Reading 1:

Beyond Birth and Death

A translated piece from 《不生不滅》by Practitioner Xia Lian Ju （夏蓮居老居士）

Understanding how our spirit is unborn and undying

Spiritual Message received by Venerable Hai Yuan

21st September 2024

Original Piece: https://amtbpureland.cc/5QMAq

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What is beyond birth and death?

It is the true nature—unborn and undying.

This nature exists as a quiet, spiritual light within us.

Why Are Those Who Realise Their Nature So Rare?

In this world of confusion and suffering, purification is difficult,

and true faith in the Buddha is rare.

Yet the realisation of true nature is inherent in all beings.

Its essence is beyond birth and death, beyond purity and impurity, beyond growing and shrinking—it remains whole and unchanged, no matter what happens.

Its qualities include boundless wisdom and limitless ability.

Such inconceivable truths are known only to those who have realised their nature.

Therefore, the actions of awakened beings often seem unbelievable to others.

These abilities are not acquired from outside—they arise naturally from the true nature.

Once realisation occurs, and guided by vows, these qualities can gradually unfold.

Ultimately, their purpose is to liberate sentient beings from suffering.

The Light Within

This radiant spiritual nature has long been obscured by karmic forces across countless lifetimes,

rendered dim and seemingly inactive.

It is hidden by personality, habits, and the five poisons—greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt—

as well as by attachment to wealth, sensuality, fame, food, and sleep.

These obscuration give rise to suffering and wrongdoing.

Birth, aging, illness, and death have replaced the original qualities of the unborn life—

a life that is ageless, free from illness, and spiritually indestructible,

a life of peacefulness and ease.

Yet all of this can be gradually recovered and fully revealed through pure and undefiled spiritual practice.

The Presence of Namo Amituofo at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

Today, at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre,

Namo Amituofo is the Universal Buddha,

perfect in wisdom, virtue, appearance, and merit.

In the Western Pure Land,

Namo Amituofo’s spiritual nature is also unborn and undying.

For ten kalpas, he has upheld the power of his forty-eight great vows

to continually guide sentient beings from the Saha World and the ten directions of the Dharma Realm to enter the Western Pure Land,

where they realise their true nature and attain liberation.

A Call to Seek the Path

All of this is available now at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

May all who hear and see this message—those with affinity—

come forth to seek the Dharma, engage in practice,

and realise their true nature.