When the fourfold assembly of disciples within the temple community engages in group cultivation and the work of spreading the to receive and guide sentient beings, there are many tasks that must be accomplished together. It is much like a relay race; one must pass the baton from person to person, step by step, to successfully reach the final destination. It is of the utmost importance that the entire assembly works together with one heart to complete these tasks. In this process, you must exert your full effort, yet remain detached from the outcome, letting things unfold according to their natural conditions. You must remain diligent throughout the entire process, never allowing yourself to become lax or distracted until the very moment the destination is reached.
The Unbroken Flow of Devotion
This principle of persistence is identical to the practice of chanting at the time of one's passing, as one seeks rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. You must ensure that your mind does not fall into confusion, and your chanting of the Buddha-name must be continuous and uninterrupted. Even when you see the Buddha arriving to receive you upon the lotus pedestal, your chanting must not cease. You must continue to chant until you have safely arrived in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. In fact, even within that magnificent realm, the chanting of the Buddha-name continues in a constant, unbroken stream. The work of the temple and the mission to guide beings must be completed through the united efforts of the fourfold assembly, while each individual's personal practice must be carried out with diligence, for the strength of one's own meditative skills is something only the practitioner can attain for themselves. If one becomes lazy or regresses, this too is a matter of the laws of and cause and effect; by creating negative causes, one will inevitably reap evil consequences.
Beyond the Cycle of Basic Survival
In many biological groups and communities, there is a constant need to work together to obtain the energy required to sustain life. These beings strive solely for the basic needs of the physical body. They spend lifetime after lifetime within their respective spaces, yet they fail to elevate the quality of their spirit, making it extremely difficult for them to transcend their current state. The spaces to which they belong are of a basic, lower level. In contrast, beings of a higher level of existence spend their lives focused on spiritual matters. They strive for the purification and elevation of their spirit, which allows their natural, inherent abilities to manifest. If they can further their diligent practice and rediscover their true self and Buddha-nature, they will be able to save sentient beings across various biological groups, the six realms of existence, and the vastness of the Dharma Realm.
The Path to Buddhahood
Such beings are capable of using their vow power to establish a Buddha-land, where they can receive and guide the beings they have saved, leading them into a life of purification, abundant energy, and the rediscovery of their true self and Buddha-nature. The space and destination to which your body and spirit belong are manifested by your own heart. As your spirit is elevated and purified, you will naturally ascend to higher levels of space. This continues until your spirit is entirely pure and filled with Goodness, leading you to and the realisation of your true nature, eventually allowing you to establish your own Buddha-land. This is the operation of the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.
Cultivating Dharma Affinity
Within the human world, you have the opportunity to elevate the quality of your spirit through individual practice and group cultivation. The various requirements of group cultivation—such as the preparation of vegetarian meals, the organisation of the venue, and the offering of the Dharma Jewel—must be completed through the mutual assistance and united efforts of the fourfold assembly. This is also a wonderful way to build extensive Dharma affinity with all beings. Namo Amituofo.
