Do Not Be Discouraged: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

During the second session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony on October 12, 2024, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered these compassionate teachings to all practitioners.

The Threefold Tests of Practice

When you truly make a vow to practise the Buddha's path, you will inevitably encounter three types of tests: tests from the Buddha, tests from demons, and tests from sentient beings. These challenges are not meant to hinder your progress. On the contrary, they are essential mirrors that allow you to see clearly where your daily practice still lacks diligence and where you have yet to achieve true purification.

Often, we believe we are making steady progress, yet we remain unaware of the filth still hidden within our hearts. When the light of wisdom shines upon us, or when we are tested by the circumstances of life, these problems manifest before our eyes. Only then do we realise that there are dark corners within our own minds that we have either ignored or intentionally hidden. We may have hoped these issues would simply vanish, but they remain, waiting in the shadows of our consciousness.

Illuminating the Hidden Corners of the Heart

You must understand that the "self," personal ego, and selfishness are not habits formed in a single lifetime. They are deeply ingrained. Furthermore, the karmic creditors who appear in your life are not merely connected to you in this present existence; your ties with them span across many aeons. Within these long-standing relationships, both good and evil karmic seeds are intertwined.

To stop this cycle or to resolve the conflict, you must maintain an unmoved mind. When problems manifest, or when your karmic creditors come to seek balance, you must face them with courage and resolve. If no such issues are currently manifesting, you must remain in a state of meditative concentration, keeping your heart pure and undisturbed by external ripples.

The Persistent Path to Purity

The dust and impurities of countless aeons cannot be removed in a single day or night. Therefore, do not be discouraged. Instead, you should be even more diligent in your practice. If you find that you have made a mistake, correct it. If the problem persists, correct it again. If you have not yet returned to the right path, do not lose heart; simply continue to refine your conduct. If you find your practice is insufficient or lacking, work to fill those gaps, and then work to fill them again.

If you believe you have changed, yet the same problems continue to manifest, it is a sign that the change is not yet complete. Do not be discouraged by this. This is a necessary and inevitable process on the path of practice. Continue your efforts with sincerity and perseverance. There will come a time when you will successfully remove impurities and attain purity. Keep your faith, stay the course, and continue to chant Namo Amituofo all the way.

Namo Amituofo