The Fleeting Nature of Life: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

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

These teachings were delivered during the third session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony on January 11, 2025.

The Fleeting Shadows of Time

Life comes and goes in a rush, passing before our eyes like a fleeting shadow. We often fail to realise the Truth in the present moment, only awakening to it when it is already too late. Once time has passed, it is gone forever; it will never return to us. One lifetime ends, and another begins. How many more cycles must we endure before we can finally put an end to the suffering of birth and death?

Our practice, too, passes by in the blink of an eye. You must ask yourself: are you truly growing in wisdom and compassion, or are you regressing as your afflictions continue to arise? You must be able to subdue and eventually sever these afflictions; only then can you say that your practice is truly making progress.

The Alchemy of the Heart and Cells

Whether your cells are revitalised or aging depends entirely on the state of your heart and actions. Consider the following:

• When you act for the benefit of all beings, your cells are revitalised.
• When you act out of selfishness, your cells age and decay.
• When you perform acts of goodness, your cells are revitalised.
• When you commit evil, your cells age and decay.

Is your body healthy and filled with energy, or are you plagued by illness and lacking vitality? Again, this depends on the state of your heart and actions. A body purified by goodness is filled with strength. It is through this purity that you can dissolve your karma, transform your karma, and eventually see your true nature.

The Journey Toward Liberation

If illness manifests, you will lack the strength to practise. If you then fall into a state of drowsiness, you drift into other spaces. It becomes difficult to maintain control, and you only accumulate more karma. If you cannot transform your karma, the goal of seeing your true nature remains far away.

Your spiritual life has no beginning and no end. You have already passed through countless aeons. You have been reincarnated, suffering in the fires of samsara. When will you finally be able to leave suffering behind? Do not continue to suffer in this way; it is far too difficult to escape once you are trapped.

The Vow to Reach the Western Land

In this life, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, you have encountered Namo Amituofo and heard the supreme Dharma of becoming a Buddha. You must make a vow to seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Let your spirit enter that precious Western Land, where you can leave suffering behind, gain happiness, and cultivate until you become a Buddha.

You must be diligent in your practice and chant the Buddha's name. With this human body, you can see your true nature and join Namo Amituofo in the work of saving all beings.

Namo Amituofo