project to seize this opportunity. Namo Amituofo truly abides at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. I see this very clearly from the Western Pure Land. Those who come to reside there will have the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Do not let this chance slip away. By entering the Mituo Village, you are boarding the great ship to the West, which will surely carry you to the other shore.
Recorded by Venerable HaiZe.
Namo Amituofo
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library