The Illusion of the World and the Awakening of the Spirit

On the seventh of April, 2019, during the second session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered these profound teachings to guide our spiritual practice.

The Frozen Landscape of the Spirit

The winter river is frozen solid. The plants and trees are encased in ice, and the earth is blanketed in snow. As spring arrives, the frost remains white, covering the world in layers. We sit inside, our bodies shrinking from the chill, our hearts feeling low and stifled, and our spirits lost in the fog of delusion. This coldness reflects a spirit that has lost its warmth and direction.

The Cycle of Endless Wandering

Why does this occur? It is because we allow ourselves to be turned by the environment, having no true anchor. Without a spiritual foundation, we drift through existence—one lifetime comes, and one lifetime goes. We are trapped in the cycle of rebirth, lost in an illusion within an illusion. We chase after more, yet we are never satisfied. We struggle to distinguish truth from falsehood, but these are merely products of our wandering thoughts. If we reach a state of no-mind, we will realise that all things are one.

Awakening to the True Nature

When true awareness arises, you can transform your environment. All Buddhas share this same nature. You will realise that cold is not truly cold, and heat is not truly heat; these are manifestations of Causal Conditions. Right is not truly right, and wrong is not truly wrong; these are manifestations of the laws of karma and cause and effect. When you see through these appearances, you are no longer bound by them.

Transcending the Illusion

Do not cling to the notion of existence, for suffering is born from such attachments. In the end, all things are empty. By letting go, you can leave suffering behind and find true happiness. This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe, our chief writer.