The Twenty-Third Letter: Overcoming the Self

This is a record of the twenty-third letter from the late Venerable Master Wei Chueh, who now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This message was received and recorded by the disciple Shi Faxi at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia on July 9, 2017.

Venerable Master Wei Chueh speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Wei Chueh. I am writing this to offer guidance to those still navigating the complexities of the human realm.

The Trap of Personality and the Six Realms of Rebirth

The stubbornness of one's personality—the difficulty in tempering and subduing it—is the primary cause of the six realms of rebirth. It is the fundamental karmic cause that keeps us bound to this cycle. Yet, in the world today, how many people are truly willing to change their personalities? Sometimes, it is not even a matter of unwillingness; it is simply that they find it impossible to change. Everyone feels that it is just too difficult.

The Struggle Within the Fourfold Assembly

To the fourfold assembly of disciples at Chung Tai, I know that you all still possess very strong personalities. I am well aware of this. When things are calm, these personality traits remain hidden, and their flaws are not easily seen. However, the moment a conflict arises, the situation often spirals out of control. Even if your practice seems robust on the surface, falling short at the final moment is not a good sign. If this continues, when will you ever be able to attain the fruits of true practice?

The Failure of Continuous Thinking

I understand that you are all very busy with your practice, constantly rushing in and out, each managing your own specific duties. You say you want to settle down and observe your heart, but often, that is not easy. Your minds are in a state of continuous thinking, constantly churning—thinking about public affairs, thinking about private matters. In truth, this is where our Zen school has failed. Without moments of meditative concentration, even the slightest breeze or movement can trigger every thought and intention. Not only does this make it difficult to achieve success in your practice, but it also makes it easy for faults and errors to arise.

A Call to Self-Reflection

It is time for everyone to reflect: how should these problems be solved? You cannot allow yourselves to be defeated by your own personalities forever. Personality does not just refer to anger; any of the seven emotions, the five desires, or deep-seated attachment—these are all part of one's personality, and they are all major obstacles to practice.

If you have already been able to perceive this within yourself, then I congratulate you. Your practice is about to undergo a transformation. I hope that everyone can face the problems in their practice with honesty and sincerity. Namo Amituofo."