Do Not Wait: A Call to Diligent Practice

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

December 25, 2021.

The Preciousness of Time

Time passes swiftly and waits for no one. Every single day you are granted is a precious opportunity to cultivate your spirit. You must fill your heart with Goodness, perform acts of Goodness, and live your life with purpose. Do not wait, for if you hesitate, your days will slip away into nothingness.

The Path of Service and Diligence

When it comes to serving the community, do not wait. To be capable of service is a profound blessing; therefore, move forward with a direct and sincere heart. Do not wait to follow the path of learning. Success is not a gift that appears out of thin air; it is the fruit of your own dedicated effort.

If you do not cultivate your spiritual skills, how can you expect to attain the fruits of the Dharma? To hope for gain without putting in the work is merely a dream. If you cannot remove the stains of defilement from your mind, how can you ever achieve true purity? You must work diligently and practise with focus; do not wait for a more convenient time.

The Fundamental Practice

Chant the six-character name of Namo Amituofo with a focused mind. This continuous, unbroken recitation is the fundamental skill of our practice. Keep the name of Namo Amituofo flowing through your mind like a constant stream. With a single-minded focus, you will surely be reborn in the Buddha’s land.

• Engage in prostrations to the Buddha.
• Practise sincere repentance to dissolve your spiritual obstacles.
• When you recite the Sutras, you must truly believe in them, accept them into your heart, and put them into practice.

Only through such dedication can you open your wisdom, awaken, and see your true nature.

Awakening from the Human Dream

The human world is, in the end, nothing left. Wake up quickly; do not wait for the world to pass you by. If you do not see through the illusions of this life and learn to let go, you will only continue to wander through the endless cycle of the human dream.

The Tathagata’s pure Dharma Body exists solely to save the world and rescue all suffering beings. When your heart is empty of attachments, you perceive the true reality. By saving countless beings, you will eventually return to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss to see Namo Amituofo.

Namo Amituofo