Your current physical form is an incredibly precious vessel. Without this physical vessel, you would lack the necessary foundation to engage in the work of becoming an awakened being. If you fail to utilise this life for spiritual growth, you will simply continue to drift through the cycle of rebirth, lost in the endless currents of reincarnation. While you still possess this body, you must act with urgency. Use this temporary, illusory form to engage in True Cultivation. You must be diligent in your efforts to dissolve your past , and you must be extremely careful not to create any new karmic burdens.
In the past, you have already created immeasurable and boundless karma. In this life, you are truly fortunate to have encountered the teachings of , to have met your Teacher, and to have encountered Practitioner Su. You have heard the magnificent of the . You now know that it is possible to purify your heart without being stained by the world. You know that you can change the "self," personal ego, and selfishness. Do not let your old karma manifest, and do not create new karma that will bind you further to this world.
The Path of Letting Go
This body is not easily obtained, and it is even more difficult to encounter the Buddha’s teachings. If you have the wisdom to understand the necessity of letting go, you will be able to let go of your attachment to this body and follow the Buddha to save all beings. Only then can you enter the state of emptiness. Within this state of emptiness, this state of , this state of being selfless, without wandering thoughts, and filled with pure Goodness, you will recognise that this emptiness is your original face. This is how you align yourself with your true self, rather than acting in opposition to it.
While you still have this body, you must practise diligently to attain the state of . By achieving this level of meditative concentration, you will receive the magnificent benefits of chanting Buddha's name. You will no longer be moved by external circumstances. Once you have attained the state of an awakened being, your vow for this life will be to save all beings and your own family members.
The Urgency of True Cultivation
While you still have this body, you must put aside your arrogant and conceited heart. You must break through the : Greed, Anger, Ignorance, Arrogance, and Doubt. Do not be arrogant any longer. Do not insist that you are always right, or that your way is the only way. If you truly wish to attain the state of an awakened being, you must act in this manner. You must humble yourself before the Truth.
Ask yourself: is there anything in this world that absolutely requires you? The attainment of an awakened being is your own personal matter; it is the one thing that truly requires your full attention. No one else can replace you in the process of becoming an awakened being. No one else can replace you in the process of achieving rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Your practice must rely on your own efforts.
The Solitude of the Final Journey
If you cannot achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land, you will inevitably continue to walk the old, painful path of birth, aging, sickness, and death. No one can replace you in the experience of birth, aging, sickness, and death. No one can replace you when you enter the cycle of reincarnation. We are truly born alone and die alone; we arrive in this world alone and depart alone. You must understand this truth and let it fill you with a sense of urgency and vigilance. While you still have this body, you must practise with diligent practice to find your way back to your original, true self. Namo Amituofo.
Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
