The Vital Importance of Buddhist Education

The Necessity of Wisdom in the Age of Dharma Decline

In this current age of the Dharma’s decline, Buddhist education is of paramount importance for all beings. It is not merely a collection of ancient theories, but a practical guide that helps us recognise the profound reality of the laws of karma and cause and effect. Through this education, we begin to understand the true nature of our spirits and the existence of our original, true self. It encourages us to take responsibility for our own Body-Mind-Spirit, teaching us that the human body is, in fact, the most advanced technology in existence. When one truly understands the nature of space, one can transcend the limitations of physical dimensions and the heavy constraints of karma, thereby living a life of true autonomy and freedom.

The Pure Land Dharma Gate as a Path to Freedom

The Pure Land Dharma Gate stands as the most rapid and convenient method for achieving this state of self-mastery. It is a unique path that relies on the dual support of one's own diligent practice and the boundless power of Namo Amituofo. When you practise according to the correct principles and methods, you receive the constant support of the Buddha's blessings. This path is inclusive and compassionate, suitable for beings of all ages and all levels of potential. It provides the necessary support to help you achieve peace and happiness in this very life, ensuring that you do not grow old, do not get sick, and that your spirit does not die. Ultimately, it paves the way for your successful rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Returning to the Roots of Virtue

This path is essential in our modern era because people have become accustomed to seeking happiness outside of themselves. In doing so, they often neglect the vital work of the heart and the internal journey of returning to their original true self. Buddhist education is designed to teach us how to purify our minds through consistent practice. By doing so, we can rediscover the compassion and wisdom that are inherent in everyone, allowing our true self to manifest naturally. The wisdom of our ancestors, combined with the teachings of ethics and morality, forms the foundation of pure Goodness. If we practise these teachings faithfully, we can effectively halt the manifestation of negative karma, preventing it from obstructing or dominating our lives. This allows our innate goodness and true self the opportunity to shine forth once more.

Overcoming the Interference of Karma

Currently, the state of our society, our nations, and the entire global environment reflects a tragic decline in the appreciation for ancestral wisdom and moral foundations. These teachings have been gradually ignored or forgotten, and as a result, they are not being upheld. Consequently, we see everywhere that people are unable to live with true autonomy. They are frequently dominated by their own karma and suffer from the interference and obstacles created by other beings and demon crowds. Buddhist education provides the essential tools to help everyone recognise these karmic forces. It empowers us to overcome the interference and obstacles that these forces place upon our physical bodies, which are merely the result of past actions.

The Power of the Holy Name

To navigate this world successfully, we must learn to think well, look at things with a positive perspective, speak with kindness, and act with integrity. By doing so, we give rise to all roots of goodness and achieve the fruit of Bodhi. Chanting the Holy Name "Namo Amituofo" all the way is the most critical method for avoiding the triggering of negative karma or stopping it from manifesting before it can take hold. Through this practice, we can transform our karma and eventually realise our true self. The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is the destination that countless beings in the spiritual realms long to reach. It is essential to understand the magnificence of the Pure Land Dharma Gate, to recognise the infinite compassion of Namo Amituofo and His Forty-eight Great Vows to save countless suffering beings, and to appreciate the supreme beauty and dignity of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss that He has established for us.

A Sanctuary for True Cultivation

We must also recognise the reality of the cycle of rebirth and the suffering that accompanies it—the suffering of birth, the suffering of aging, the suffering of illness, and the suffering of death. By acknowledging this suffering, we develop a genuine willingness to leave suffering behind. This leads us to develop Bodhicitta, to chant the Buddha’s name, and to make the sincere vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. By maintaining Faith, Vows, and Practice with diligent effort, we accumulate the necessary provisions for our journey, which serves as our own guarantee for a successful rebirth. If you are able to embrace this Buddhist education, you may come to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, where Namo Amituofo is residing here. By practising here, you can make good use of this body to engage in True Cultivation, achieving the purification of your Body-Mind-Spirit. You will develop the potential of your Six Roots and your innate abilities, allowing you to realise your true self sooner. In doing so, you will be able to help yourself and others, fully utilising the body as the most advanced technology to follow the Buddha in saving countless suffering beings.

Namo Amituofo

recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe