Striving Forward Toward Eternal Life

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded by Venerable HaiZe.

The phrase striving forward describes a state of moving ahead with great speed and purpose. When we look at the flow of our lives and the passing of the years, we must realise that time moves with an unrelenting pace. It does not wait for anyone, and it certainly does not pause for our convenience. In such a fleeting existence, can we truly afford to let the pace of our spiritual practice falter or come to a standstill?

The Futility of Worldly Pursuits

In truth, if we are merely striving forward to acquire things that we cannot take with us when we depart this world, we are missing the point of our existence. Such a life is nothing more than a repetitive cycle of reincarnation, a process that keeps us trapped within the six realms. By chasing after worldly desires, we only succeed in exhausting ourselves, forcing our spirits to endure yet another round of the suffering inherent in birth, aging, sickness, and death.

We must ask ourselves: is this the life we truly wish to lead? How many of us are willing to break free from this cycle?

Reclaiming Your Original Nature

Life offers us a different choice, a path that leads to liberation. We should be striving forward for the sake of finding our eternal life. We must work diligently to:

• Return to the self that existed before our parents were born.
• Restore our original, pristine face.
• Become the true master of our own lives.

When we achieve this, we are no longer drifting through existence, subject to the whims of our past karma. Instead, we stand in the light of our own true nature, fully capable of directing our own destiny.

The Responsibility of Choice

Whether we choose the path of worldly attachment or the path of spiritual awakening, we must remember that we are the ones who create our own causes and reap our own effects. No one else can walk this path for us, and no one can substitute their efforts for our own. This is a journey that each individual must undertake with sincerity and resolve.

My dear children, the power to choose the direction of your life rests entirely in your own hands. Once you have understood the truth of our existence, you should know exactly what it is that your practice is meant to recover. Do not let another moment pass in confusion. Focus your heart, align your intentions, and strive forward with the singular goal of returning to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo