Everything as it Was in the Beginning

Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, Second Session.

Everything as it Was in the Beginning.

Chief writer of the Teacher's teachings: Venerable HaiZe.

1 August 2021.

The Purity of Our Original Nature

At the very beginning of our existence, our nature was entirely free from any impurity or complexity. It was a state of absolute purity and perfect Goodness. This is the true appearance of our self-nature. However, because a single moment of confusion arose, we became clouded. This initial spark of ignorance caused our pure and good nature to become stained, and our original, pristine state became muddied. Consequently, we began our long journey through the cycle of the six realms of existence.

The Illusion of Samsara

We have wandered through these realms for countless lifetimes, lost in the fog of our own making. It is only now, in this life, that we have been fortunate enough to encounter the teachings of Namo Amituofo. Through this encounter, we have finally begun to awaken to our original state and understand the true reality of our existence. We realise that, in truth, these worldly attachments never truly existed; they are merely empty illusions. Our spirit was originally pure, yet our bodies became covered in the dust of the world. Looking back, our entire experience in samsara is like a passing dream.

Returning to the Western Pure Land

Now that we have gained this understanding, we must make a sincere vow to be reborn in the West. By placing our whole heart in Namo Amituofo and dedicating ourselves to chanting the Buddha's name with a single, focused mind, we can fulfil our wish to return to the West. In that sacred land, each lotus flower blooms, and we shall be among them. We will regain our state of absolute purity and perfect Goodness, becoming just like Namo Amituofo. Everything will be restored to how it was in the beginning.