Yesterday Has Passed: Words from the Buddha's Heart

Every day is a new beginning. When you open your eyes today, you are still breathing. This is a profound reason for gratitude. How many lives have ended in the blink of an eye? When the breath stops and impermanence arrives, life is lost in an instant.

The Subtle Transformation of the Physical Form

The human body is a structure of immense complexity. Between yesterday and today, your body has undergone subtle changes. Perhaps your cells have renewed themselves, or perhaps damaged tissues have begun to heal. Maybe the karmic creditors, attached spirits, and demon crowds that once troubled you have been invited to hear the Dharma and have resolved their conflicts. Your Body-Mind-Spirit may have undergone a purification, opening up new space within you. Conversely, you might be trapped in excessive thinking, unable to control your mind, creating new worries and impurities. Or perhaps your Body-Mind-Spirit is currently being tested, leading to deep realisations and a process of transformation.

The Temporary Vessel

Students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, you must realise that this body is merely a borrowed vessel. It is a body of karma. When the time comes, the spirit must depart; it is not something you can possess forever. Now that you have heard the Dharma, you know that your true self is the only reality. The body is temporary; once its purpose is served, it will vanish. If you can let go of the obstacles in your heart, use this "temporary" body to find the "eternal" truth, release your attachment to the body and its karma, and engage in diligent practice, you will be able to realise your true self.

The Precious Opportunity for Awakening

This is a truth that many practitioners throughout history have known and followed. Yet, many failed to find their true self before their lives ended, only to fall back into the six realms of rebirth. Today, you have been given a new chance. You have regained a human body, you have heard the supreme Dharma of the Pure Land, and you have the opportunity to chant Namo Amituofo and practise at this Buddha-land. You must grasp this opportunity firmly!

Seizing the Present Moment

Yesterday has already passed. This includes not only the days of this life but also the countless lifetimes of the past. You must grasp the present moment. Follow the guidance of Practitioner Su with active and persistent effort. In doing so, you will surely reach the time of transforming your karma and achieving Awakening.

Namo Amituofo