Reflection and Changing Your Ways

Teachings by the Teacher, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe

18 July 2026

Teachings by Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju:

Those who are easily angered should reflect on what caused the anger.

Do I also have faults?

As long as you have even the slightest fault,

when others point it out or offer guidance, you should humbly accept the teaching, acknowledge your fault, and change your ways.

Do not insist that you have no faults, or look for excuses, or look for the faults of others,

as this only causes beings to suffer more, adding suffering upon suffering.

Regarding the rights and wrongs of others, unless you have a duty to attend to them, do not participate in them.

Keep a good heart, do good deeds, be a good person, and speak good words; these four "goods" must be kept in mind and put into practice!

Let go of your feelings; do not cling to them. If you cling to them, it will only cause beings to suffer more.

Everything is illusory and a false appearance; why take it seriously and stir up dust?

It is all pollution that darkens the heart, leaving it dim and without light.

You must let it go; do not hold onto it.

Often, without realising it, your thoughts and intentions are for yourself and are selfish.

You must raise your awareness, stop these thoughts and intentions, and do not let them continue, creating negative causes,

and suffering the evil consequences.

Reflect on the practice of many lifetimes; to still be sinking in the six realms of rebirth in this life is truly the height of suffering.

Having encountered the Pure Land again in this life, and practising at the Fragrant Light Buddha-land, you must actively seize this opportunity.

Do not lose the opportunity to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss again; be fiercely diligent and do not be lazy.

Chant Buddha's name diligently and continuously; when the Buddha-Recitation Samadhi and meditative concentration are achieved, you will not be turned by external circumstances.

You must know that the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death is extreme.

This life is the final life; let your vow and practice to seek rebirth in the Pure Land never retreat.

Is your compassion and Patience (Endurance) insufficient, often giving rise to the fire of anger, burning down the forest of merit?

Has your Wisdom (Prajna) not yet manifested, often acting in delusion and ignorance, creating negative causes and suffering various pains?

Are you selfish and self-centred, ignoring the importance of working for beings and for the temple?

Are you led by physical sensations, causing karmic creditors to manifest frequently and causing this body to suffer?

The practice of the fourfold assembly (monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen) must always maintain awareness.

If you reflect and find faults, you must quickly change your ways, changing them immediately; this is the way of the awakened and the wise,

and it is an essential method for progress in practice and purification.

Namo Amituofo