Recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe
17 November 2023
The Endless Cycle of Wandering
Since time immemorial, our spirits have traversed countless paths of suffering. Throughout the rise and fall of countless lives, we have endured the relentless cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death, time and time again. We have wandered through this world and others, across the vast expanse of the universe, the galaxies, and the void itself. We have even entered the of Ultimate Bliss, experiencing the of a life free from worry. Yet, in accordance with our vows, we have returned to the human world to save beings, only to find ourselves sinking deep into the ocean of . We can only hope that this life will be the one that leads us home.
The Unchanging Spirit Amidst Constant Change
Since time immemorial, although this physical body has been transformed and replaced countless times, the spirit within has remained constant and has never changed. Everything we experience, aside from the realisation of our true nature, is merely an illusion that will eventually fade away. Therefore, I invite you to begin anew at this very moment. You must learn to see the true face of the cycle of rebirth clearly. Within this cycle, you must learn to act without attachment. It is in the process of learning to "see through" and "let go" that we truly grow. Through diligent practice, we can purify our body, mind, and spirit, and ultimately reach the state of .
The Weight of Our Karmic Storehouse
Since time immemorial, we have experienced countless instances of a white-haired person sending off the black-haired person. We have become emotional, we have become attached, and we have shed tears as vast as the ocean. In this world of shifting emotions, we have revolved life after life, where the long nights of suffering are exchanged for only the briefest moments of happiness. Although trillions of years have passed, every single experience remains stored within the . The causes we have created in the past are merely waiting for the right conditions to mature, at which point the results will manifest before us. As the saying goes, even after hundreds of thousands of eons, the karma we have created does not disappear.
The Path to Freedom and Awakening
Within this vast and distant past, there remain countless karmic results that have yet to manifest. If the actions of our body, speech, and mind trigger the maturation of these conditions, we must consider the consequences:
If the result is a fruit of Goodness, then it is well.
If the result is a fruit of suffering and bitterness, how could this physical body possibly bear it?
The beings and awakened within our bodies are here to seek balance, causing this body to suffer the bitter fruits of past actions.
My dear students, as you practise at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, you must be especially careful and vigilant. Do not violate the of the path, and do not give rise to anger, for the consequences of such bitter fruits are truly difficult to bear. However, if you practise with diligence, your progress will be swift. Therefore, to reach Awakening as soon as possible, you must focus on transforming into wisdom. By employing the Great Perfect Mirror Wisdom, you will not create any evil. By utilising the power of Prajna wisdom, along with the strength of your meditative concentration and wisdom, you can transform dangerous situations into calm and smooth paths. This is what it means to be cool, at ease, and truly in control of one's own destiny. Namo Amituofo.
