Looking Out Upon the World

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.

16 December 2022

The Endless Cycle of Suffering

When we look out upon the world, we see that almost everyone spends their entire life trapped in the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death. They are destined to enter the six realms of rebirth once more. The phenomena of this world are fleeting, yet the cycle of rebirth is a path that every single one of us has walked before, and if we are not careful, we will continue to walk it again.

The Necessity of the Pure Land Path

Many people have not yet heard of the supreme Pure Land Dharma. Without this knowledge, it is incredibly difficult to achieve liberation from life and death or to sever the karmic ties that bind us to the cycle of rebirth. Even among those who have heard of it and call themselves practitioners, how many are truly able to practise according to the Dharma and fulfil their wish to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss?

A Sanctuary for the Weary Heart

Fortunately, Namo Amituofo has come to us in this present age. He is here to rescue all suffering beings and spirits, helping them to leave their pain behind and find rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. When we look out at the world today, we see that people's hearts are restless. They long for a sense of security and a place to rely upon, yet they search everywhere and find nothing. At this very moment, Namo Amituofo is waiting for everyone at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. He is here to bring peace to your heart and provide a true refuge that will guide you all the way to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Salvation of Earthly Creatures

When we look out at the world, we see the many earthly creatures that surround us:

• Domestic animals such as chickens, ducks, cats, dogs, pigs, cows, horses, and sheep.
• Small creatures that fly or crawl, as well as the spirits within flowers, grasses, trees, snakes, birds, insects, and ants.

All of these beings were once human. Because of the various karmic deeds they committed in the past, they are now experiencing the consequences of their actions. They are trapped within the outer garments of these various animal forms, and it is extremely difficult for them to escape these bodies.

The Power of Chao Du

Fortunately, they have encountered the Dharma Body of Practitioner Su, who performs Chao Du to help them. Through this, they can shed their animal forms and regain their human shape. Once these spirits are saved, they are liberated from their current bodies. They are then able to chant Namo Amituofo and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, or return to the human or heavenly realms, with the majority returning to the human world to continue their practice.

Namo Amituofo