The Buddha-Heart: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

The Lifelong Goal of Practice

Practice requires both courage and diligent effort. Your lifelong goal as a practitioner is to rediscover your true self and transform your ordinary, worldly mind into the Buddha-heart. This is the essence of your journey, a path that leads you back to the original nature that has always been within you.

The Unmoved Mind of the Buddha

The Buddha-heart is eternally stable and calm. Even when your physical body is busy with the affairs of the world, your mind remains completely unmoved. This is the state of an unmoved mind, where you are no longer swayed by the external environment. The Buddha-heart is often described as having no mind, yet it is precisely this state of emptiness that allows it to give rise to infinite compassion to save infinite beings.

Compassion for Infinite Beings

The Buddha-heart resonates deeply with the hearts of all sentient beings. It understands their myriad thoughts and struggles. Every thought within the Buddha-heart is dedicated to helping beings leave suffering behind. Through this profound connection, the Buddha-heart works to:

• Resolve the infinite pain and suffering that beings endure.
• Guide beings through the cycles of birth, sickness, and death.
• Save infinite beings by embracing their hearts with boundless compassion.

The Buddha-heart is truly priceless. It is constantly working to save, guide, and encourage all beings to make the sincere vow to chant Namo Amituofo and enter the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Perfection of Chanting

The Buddha-heart has no thoughts, yet every thought is inseparable from the Buddha. It is entirely selfless, thinking only of the welfare of others; not a single moment is spent for the sake of the self. Many beings, however, have minds filled with impurities and distractions, which makes it difficult to maintain a firm resolve to chant Namo Amituofo. Their practice often becomes fragmented and difficult to sustain.

I encourage you to chant Namo Amituofo directly and continuously. You must chant until you reach the state of chanting without chanting, and without chanting, you are still chanting. This is the true success of your practice. When your heart is in perfect sync with the Buddha, you will be welcomed to the Western Pure Land.

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

Namo Amituofo