The Vital Importance of Promoting True Buddhist Teachings

Venerable Fuhui, a dedicated nun who sought deliverance through the True Teachings, now resides in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This message, recorded on July 25, 2017, by the chief writer Cao Rudi, serves as a heartfelt plea to practitioners to prioritise the study and promotion of the True Teachings to ensure their own liberation and the salvation of all beings.

Venerable Fuhui speaks:

"In the quiet, overgrown paths of the mountains, few traces of humanity remain. Yet, those who seek the Way with a sincere heart do not fear the hardships of the journey. I have left my physical body behind to save beings, having long ago placed my own life and comfort outside of my concerns.

My heart, as a nun dedicated to saving beings, remains the same as yours. Although I no longer possess a physical body, I find that I am now even more sensitive to all things and can see the truth of reality with greater clarity. When we become spirits, we possess at least the five supernatural powers—to say nothing of the magnificent Causal Conditions that have allowed me to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss today. Today, I wish to share my reflections with those who are currently practising, or are about to embark on the path of practice, whether you are a lay practitioner or a monastic.

The Peril of Unconscious Samsara

From the perspective of the Western Pure Land, I have witnessed the immense suffering of beings in the hells. I have seen, with profound sorrow, how people fearlessly march toward those hells, step by step, without even realising where they are headed. The constant contact with the Five Poisons, the Five Desires, and the Six Dusts leaves the people of this world without any sense of vigilance. They continue to chase after fame, wealth, and status with tireless enthusiasm. It is truly terrifying to behold.

Reflecting upon my own past, we established places of group cultivation like our Daxingshan Temple. No, perhaps I should be more honest: we merely provided a place for people to satisfy their need for physical healing and spiritual solace. We failed to introduce the vast, profound ocean of the Buddha’s teachings to our followers. During my lifetime, I did not manage to turn this situation around. I only hope that the current leadership can truly understand that, beyond personal meditative concentration and cultivation, the dual practice of Chan and Pure Land is the most effective shortcut to help people achieve rebirth in the Pure Land during this age of the Dharma’s decline.

Beyond Ritual: The True Path to Deliverance

At Daxingshan Temple, a large proportion of our followers are incredibly devout in their pilgrimages to the mountain to pay homage to the Buddha, praying that they might repent of their spiritual obstacles and ensure the safety of their bodies and families. Yet, people have perhaps never considered that the truly important task is to chant Namo Amituofo and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Although we displayed slogans such as 'Four ounces of illness, no one can replace you,' emphasising the importance of individual learning, how many could truly grasp the depth of these golden words? Because we did not provide regular Dharma talks, we were forced to rely entirely on the individual realisation of the Bodhisattva-beings themselves.

I was wrong. When I was in the world, although I was filled with a burning passion to save the world and understood that every being had different goals, my approach to saving them was uniform. Looking back now, I realise that giving Dharma talks to help people understand what the true Buddha’s teachings are—and what the core of practice is—is of vital importance.

A Call to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

Practitioner Su at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has a heart of compassion that has saved countless beings. Her sincerity has moved Namo Amituofo to personally reside at the temple, and various Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and ancestral masters are all there to support this bodhimanda of the True Teachings, joining in this magnificent undertaking. I must call out loudly here: whether you are a follower of Daxingshan Temple or simply a person who studies the Buddha’s teachings, you must make a trip to the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Only then will your life not have been lived in vain. I believe you will personally realise the compassion of the Buddha and the urgency of saving the world. As the saying goes, 'If you want the Buddha’s teachings to flourish, the monastics must praise one another,' is that not so?

I can descend from the Western Pure Land at any moment to speak with you. Please cherish this opportunity, for time is truly running out. I am here, waiting for all of you."