Nurturing Wisdom: The Path to Awakening

The Sword of Wisdom

Manjushri Bodhisattva holds the sword of Wisdom (Prajna), which serves to sever all afflictions. The manifestation of this sword is to swiftly cut through the karmic obstacles of afflictions; this is a practice that all Buddhist practitioners should learn to undertake. There is much suffering in this world, largely because our innate Wisdom (Prajna) has been obscured. Led by confusion, it becomes difficult to understand or purify oneself, leading one to think, see, act, and speak in ways that are harmful and biased.

The Darkness of Ignorance

When one cannot find guidance or clarity for their confusion, they create negative causes. They may even enter the Demon Realm, creating even deeper and heavier negative karma. Consequently, they suffer from the most intense and painful retributions, such as the biting, icy cold of frozen mountains, the searing flames consuming the body, the deep darkness found in the depths of the earth, and the crushing weight of great mountains from which it is difficult to escape. This truly causes great suffering for all sentient beings!

Uncovering Your True Self

Nurturing Wisdom (Prajna) is a necessary lesson for every practitioner. Wisdom (Prajna) is actually inherent within our true self. Our true self is naturally endowed with infinite Wisdom (Prajna), virtues, and auspicious characteristics. However, due to the cycle of rebirth, it has been obscured layer by layer. It has not been lost. To allow this Wisdom (Prajna) to manifest, purification, and then more purification is a necessary lesson. One does not need to add any external things, nor does one need to engage in academic study or memorisation. One only needs to engage in purification, and then more purification, because it is already within.

The Power of the Holy Name

The rapid method for this purification is to hold the holy name of Namo Amituofo. Hold the name with a selfless, sincere, and honest heart. With the merit and the great, awe-inspiring power of the six-character holy name, help everyone to purify, and then purify more; to become pure, and then purer; to become good, and then better. With the light of Wisdom (Prajna), break through the darkness of ignorance and confusion. On the path of practice, move directly toward the direction of becoming an awakened being. Namo Amituofo.