Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Haize.
On the eighteenth of February, 2023, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered this profound guidance on the art of 'going with the flow'—a metaphor for aligning one's practice with the natural currents of the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.
The Wisdom of Timely Action
To 'go with the flow' means to assist a boat as it moves along the water's current. In the context of our spiritual journey, this represents the ability to recognise and utilise the right timing and conditions to achieve success in our practice. When the conditions are ripe, we must be ready to move forward, allowing the natural momentum of the to carry us toward our destination.
However, this does not mean we should be passive. While the current provides the momentum, the boat itself must be placed into the water. This requires the active participation of the fourfold assembly of disciples. You must be willing to exert effort, to push the vessel into the stream, and to set your intention firmly upon the path of liberation.
The Collective Effort of the Fourfold Assembly
Only when the boat is pushed into the water can it catch the current and move forward toward its destination. Similarly, your practice requires your own dedicated effort. You must be the one to take the first step, to commit to your daily lessons, and to maintain the discipline required to stay on the path. When you contribute your effort, you align yourself with the flow of the Dharma, ensuring that you will reach the shore of the of Ultimate Bliss sooner rather than later.
Such an opportunity—to find a path that so perfectly aligns with the current of the Dharma—is rare. It is something that can be encountered, but it cannot be forced or sought through worldly means alone. It is a precious gift of and wisdom.
A Rare Opportunity at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
At this very moment, the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is a place where is residing here. This presence provides an extraordinary advantage for your practice. It offers immense support for those who seek to realise their true nature and who wish to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. As members of the fourfold assembly, you must recognise the significance of this moment and grasp this rare opportunity.
This is a chance that is difficult to encounter in millions of years. Those who truly understand the value of this moment will not hesitate. They will immediately begin to practise with diligence, and even with fierce diligence, to ensure that their practice bears fruit and that they may achieve as soon as possible.
From Diligent Practice to Ultimate Liberation
Understand this: for every measure of effort you contribute, you receive a corresponding measure of blessing from the Buddha. When you fully accept the Buddha, when you place your complete trust in the Buddha, you will naturally receive the Buddha's full and unconditional support. This entire process depends entirely upon your own heart, your own mental notes, and your own actions.
Only when you have reached the other shore—the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss—and attained true liberation and Awakening, will you be able to withstand the various challenges and impacts encountered during your practice. Only then will you be fully equipped to lead and guide more practitioners who also wish to advance toward that same shore.
