The Changing Human Heart: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

The Thrice Yearning Ceremonies serve as a profound time for reflection and spiritual renewal. During the second session, we focus our attention on the essential act of repenting. On September 10, 2017, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided these vital teachings on the state of the human heart and its impact on our world.

The Fading Clarity of the Heavens

There was a time when the sky was clear, like floating clouds and a light breeze, without a single cloud to obscure the view. Now, the sun beats down with a fierce, scorching intensity that leaves one feeling faint. There was a time when the four seasons followed their natural, orderly progression. Today, however, everything is in chaos. We see winter days that require summer clothing, and spring rains that never arrive, leaving the earth dry and parched. One must ask: is the Earth itself preparing to cease its rotation? The answer lies in the changing human heart.

The Insatiable Hunger of the Heart

People in this world have become insatiable in their greed. They are like those who climb one mountain only to look toward an even higher peak, never finding contentment. This endless cycle of desire is the root of the evil that plagues the human heart. How can we expect the four seasons to remain clear and balanced when the collective heart of humanity is so turbulent? The space we inhabit has become complex and polluted. It is filled with greed, anger, and the confusion of emotional attachments. This accumulation of negative energy has damaged the natural order of the world. The original purity that once existed is no longer present.

A Return to the Pristine Source

If we wish to restore the world to its original, pristine state, there is only one way: the human heart must return to its source. When the heart returns to its true nature, we naturally begin to grow roots of goodness. Human nature is fundamentally good and natural; it is the original face we possessed before we were even born. We must embrace the virtues of gentleness, kindness, respect, frugality, and mutual concession. This is the path to restoring the purity of our practice and the world around us. Let us reflect on these words and strive to purify our hearts, for the state of the world is but a reflection of our inner landscape.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Fajing.

Namo Amituofo