Layer upon Layer: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

On the 16th of April 2022, during the Third Session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided profound guidance on the nature of our existence and the path to liberation. This teaching, recorded by the chief writer Venerable HaiZe, illuminates the path for all practitioners.

The Infinite Layers of Existence

There are countless spaces in this universe, and within them, countless beings. Our mind-capacity is boundless, and the vow to save all beings is equally boundless. Yet, we find ourselves trapped in layers upon layers of physical existence. Our hearts, too, are burdened by these heavy, overlapping layers of past attachments and karmic imprints.

The Cycle of Rebirth

How many beings are currently reincarnated? They are caught within these overlapping spaces, and they are also deeply embedded within the layers of our own body, mind, and spirit. We carry the weight of countless past lives, and these karmic connections manifest as the struggles we face today.

The Path of Purification

Now that you have entered the path of Buddhist practice, your primary task is to remove the stains of the past. You must engage in purification, and then more purification. Through the practice of prostrations, you can dissolve karma and cultivate ever-increasing Goodness. By chanting the Buddha's name, reciting the Sutras, and dedicating the merits to all beings, you begin to transform your life.

Awakening and Deliverance

As you continue this diligent practice, you will eventually become an awakened being, and your true Dharma Body will manifest. Those beings who are connected by karmic affinity, who have been waiting through these layers of existence, will finally see the space open for them. They will listen to the sutras and hear the Dharma, finally understanding the laws of karma and cause and effect. They will realise that the present moment is no longer the past. With the wish to leave suffering behind, they will seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo