What can be accomplished in the span of a single day and night? The term "day" refers to the light of the sun, while "night" refers to the darkness that follows—together, they form the twenty-four hours of a complete day.
As practitioners, we must constantly look inward and reflect—asking ourselves what we are capable of doing, what we have already done, and what we have not yet done throughout these twenty-four hours. The states of practice include being able to practise, practising extensively, practising diligently, having already practised, not yet practising, and waiting to practise.
What has already been practised belongs to the past; one should examine the mind to see if it remains in a state of meditative concentration. Practitioners should be able to act directly and straightforwardly, thinking neither of what is ahead nor of what is behind. Only by living in the present can one truly be a wise person.
The Trap of Endless Thinking
If our thoughts are constantly drifting between the past and the future, the present moment slips away instantly and time is lost in meaningless consumption. People often spend a great deal of time trapped within their own thoughts, notions, comparisons, and contemplations.
If we could save this time and focus entirely on performing practical actions—one steady step at a time—we would not only preserve the precious mental energy usually wasted on idle thinking, but we would also better preserve our spirit and our physical strength. This allows us to stand in the present moment with a vibrant spirit, fully prepared to undertake what is truly important.
And what is this important work? It is to benefit others, to extend a helping hand, and to serve all sentient beings. To accomplish this, we must first awaken and achieve spiritual success within ourselves— for only by achieving it ourselves can we truly help others on a vast scale.
The Path of Service and
Spiritual practice demands unceasing, diligent cultivation and an unwavering perseverance before real fruits can be seen. Spiritual practice cannot be accomplished in just a day or two; rather, it requires long-term cultivation and gradual, step-by-step purification. If we allow the dust of worldly habits to accumulate layer upon layer, the cool, pristine, and magnificent nature of our true body, mind, and spirit will remain forever obscured—a deeply regrettable tragedy.
In particular, the fourfold assembly of disciples at Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre is being protected. Though living simple lives, their days are filled with immense fulfillment. This is especially true during the —where they begin with early morning prostrations alongside Practitioner Su and remain busy until the end of the third period of the service. Living such a fulfilling life is for the purpose of liberating oneself, delivering others, and following the path of the Buddha.
Reflecting on the True Self
Practitioner Su embodies this absolute dedication. Within the span of a single day and night, she has already delivered and liberated countless, boundless sentient beings and demon crowds, enabling them to enter the . No matter the circumstances, the Buddha never ceases to save suffering beings. Within the brief limits of this human life, one should aspire to maximise the utility of our physical form. While one still draws breath, if there is any task we can do for the sake of sentient beings, one should do it quickly and diligently.
In the Buddha-land, many things truly exist. The laws of cause and effect— where good deeds bring good rewards and evil deeds bring retribution—is completely real and unfailing. For those who achieve success through hard work, their practice can advance further and reach a higher level. This depends entirely on oneself: as you sow, so shall you reap.
If one's spiritual practice still harbours ego-attachment and selfishness, then even if one or two kalpas, or five, ten, or even longer periods of time pass, it will be impossible to attain any spiritual achievement.
The practice at Hsiang Kuang requires letting go of — being selfless and detached from ego— in order to rediscover one's true nature. If one can rediscover their true nature, then no matter how difficult the path may seem, it is worth it. Practitioner Su has already achieved this, and the fourfold assembly of disciples should look to her as an example and learn.
Yet, the deeply ingrained habits and traits that each member of the fourfold assembly has developed in the secular world—such as greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt, as well as attachments to wealth, sexual pleasure, fame, food, and sleep—remain. How much mental energy, time, and physical strength are wasted on these every single day! Within a single day and night, what have we actually accomplished?
One must reflect deeply on this. If your actions are good, wholesome and pure, then continue them. If they are unwholesome or if they are driven by personal ego, then change them immediately.
