Teachings on Never Retreating

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

During the noon offering on the twenty-first of February, 2025, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided these essential teachings on the nature of the practitioner's mind.

The Guardian of the Field

In the rural landscape, the scarecrow serves as an indispensable companion to the farmers, their families, and the children who play in the fields. Standing silently in the midst of the rice paddies, it acts as a steadfast guardian of the land. This is necessary because birds often descend to consume the precious rice, the grain, and the seeds that sustain the community. With the scarecrow standing watch, the birds are deterred, and the harvest remains protected.

The appearance of these guardians varies greatly, reflecting the care of those who create them: some stand tall and rigid, watching over the crops with unwavering focus; others are crafted in a bent posture, as if leaning into the work of the day. They are often dressed in the discarded clothing of the farmers, giving them a familiar and human presence in the field.

Embracing the Cycle of Causal Conditions

As long as the connection between the scarecrow, the birds, the farmland, the rice, and the farmer remains, the scarecrow continues its duty of protection. However, when these Causal Conditions reach their end, the scarecrow disappears from the field, and another is placed to take its position. All of this occurs within the natural flow of arising and ceasing.

If you can model your spiritual practice after the scarecrow, you will find a new depth of stability. You must learn to accept both favourable and adverse conditions with the same equanimity. Whether the circumstances are pleasant or difficult, you must be able to bear them without losing your composure.

The Unmoved Mind in Practice

Consider how you should respond to the changing seasons of life. Favourable conditions are like a gentle breeze on a beautiful, sunny day; when the breeze brushes against your face, you feel refreshed and calm. Adverse conditions are like strong winds or heavy rain; sometimes, you may even feel the scorching heat of the sun.

In the face of these challenges, you must remain without resentment or regret. Do not complain, and do not let your heart be moved by the turbulence of the external world. Regardless of what you encounter, you must follow the conditions and bear the responsibility directly. Do not retreat, for there is no path of retreat in the true practice of the Buddha-way.

Cultivating the Field of the Heart

The scarecrow is much like this physical body, and the field it guards is like your own heart and spirit. The growth of the rice field is a beautiful metaphor for your inner journey. The process begins with the sowing of seeds, which eventually sprout into green shoots. As the green rice matures, it grows into heavy, golden stalks of grain; this transformation represents the purification of your heart.

Through this process, you gain spiritual growth and eventually reach Awakening. The heavy, golden stalks of grain are like the natural abilities that manifest after one has realised their true nature. These abilities are not for personal gain; they are to be used for the purpose of saving the world and rescuing infinite suffering beings. May you always keep this goal in mind as you chant Namo Amituofo.

Namo Amituofo