[141] Buddha’s Immeasurable Light Always Beckons: Why I Attend PPF Sessions Regularly

[141] Buddha’s Immeasurable Light Always Beckons: Why I Attend PPF Sessions Regularly

My Dharma-learning journey started at the age of 18. I bought my very first book on Dharma fundamentals at Evergreen Buddhist Bookshop, which was once situated at the now defunct Pearl Centre. On hindsight, it was destined to be a blessed beginning, although my learning was not structured and somewhat haphazard then.

For a good part of my adult life, I was unknowingly drawn to Pure Land Buddhism. Just chanting ‘Āmítuófó’ (阿弥陀佛) seemed easy, but I somehow knew that I seriously lacked deeper understanding of what the Pure Land Dharma Door (净土法门) actually entails. In 2018, I chanced upon Teacher Shen Shi’an’s ‘Destination Pureland’ course, which was held at Tai Pei Buddhist Centre.

Attending it together with my wife, it was enjoyable. However, I must admit that I have no recollection of what was taught after, and hence regretted very much for not absorbing enough, to offer guidance (开示) and support-chanting (助念) for an elderly friend with dementia, who passed on in 2021.

COVID was a watershed for many. One day, amidst its most difficult period, I texted Teacher Shi’an to ask if he would be restarting class soon. He was still considering as the outlook was not that optimistic yet. Having attended ‘Destination Pureland’ already, my wife and I started to attend weekly PPF (Pureland Practice Fellowship) sessions in 2023 first, once COVID subsided. Thereafter, there was no looking back as attending them became a pleasurable routine that we look forward to.

I must say the most precious lessons learnt thus far are from Great Master Yìnguāng’s (印光大师) ‘Three Great Essentials When Approaching Life’s End’《临终三大要》. They are so practical and relatively easy to carry out that. Despite being new Pure Land practitioners, we could still confidently offer ‘Guidance-Repentance-Āmítuófó-(Recitation)-Merits-(Dedication)’ (GRAM) for a dear friend’s mother who suffered a massive stroke on the very day of our planned Chinese New Year visit. She never woke up from her coma, but we were both glad and grateful to see her calm and peaceful expression at her wake.

Another unexpected support-chanting experience was for an elderly friend who was a lifelong atheist. However, he was ‘converted’ to follow another faith, probably on his deathbed. My wife and I managed to recite guidance text and Āmítuófó’s name for a solid 10 minutes quietly without causing any disturbance at his wake. We were so glad that we could do so, for a dear friend whom we have known for many years.

Without learning the ‘Three Great Essentials’, I would not be equipped with sufficient knowledge to guide my ailing father to receive healing four times in a single night, before departing peacefully later, while surrounded by my entire family chanting Āmítuófó’s name. This should be the most precious and best gift that I could ever give him, to repay all that he has done for me.

The PPF sessions never have have a dull moment. Learning the Pure Land Dharma via painstakingly put together picture-quotes by Teacher Shi’an, analyses of current affairs and events with Buddhist perspectives, and real-life testimonies shared by fellow classmates, all these made each session enriching, while building our confidence in understanding and practice.

I would very much like Teacher Shi’an to dedicate even more time in teaching us on ‘Great Master Yìnguāng’s Collected Writings’ Essence’《印光大师文钞菁华录》as the Great Master is recognised as the Great Power Arrived Bodhisattva (大势至菩萨). If his ‘Three Great Essentials’ are already so wonderful, imagine how many more practical and life-changing Dharma lessons we can learn from the Bodhisattva himself?

Neon lights along the main thoroughfare near where PPF sessions are held are always beckoning. But what I will certainly do when the week is ending is to attend PPF.

Āmítuófó! KC Leo
14 September 2026

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