The Buddha Within Your Heart

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

Second Session, 30 August 2024

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju:

The Presence of the Buddha Within

Children, is there a Buddha within your heart? Does the Buddha truly abide in your heart at all times? Or perhaps you find that your heart holds the Buddha only occasionally, while at other times you forget Him entirely? It is also possible that your heart is empty of the Buddha, filled only with the ego, leaving you unable to master your own life, resulting in myriad sufferings.

The Buddha within your heart is, in truth, possessed by all; it is your self-nature, your Buddha-nature, yet it has been obscured by the heavy veils of confusion accumulated over countless aeons. Because you are covered by these obstructions, you find it difficult to be the master of your own life. Consequently, you have drifted through many lifetimes, enduring all manner of suffering in a boundless sea of misery from which it is difficult to escape.

The Compassionate Hand of the Buddhas

Even when the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, in their infinite compassion, reach out to protect you and extend a helping hand to pull you from the depths of suffering, you let go of their hands, turn away, and wander back into the cycle of rebirth to suffer once more. You must ask yourself: when will the Buddha within your heart finally manifest His golden light to illuminate your body, your mind, and the entire Dharma Realm?

Namo Amituofo, our Teacher, and Practitioner Su constantly remind all of you: you must chant Namo Amituofo 24/7. This is because we hope that each and every sound of the Buddha-name will serve to purify your body, mind, and spirit, and ultimately awaken the Buddha within your heart.

Returning to Our True Home

The Buddha within your heart is always with you, constantly accompanying you. This is the natural state for all beings of the Western Land. However, because these beings saw those connected by karmic affinity in the human world—struggling and rolling in the midst of their own karma—they made vows to enter this world to save them. Yet, in doing so, many forgot that they should return to the Western Land, and instead, they became submerged in the world, enduring the same suffering as everyone else.

Namo Amituofo, our Teacher, and Practitioner Su have descended into this world to save all those with karmic affinity. Now, we are all gathered At Hsiang Kuang: A Sacred Sanctuary. With every sound of the Buddha-name, we call out to you. We hope to awaken the lost beings of the Western Land, so that you may rediscover the Buddha within your heart and your own true nature. Namo Amituofo.