Know Your Faults and Correct Them Quickly

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

A Sanctuary of Pure Goodness

At Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, we are blessed to be in a place where Namo Amituofo truly abides. This is a realm of pure, unadulterated goodness. Although Namo Amituofo resides in the spiritual realms, the fact that we can encounter such a presence in the human world is a rare and precious opportunity. If you are willing to listen and follow the teachings, the purification of your body, mind, and spirit will naturally follow, and you will surely reap the benefits of this practice.

The Obstacles to True Awakening

However, we must ask ourselves: why is it that among the many who chant the name of Namo Amituofo, so few truly see their true nature and achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss? The reasons are often hidden within our own hearts, manifesting as significant barriers to our progress:

• The Presence of Selfishness:
• When a selfish heart is at the forefront, your mind remains in a state of constant fluctuation, preventing you from achieving any real success in your practice.Neglect of the Threefold Training:
• You have failed to diligently practise the Precepts, Concentration and Wisdom. Consequently, you fall into the traps of breaking the precepts, lacking meditative concentration, and remaining mired in ignorance.Lack of Compassion: You have failed to align your heart with the compassion of Namo Amituofo. Your mind-capacity is too narrow, and you lack the ability to be truly inclusive and forgiving of others.

The Root of the Problem

The fundamental issue is your refusal to change your personality. If you do not change your personality, you cannot stop the manifestation of your karma. Some of you know that you must change, yet you do not do so, or you find the process too difficult. You fail to repent with a sincere heart, committing the same errors repeatedly. Without true repentance, there is no opportunity to see your true nature.

Even if you invite spirits for Chao Du, it is merely treating the symptoms, not the root cause. Your karmic creditors will continue to manifest according to your karma. How can you hope to avoid the interference of spiritual attachment and demon crowds? They accumulate within your body, layer upon layer. You continue to suffer the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, death, and you will inevitably face the suffering of the separation of the four elements at the end of your life. At that final moment, you will be pulled away by the interference of karmic creditors, spiritual attachment, and demon crowds, leaving you with no hope of rebirth in the Western Pure Land.

Seizing the Opportunity

These are the common reasons why many practitioners fail to reach their goal. You must be deeply vigilant. Know your faults and correct them quickly. Do not become one of those who fail. Do not squander this precious human life, this rare chance to encounter Namo Amituofo, the teachings of our Teacher, and the guidance of Practitioner Su. Seize this great opportunity to see your true nature and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo