It’s that time of the year. As the wind picks up, a leaf is swept high into the air.

       It has no control over the wind and is terrified, crying out and struggling to steer its direction, but in vain. Swept along by the wind and falling towards the earth, it suddenly realizes its destined resting place is the earth which draws it in, beckons it, and opens its arms wide to embrace it.

       It now has fear no more, only peace. “What can the wind do to me? Let it blow furiously!”

       The leaf at last lets loose and moves up and down with the wind; its nervousness and trepidation turn to exhilaration and joy. Finally, it completes its journey through the air and falls gracefully to the ground, resting in the bosom of Mother Earth.  

       The Buddha reciters are like this leaf. When they aspire to be reborn in the Land of Ultimate Bliss, they leave the tree of worldly bondage, and the ultimate bliss is like Mother Earth. Before we return to our final home, the Pure Land, we still have a long way to go in life. There is no need to resist, to fear, nor to struggle. Just follow our destiny and live our lives to the fullest, because no matter what, at the end of life, we will float gracefully to the Land of Ultimate Bliss.

(Translated by the Pure Land School Translation Team;
edited by Kevin Orro (Fozhu))