The Vision of the Amitabha Village

The Essence of Daily Practice

Namo Amituofo. I am Venerable Chan Yun. How are you all faring in your lives in this human world? Is your practice of chanting Namo Amituofo proving effective? You must remain diligent in your chanting! Do not allow yourselves to be misled by the Five Desires and the Six Dusts of this world. If you lose your meditative concentration and sink into the cycle of rebirth, you will surely forget the Buddha-name. Please remember that the primary purpose of performing prostrations and chanting the name of Namo Amituofo is to cultivate meditative concentration and achieve purification. These are methods, not the ultimate goal itself. If you perform prostrations with a mind filled with scattered thoughts and delusions, it is merely a hollow act. You will not gain the true benefits of the practice; you will only be seeking a temporary sense of peace to satisfy your own conscience.

The Vow to Repay the Buddha's Kindness

Throughout my life, I have not only held myself to this standard but have also taught the masses that the ultimate goal of learning the Buddha’s teachings is to chant Namo Amituofo and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. In the past, I painted the images of the Western Three Saints. After I had the profound experience of seeing Namo Amituofo, Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva, and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva, I made a vow to capture their sacred images on canvas. I also prayed for the Buddha’s blessings, hoping that those who see these paintings might develop firm faith in Namo Amituofo and the Western Pure Land, thereby generating the sincere vow to be reborn there. This is but a humble gesture of my gratitude for the Buddha’s immeasurable kindness.

The Profound Meaning of the Wan Symbol

Regarding the Wan symbol on the chest of the Buddha in my paintings, since I first began to paint the Buddha, only Practitioner Su has truly understood its deeper significance. As the sutras state, one must subdue demonic resentment to attain the subtle and wonderful Dharma. The way Practitioner Su has transformed immeasurable and boundless external Bodhisattvas from the cosmos—turning them from beings of the Demon Realm into protectors of the Buddha’s gate—is truly worthy of praise. I have never witnessed such vast heart and power as that possessed by Practitioner Su. This is no easy feat! Within the Buddha’s gate, those who lack deep meditative concentration and Prajna wisdom often retreat when faced with various tests and frustrations. Yet, Practitioner Su has not only refused to retreat but has moved forward with even greater courage, widely practising the compassionate vow to save all beings. He truly understands the concept of oneness and the vital importance of teaching and education. He is a person of truly great compassion and great vows.

Transforming the Inner Demons

Demons also possess Buddha-nature; they are merely beings who, for a single moment, lost their awareness and, lacking a true spiritual friend to guide them, fell into the demonic realm. People in this world often fear the arrival of demonic tests. They fear that during these trials, they will lose their right knowledge and right mindfulness, lose their way, and fall into corruption, making it difficult to extricate themselves. This leads to the creation of immeasurable and boundless sins. However, when these beings from the Demon Realm encounter Practitioner Su, they are met with his compassionate tolerance, his wisdom in resolving conflicts, and his willingness to bear the suffering on behalf of all beings. This allows the Buddha-nature of these demons to manifest, transforming them into protectors of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This experience allows those who witness it to see the vast, majestic power of the Buddha’s teachings. It is truly a precious experience within the Buddha’s gate. All the Venerables and lay practitioners at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre have encountered a rare and difficult-to-find opportunity; you must cherish it well!

The Path to Spiritual Liberation

In truth, what we call demons are often nothing more than our own wrong views, wrong thoughts, evil habits, and evil perceptions. The Five Poisons—greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt—along with the Five Desires of wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep, are they not also the very heart and mind of a demon? It is these things that cause people to drift endlessly within the cycle of rebirth. Because of this, we require the Buddha’s teachings and the guidance of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Only then do we have the chance to recognise the truth of these evil habits, to truly repent and change our ways, and to transform these energies into the Bodhi mind. Only then can we chant Namo Amituofo and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is another profound meaning behind the Wan symbol on the chest of the Namo Amituofo statue I painted.

The Amitabha Village

Today, on this precious land of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia, we are preparing to build the Amitabha Village. This is truly exhilarating news! For those who learn and practise the Buddha’s teachings, the ultimate goal is to achieve spiritual liberation and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Moving into the Amitabha Village provides exactly this opportunity. When the karmic conditions of this life come to an end, you may receive the guidance of Practitioner Su to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. It is a dream come true. This kind of genuine skill is rare in this world; you must not let this golden opportunity slip away. Every single bit of generosity and effort contributed to this place is worth it! I hope that everyone will work together with one heart to complete the construction of the Amitabha Village, bringing blessings to even more people who have a karmic affinity with Namo Amituofo.

Namo Amituofo