My dear children, we gather here in this state of stillness and purity. This environment is specifically designed to assist you in repenting for your spiritual obstacles, resolving conflicts with your , and performing the sacred work of . To truly progress, you must be willing to change your personality traits and habits. You must engage in diligent practice without any hesitation or slackening. It is only through the accumulation of knowledge and the building of merit—by becoming pure and good in every thought—that you will have the opportunity to realise your true self.
As your spiritual space opens and your ability to see and hear the truth increases, your interactions with the beings you encounter will surely change. The depth and purity of your ability to save these beings will also improve. You must strive to ensure that your practice is not merely superficial but reaches the very core of your being.
The Preciousness of Every Moment
At Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, every single minute and second is incredibly precious. This is your time to work towards and to secure your rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Do not be indifferent and allow these moments to pass in vain. If you look at the world outside, you will see how many lives are caught in the cycle of rebirth, suffering through endless rounds of life and death in every passing second.
When you chant the name of , every single syllable must be imbued with true sincerity and respect. This same sincerity must be present in every you perform. A true practitioner of Buddha-recitation focuses their entire heart on the name of the Buddha. As it is said, this is a state beyond mere thinking. When you chant Namo Amituofo, you are cutting off the influence of . In that moment of pure, unforced chanting, the Buddha-name has the power to extinguish the suffering of eight billion aeons of life and death. It is a profound method for eliminating disasters and reducing karmic debt. Do not be indifferent to this power.
The Shadow of Impermanence
You must learn to cherish your life and feel deep gratitude for every breath you take. If you can pass through each inhalation and exhalation in peace, you are truly blessed. Do not be indifferent, for impermanence is always by your side. If your breath were to stop, you would immediately be cast back into the cycle of rebirth. To be able to practise in the precious Buddha-land of Hsiang Kuang is a rare opportunity. You must keep your mind fixed on the present moment, for this is the time for you to achieve Awakening.
Do not let your days pass by empty-handed. Do not be indifferent. Consider how many practitioners in this world have never had the chance to encounter the Buddha. They search in vain, unable to find the truth of their own nature, and thus they waste their entire lives. Consider how many creatures have never had the opportunity to hear the Buddha’s teachings or the Pure Land path. They have never had the chance to chant the Buddha-name, and so they remain trapped in the vast, invisible realms of the universe, unable to escape for aeons.
A Call to Fierce Diligence
Students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, you must make good use of this time. You must be diligent in your practice. Even being fiercely diligent may not be enough, so do not be indifferent. Time, once gone, will never return. You are in a precious land that offers you the chance to realise your true self and to save both yourself and others. You must know how to cherish this. Do not waste this human life, and do not fail to honour the fact that you have encountered the teachings of Amitabha Buddha and Practitioner Su. Namo Amituofo.
