Recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe
December 15, 2024, Noon Offering
The Long Path to
My dear children, do you feel the weight of suffering in your lives? Spiritual practice is a long and arduous journey that requires unwavering dedication and patience.
To truly progress, one must first understand the fundamental truth of our existence. It is only through diligent practice, facing our challenges head-on, and breaking through our internal barriers that we can hope to realise our true self. Only when you have successfully awakened and rediscovered your original nature will you possess the autonomy required to leave suffering behind and find true liberation.
The Blindness of the Ignorant
Often, when you listen to the teachings or hear the words of Practitioner Su, you may find yourselves unable to fully grasp the message. It is as if your eyes are covered or you feel a heaviness that prevents you from opening them to the truth.
Perhaps your ears feel blocked, and you are unable to hear or truly absorb the wisdom being shared. When you fail to understand the reality of suffering, you allow it to persist, and you continue to develop along the old, weary path of birth, aging, sickness, and death. If you remain trapped in this cycle of rebirth, your suffering will never end, and you will find no moment of true release.
Understanding the Laws of
Suffering is always the result of the laws of karma and cause and effect. There is a saying that Bodhisattvas fear the cause, while ordinary beings fear the result.
Most people only begin to wonder about the causes of their pain when they are already experiencing the bitter fruits of their past actions. Sometimes, you may be able to discern the causes from this life or even from past lifetimes, but often, the origins remain hidden.
If you reach the end of this life without having exhausted your karmic debts, the suffering will simply continue into the next life. One must ask: when will this endless cycle of misery finally come to an end?
The Ultimate Remedy
If you are currently experiencing suffering, a wise person will immediately recognise it as a signal to change. Regardless of whether you fully understand the specific origins of your current pain, you have the power to stop the suffering in the present moment.
The most effective method to achieve this is to chant Namo Amituofo with a sincere and focused heart. When you commit yourself to this practice, you must ensure that your faith remains unshaken. You should not allow your suffering to lead to doubt in the Buddha, nor should you harbour complaints or slander against the virtuous deeds you have performed in the past.
Wisdom in the Face of Adversity
You must realise that everything you experience is a result of your own actions. If you do not change your personality traits and rectify your behaviour, you will continue to attract the manifestation of bitter karmic fruits. Therefore, it is essential to cultivate a heart of repentance and commit to changing your ways. You must translate this resolve into actual practice by ensuring that you no longer create negative causes.
Even when your physical body is subjected to the inevitable pains of aging and illness, you must remain steadfast. Do not let your faith in the Buddha waver; instead, let it grow even stronger. Even while enduring the agony of illness, do not be led astray by the suffering of . Continue to chant Namo Amituofo with a direct and focused mind. By letting go of all worldly attachments and dedicating yourself to the pursuit of rebirth in the of Ultimate Bliss, you demonstrate the true wisdom of a practitioner. Namo Amituofo.
