Defilement and Purity: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe, on the first of December, 2024, during the second session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, these teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offer a guiding light for all practitioners.

The Mind as the Foundation of Reality

We often find ourselves deeply entangled in the defilements of this world. However, if your heart remains pure, even while you reside within this world, you are truly a pure being. This is because the mind is the master of all things. Your body is like a land; when your mind is pure, the land is pure. We must realise that our external environment is merely a reflection of our internal state. When we cultivate a heart of purity, we transform the very world we inhabit.

Transforming the Weight of Karma

Defilement is essentially the manifestation of our karma, accumulated over countless aeons. This karma follows our body like a shadow, persisting through innumerable lifetimes. Yet, if you practise diligently to cultivate a pure body, even the heavy karma stored within can be transformed into purity. Through the practice of the Dharma, we can cleanse the seeds of past actions, allowing the light of our true nature to shine through the obscurations of the past.

The Path of Continuous Buddha-Recitation

To truly progress, you must practise in a place of purity. Let the sound of the Buddha-name, Namo Amituofo, wrap around you like a protective cloak. When this chanting continues in your heart without interruption, you have achieved a deep level of skill. This is the attainment of the Buddha-Recitation Samadhi. If you persist with this unwavering focus, you will eventually reach the moment of becoming an awakened being, where your original nature is fully revealed.

The Nature of Demons and the Ego

Even the hearts of demons possess an inherent goodness, though their true self is currently covered by layers of darkness. This goodness is obscured by deep-seated defilements, strong personal habits, and heavy ego-attachment. When one is driven by subjective views and the ego, it is difficult to turn towards the right path. For billions of years, beings have created endless karma and suffered in the cycle of rebirth. However, you have now encountered Practitioner Su, who works under the protective guidance of Namo Amituofo. The Twelve Lights of the Buddha have appeared, representing the purest of the pure.

The Power of Compassion and Deliverance

Through the infinite manifestations of the Buddha, which can be as fine as sand or as small as a molecule, the light of Namo Amituofo can enter into every hidden crevice of existence. Many ancient demons and spirits, long hidden in these dark corners, are now receiving Chao Du and finding liberation. When demon crowds attempt to attack with their own forms of magic, we respond with compassion, Wisdom (Prajna), and patience. By subduing these forces, we guide them into the Dharma-nature land. The laws of karma and cause and effect can finally be brought to a halt. This is a transformation never before seen, where goodness and purity manifest, marking a true rebirth for all involved. Ultimately, the choice between defilement and purity rests entirely within your own heart.

Namo Amituofo