Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.
The journey of a human life is a profound and often turbulent experience. From the moment we are born and begin to interact with the world around us, we are immediately thrust into a complex tapestry of sensory and emotional experiences. We find ourselves tasting the various flavours of existence, which are often bitter, sweet, sour, or spicy. We are caught in the relentless currents of our own emotions and the , which dictate the rhythm of our daily lives.
The Endless Cycle of Human Experience
Because the environment we inhabit, along with the people and events we encounter, are all bound by these same forces, we often mistakenly conclude that this is all there is to life. We believe that this cycle of experience is the absolute truth of our existence. Consequently, we follow the dictates of our and the momentum of our destiny, performing scene after scene in the drama of birth, aging, sickness, death. Many people spend their entire lives trapped in this repetitive cycle.
When their life comes to an end, they are simply pulled back into the cycle of rebirth, continuing their journey through the six realms of rebirth. Throughout this entire process, they never have the opportunity to realise that they do not have to live a life defined by such suffering. They do not know that they can transcend the constant fluctuations of and sorrow, or the overwhelming pull of their own emotions and the Five Desires.
The Hidden Potential Within
Most people are unaware that they are merely a single participant in the vast, ongoing cycle of rebirth. They remain ignorant of the fact that they possess a precious true self—a self-nature that is inherently pure and luminous. If one can only allow this true self to manifest, the suffering that currently defines their life would naturally dissolve. One could then live a life of profound clarity, freedom, and peace, no longer burdened by the heavy weight of worldly afflictions.
Because they do not know of the existence of or the of Ultimate Bliss, their lives remain fundamentally ungrounded. No matter how they live or what they achieve, their hearts remain adrift, lacking a true home to return to. They are like travellers lost in a vast wilderness, searching for a destination they cannot name.
Finding the True Path Home
However, the moment one has the opportunity to receive Buddhist education, everything changes. By learning about Namo Amituofo and the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, one begins to see the path clearly for the first time. If you are willing to leave behind the cycle of rebirth and set your sights on the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, you have already taken the most important step. This path requires a sincere commitment to:
Chanting the Buddha's name with a focused and steady heart
Developing the (Enlightenment), the aspiration to attain enlightenment for the sake of all beings
Maintaining a single-minded focus on the Buddha-name
Nurturing the heartfelt wish to leave suffering behind and rediscover your true self
Making the firm vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss
When you offer your genuine, sincere heart to this practice, and when you chant the name of Namo Amituofo with total dedication, you will find that your vow to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss can indeed be fulfilled. This is the power of the Buddha's , which is always waiting to embrace those who turn towards it.
The Noble Vow of Universal Deliverance
Practising the Buddha’s teachings is a significant step forward for any Buddhist practitioner. It is an active, conscious movement towards liberation. You must recognise your direction clearly; to practise and realise your true self is, in essence, to save yourself. Yet, this is only the beginning. The path of the practitioner is not merely about personal liberation or securing one's own rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
It is about extending that same compassion to others. We must strive to save all beings, helping them to leave behind the suffering of the six realms of rebirth and guiding them towards the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the ultimate expression of the Buddha’s teachings—to be a beacon of light in a world of darkness, ensuring that no being is left behind. Namo Amituofo.
