Sitting and Watching the Clouds Rise

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

During the first session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony held on the twenty-second of September, 2024, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided these essential teachings to guide our practice.

The Wisdom of Letting Go

The phrase, "Sitting and watching the clouds rise," is the second half of a beautiful poetic couplet. The full verse reads: "Walking to where the water ends, sitting and watching the clouds rise." This imagery invites us to contemplate a profound state of being. When you walk until the water reaches its end, you do not turn back in frustration or despair. Instead, you simply sit down, look up, and observe the clouds as they drift freely across the vast expanse of the sky. This is the essence of following conditions in the present moment. It is a state of mind that is not bound by the outcomes of our journey, but is instead open to the natural unfolding of life.

Life as a Fleeting Dream

We must realise that life is much like a dream. At this very moment, the vast majority of people are still lost within this dream. Only the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and those who have realised their true nature are truly awake. They are the ones who are no longer deceived by the illusions of the dream world. No matter how beautiful a dream may appear, or how deep the emotion within it may feel, it remains a dream. Even if one is surrounded by beauty and comfort, it is all transient. When you finally awaken, you will realise that there is nothing left to hold onto.

The Clarity of the Awakened Mind

The Great Master Yongjia once said: "In the dream, there are clearly six realms of rebirth, but upon awakening, the entire Great Thousand World is empty." This is the absolute truth of our existence. It is only after one awakens that one is startled to realise that what was once perceived as solid, undeniable reality was, in fact, nothing more than a fleeting dream. You must be careful not to be misled by the beautiful scenery or the attachments that appear within this dream. If you become trapped by these illusions, it becomes incredibly difficult to wake up. It is a great pity to waste a human life in such a state. You must strive to awaken and see the truth, for otherwise, you will continue to live a life where the dream confuses the person, and the person remains lost within the dream.

Choosing a Path of Serenity

The practice of "walking to where the water ends and sitting to watch the clouds rise" represents a heart that is at peace with following conditions. You may not know what challenges the future holds, but you can choose to face them with a calm and open heart. This is vastly different from being so oppressed by your environment that you can barely breathe. These two different mindsets—one of resistance and one of acceptance—lead to Life’s Next Destination: The Power of the Final Thought. By choosing the path of the awakened, you can leave suffering behind and find true happiness. We must always remember to chant Namo Amituofo, for it is the light that guides us out of the dream and into the truth.

Namo Amituofo