My dear children, are you willing to set aside your stubborn and clinging hearts? Can you treat the Buddha as a trusted elder, or even a compassionate father, and become like a pure, innocent child who listens without reservation?
A Child’s Heart Before the Compassionate Father
When you stand before the Buddha, look into the Buddha's eyes and join your palms with true sincerity. When you are willing to bring your hands together at your chest, you can share your deepest burdens with the Buddha. You may bring to the Buddha:
The pain and suffering that weigh heavily upon your spirit.The deep confusion that you do not understand.The secrets you have never dared to speak to others, yet carry in your heart without knowing how to resolve.The issues you have never sought guidance on from a true spiritual friend.
If you tell the Buddha these things, and if the Buddha can be of assistance, you will have the opportunity to hear the Buddha's answer while listening to the sutras and hearing the . You may also find sudden moments of while performing prostrations or chanting the name of . In those moments, you will immediately recognise your mistakes, repent, and resolve to never commit them again.
The Radiant Clarity of Unwavering Faith
The moment you choose to believe in the Buddha, the doubts in your heart are dispelled, and the pollution of your mind is purified. At this time, the messages and mental guidance that the Buddha transmits to you become easy to receive. You will be able to directly perceive the Buddha's teachings. If you are willing to listen and follow these instructions, you will gain the benefit of avoiding mistakes and living in accordance with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.
The Sanctuary of Light and
Why has Namo Amituofo come to the human world and taken up residence at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre? It is entirely to save you. The Buddha has come to rescue all beings and to save you, my children, from the cycle of rebirth and the suffering of . The Buddha wishes to help you move far away from the sufferings of birth, aging, sickness, and death, and to assist you in returning to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Now that you have stepped through the gates of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, please believe in the Buddha. Although you may not be able to see the Buddha physically standing before your eyes or beside you, you should be able to feel the Buddha's sincere and true heart in saving all beings. Therefore, please set aside your internal defences and your need for self-protection. Open your heart and accept the Buddha's words, the teachings of Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and the direct, honest guidance of Practitioner Su.
The Inner Peace of True Repentance
If you truly repent, change your ways, and follow these teachings, you will receive genuine benefits. These benefits are not external wealth, but rather an inner sense of stability and peace. These are things that money cannot buy, for they can only be attained when you truly set aside your doubts and believe in the Buddha.
In fact, the moment you believe in the Buddha, it signifies that your are no longer holding onto you so tightly. It shows that you are willing to resolve these conflicts with them, thereby untying the knots of resentment and pain between you. If you can combine this with a heart of true sincerity and repentance, that is the best approach of all.
Untying the Knots of Past Resentment
Because you cannot see or hear the mistakes and transgressions you have committed in the past, you are often unable to admit your faults or issue a true heart of repentance. This makes it difficult to resolve the conflicts with your karmic creditors, who continue to seek balance, causing you to experience , aging, sickness, and other forms of suffering. However, the Buddha and Practitioner Su will do their utmost to help you. They will encourage your karmic creditors to resolve these conflicts with you, to accept what is sought and wished for, and to find peace of mind. Once they accept this resolution, they may leave your body, enter the Dharma-Nature Land, or join the assembly in chanting the Buddha's name to enter the golden light, thereby resolving these karmic knots once and for all.
The Harmonious Path of Self-Effort and
If you believe in the Buddha, you must also rely on your own strength. You must be diligent in your practice, which includes:
Listening to the sutras and hearing the Dharma.Repenting and changing your ways.Chanting the name of Namo Amituofo.Purifying your body, mind, and spirit.Cultivating both merit and wisdom.
Do not rely solely on the power of the Buddha, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, or Practitioner Su. If you do not practise yourself, the help they can provide is limited. This makes it difficult for the dual-power method of the Pure Land school to truly exert its maximum effectiveness in helping you cultivate, dissolve your karma, and remove your obstacles. Only when your own efforts and the power of the Buddha advance together can you purify yourself further and further, and gain the opportunity to realise your true nature, save the world, and rescue all beings.
