The Essence of Purity: Teachings on the Pure Land

On the 24th of January 2021, during the third session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided profound guidance on the nature of the Pure Land. This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

The Great Dharma of Purity

The Pure Land is referred to as the Great Dharma, and its essence lies entirely in the word purity. In this Dharma-ending age, we reside within the Five Turbidities and Evil World. We are constantly drawn by the weight of our past karma, which manifests as a life of impurity and defilement. However, all these defiled appearances can be transformed and purified. Only through the power of purity can we truly change our state of being.

The Heart as the Root of All Practice

To achieve this transformation, we must focus on the purification of our entire being. This involves three essential areas:

• Purification of the heart: the source of all our thoughts and intentions.Purification of the body: the vessel through which we act in the world.Purification of the spirit: the essence that transcends our physical form.

These three aspects must be unified into one, with the heart as the foundation. The heart is the root of all Buddha’s teachings. This is not only true for those in the human world; all sentient beings, including spirits, rely on the heart as their fundamental basis. Therefore, when you practise, you must put in the work at the level of your own heart. When the heart is pure, the land is pure—this is the true meaning of the Pure Land.

The Foundation of the Six-Character Name

The six-character name, Namo Amituofo, serves as the bedrock of the Pure Land path. When your foundation is stable and your heart is aligned with the Buddha-heart, you will receive the support of the Buddha’s power and the strength of the Buddha-vows. Through this connection, you will be able to manifest:

• Boundless compassion and dignity.Endless wisdom and virtuous capabilities.A capacity for infinite tolerance and inclusion.A vast, pure, and positive energy that permeates your existence.

Returning to the True Self

This energy allows your heart, body, and spirit to enter a state of pure goodness. In this state of total emptiness, you can finally rediscover your true self. In this Dharma-ending age, the only way to become an awakened being is through the path of purity. Namo Amituofo.