Moving Forward with Diligence

My dear children,

When you are walking the path of practice, you must ask yourselves: are you moving forward with unceasing diligence? Do you find yourself wishing to push ahead without rest, or do you feel the urge to stop, pause, and catch your breath before continuing your journey? Whether you choose to press on or to take a moment to rest, remember that these actions are merely the movements of the physical body. It is your heart that issues the commands, directing the body in how it should act. Therefore, you must turn your attention inward and ask your heart: when you are moving forward with such diligence, is it truly necessary to stop and rest?

The Instrument of True Cultivation

While it is true that your practice requires what we call True Cultivation, you must understand that this process relies on the existence of your physical body. This body is the vessel that allows your spirit to elevate, to grow, and eventually to rediscover your original, true self. Because the body is the instrument of your practice, you must care for it well so that it can maintain its normal functions. However, you must never fall into the trap of pampering it.

The Wisdom of Moderation

It is vital to distinguish between proper care and harmful indulgence. We can define these two states as follows:

• Goodness: This means knowing what your body truly needs and knowing when to stop. It is the wisdom of moderation.
• Indulgence: This is the act of repeatedly satisfying every desire of the body. In reality, this is deeply damaging to your progress.

Consider the simple act of eating. It is appropriate to eat until you are seven or eight parts full. If you are already satisfied but continue to eat simply because you desire more, you are overindulging. This excess does not nourish you; instead, it harms your body and leaves you feeling heavy, drowsy, and dull.

Guarding Against the Trap of Laziness

When you are on this path, you may wonder if it is acceptable to stop and rest before moving forward again. It is certainly permissible to do so, provided that you exercise moderation. You must rest only as much as is needed to recover your strength, and then you must return to your practice with speed and focus. Do not allow yourself to become pampered or soft. If you pause for too long, a sense of laziness will inevitably arise within you. Once that lethargy takes root, it becomes very easy to retreat and very difficult to advance. You must be vigilant and cautious at all times. Keep your heart focused, maintain your discipline, and continue to chant Namo Amituofo with a sincere and steady heart.

Namo Amituofo