Vigilance on the Path of Practice

The Urgency of Spiritual Progress

If you find that your practice has stalled, you must be alert to the fact that you are no longer where you once were. When you are already struggling to maintain diligent practice, how can you possibly allow yourself to become lazy, scattered, or indifferent? You must be vigilant, for every minute and every second that passes is a step closer to old age, and your physical strength is not what it used to be. You must ask yourself: where have the problems arisen in your life? Why has your progress slowed?

The Mirror of Introspection

It is time to look within and reflect upon your current state. Do not delay this introspection, for the path of practice requires constant self-correction. Consider these essential areas of your character:

• Have you truly changed your personality and temperament?
• Has the fire of anger within you been extinguished?
• Have you removed the seeds of doubt from your heart?
• Have you finally broken through the barriers of arrogance?

If you find that days have passed without any genuine progress, or if you notice that your Six Roots are becoming dull and your reactions are slowing, you must recognise these as signs of regression. These are indicators that your physical condition is declining, and if left unchecked, this state will inevitably become a major obstacle to your practice and your purification.

The Peril of Passive Practice

When you encounter these signs, you must quickly seek the guidance of a true teacher in the human world, for the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is right before your eyes. You must take the initiative in your daily lessons:

• Engage in prostrations to the Buddha with a sincere heart.
• Chant Buddha's name with unwavering focus.
• Recite the Sutras to nourish your true nature.

If you find yourself becoming lazy or indulgent, you must immediately sound the alarm of vigilance within your own heart. The Buddha’s teachings are attained through the virtue of respect. If you think that skipping a few prostrations does not matter, or that arriving late to the ceremony is acceptable, you are falling into a dangerous trap. If you wait for others to arrive before you do, or if you only do what you are told and refuse to do anything more, you must be deeply concerned. These mindsets are known to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and they are known to all beings.

The Path of Sincerity and Respect

Such attitudes are manifestations of passivity, arrogance, and a lack of care. When your sincerity and respect are insufficient, the negative entities emitted by your behaviour are a sign of regression. How can one hope to become an awakened being with such a mindset? In the end, the one who suffers the greatest loss is yourself. Instead, choose the path of diligent practice:

• Perform more prostrations, and do so with your own initiative.
• Arrive at the venue early; it is better that you wait for others than to let others wait for you.
• Approach every task with genuine sincerity and profound respect.

You must live your life in this way. If you do, you will never suffer a loss, and you will surely find your way to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo