Awakening from the Slumber of Delusion

Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offers these teachings. Chief Writer: Venerable HaiZe.

March 13, 2022

My dear children, can you truly distinguish between the sleeping state and the waking state?

The Shadow of the Tiger

The sleeping state is the state of the confused; it is the condition of those who do not know how to wake up. They pass their days without a care, believing they have endless time to squander. They are unaware that impermanence is lurking nearby, watching like a tiger, ready to seize their soul and bring their life to an end at any moment. In this state, the 'self,' personal ego, and selfishness are difficult to change. When things do not go as you wish, you may suddenly erupt in anger, burning yourself and others. Alternatively, you may suppress your frustration, letting the inner fire consume you from within. Both of these reactions are ways of burning down your forest of merit.

The Call to the Awakened

The waking state is the state of the awakened one. They know that time is short. They understand that encountering the Buddha-land and having the chance to practice is a rare opportunity that is difficult to encounter in millions of years. Therefore, they quicken their pace, valuing every second. They are fiercely diligent and persistent, actively accumulating merit and virtue, cultivating both blessings and Wisdom, hoping to rediscover their true self and save the world.

The Discipline of the Heart

Knowing that arrogance is hard to change, one must be humble and modest. Knowing that the habit of self-importance is deep-seated, one must not let anger arise. Knowing that meditative concentration is insufficient, one must follow the four disciplines:

• Do not look at what is improper.
• Do not listen to what is improper.
• Do not speak what is improper.
• Do not act improperly.

The Radiance of the True Self

I have briefly outlined the waking and sleeping states. You should reflect upon these within yourselves. If you find yourself in a sleeping state, change it so that you may wake up. If you are not in a sleeping state, remain vigilant so that you do not fall into one. For those in the waking state, continue your journey. Encourage yourselves to increase your compassion, Wisdom, mind-capacity, tolerance, and virtue. If you make a mistake, correct it, and correct it again, until mistakes no longer arise. Enter the state of no-self, no-selfishness, and no-thought. When all things are naturally as they are, you are doing without doing, and not doing while doing. This is how one rediscovers the true self and sees the true light.

Namo Amituofo