The Difficulty of Hearing the Buddha’s Teachings

The Eternal Journey of the Spirit

The spirit is eternal, existing without a beginning and without an end. Throughout the vast expanse of time, we have wandered through the six realms of existence, travelling between this world and countless others. It is impossible to calculate how many times we have come and gone, caught in the relentless cycle of birth and death. Our lives are governed by the laws of karma and cause and effect, turning endlessly like a wheel. Every experience we have had—every joy and every sorrow—is merely a scene in a long, unfolding dream.

The Indestructible Vajra Seed

However, this lifetime is different. Perhaps you have formed a deep Dharma affinity in the past, having made vows before the Buddhas or encountered the fourfold community of disciples. When the Buddha-name of Namo Amituofo first arises in your heart, it enters your ears and settles deep within your Alaya consciousness. Even if hundreds of thousands of kalpas pass, this Vajra Seed remains within you, never lost and never destroyed. When the conditions mature, this seed will be nurtured by good circumstances, allowing you to hear the flow of the Buddha’s teachings.

Awakening to the True Self

This is the supreme Dharma that allows one to transcend the cycle of birth and death. It is the wisdom to understand that this life is but a phantom, a fleeting illusion. When you finally realise this, you can see clearly and find your way back to your true self, resolving the karmic debts that have bound you for so long. To achieve this, you must learn to look past the illusions of the world and let go of all attachments. You must allow only the Buddha-heart and the Buddha-vow to guide your every step.

Returning to the Western Pure Land

When you enter the Buddha-Recitation Samadhi and the Buddha-name rises from the depths of your heart, you are aligning yourself with the infinite compassion of Namo Amituofo. By doing so, you are destined to travel together to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, where you will bloom in the lotus pond. This is the ultimate destination for every practitioner who seeks to leave suffering behind and find happiness. Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.