Every Step with the Buddha: Teachings of Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

17 September 2023

The Weight of Our Every Thought

The Ksitigarbha Sutra tells us that for beings in this world, every movement and every thought is karma, and every karma is a sin. This profound statement reveals the terrifying reality of our current situation. We must be mindful, for people often commit negative causes without even realising it. We may dismiss small evils as insignificant, or fail to perform small acts of Goodness, and in doing so, we drift away from the Dharma. Even our unintentional mistakes carry consequences that we must eventually face.

Purifying the Path

If you wish to transform this situation, please use the sacred name of Namo Amituofo to purify yourself. If you can keep the Buddha in your mouth, with every phrase never leaving the Buddha, and keep the Buddha in your heart, you will purify your Body, Speech, and Mind throughout the day and night. This is the most effective way to cleanse the karmic seeds that have accumulated over countless lifetimes.

Walking in the Buddha's Presence

Whether you are walking, standing, sitting, or lying down, the Buddha should always be with you. When you walk, let there be the Buddha in your movement. Let there be the Buddha in every step you take. As you walk, the Buddha walks with you. By maintaining this constant mindfulness, you ensure that your practice is not merely a formal exercise, but a living, breathing reality that permeates your entire existence.

Saving All Beings

Even the earthly creatures, the flying and crawling beings, benefit from this practice. When they hear the Buddha-name, the space around them opens up. By hearing the name, they receive Chao Du, are liberated from their current realm, and are reborn in a better state. When the sound of the Buddha-name is heard, and the name never ceases in your heart and ears, how can the Buddha be far away? The Buddha is in your heart, in your eyes, in your mouth, and in every action of your body. Namo Amituofo.