Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
February 17, 2023
The Pristine Essence of a Pure Heart
The is precious because of its purity. To attain this state, one must cultivate purity across , mind, and spirit. This means ensuring that our speech and intentions are pure, and that our Six Roots—the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind—are cleansed of all defilements.
In our daily lives, the body and the spirit follow the commands issued by the heart. Every action we take and every feeling we experience is a direct result of these commands. Consequently, our three hun souls and seven po souls fluctuate in response to these internal instructions, manifesting either in a state of calm stability or one of chaotic restlessness.
The Heart as the Supreme Commander
The external state of our body, mind, and spirit is a reflection of our inner condition. Because the heart acts as the supreme commander of our entire being, the Buddha’s teachings are essentially teachings of the heart. To make genuine progress, one must put in the work at the very root—the heart itself. When the heart is transformed, the states of the body and the spirit will naturally follow suit and change accordingly.
Most people find it difficult to view the body, mind, and spirit as distinct yet interconnected entities. When problems arise, they often treat the symptoms rather than the cause, much like a doctor who treats a headache by focusing only on the head or a foot pain by focusing only on the foot. This approach is merely superficial; it fails to address the root of the problem and cannot provide a fundamental solution.
Addressing the Root of Suffering
In truth, many of the external difficulties we face are the fruits of the laws of and cause and effect. While the body may suffer, the true cause of this suffering lies within the heart and the spirit. , attached spirits, and demon crowds are beings of the spiritual realms. They exist within our bodies in a spiritual state, exerting a profound influence over our body, mind, and spirit.
When we are in a state of purification, free from contamination, our body, mind, and spirit manifest as pure, simple, and kind. This indicates that the cells within our bodies and the spirit realm beings residing within us are also manifesting in a state of purity, simplicity, and kindness.
However, if our body, mind, and spirit manifest as overly anxious, depressed, restless, or if we suffer from premature ageing and illness, it indicates that the cells within our bodies and the spirit realm beings are also manifesting these same states of anxiety, depression, and illness. This is a clear sign that the heart has lost its ability to be the master, and that the body and spirit have fallen under the control of karma and external spirit beings.
The Necessity of Buddha's Power
This is why purification is so vital for the body, mind, and spirit. In this current age of the ’s decline, looking at the environment we live in, it is extremely difficult for one to achieve true purification through alone. We must combine our own efforts with the power of the Buddha to succeed. This is the two-power method of chanting the Buddha's name in the Pure Land school, where we receive the of to assist us in our practice.
The Path at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Regarding the purification of the body, mind, and spirit, Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre operates under the condition that Namo Amituofo is residing here. Our spiritual healing methods include the following practices:
Listen to sutras and hear the Dharma: To nourish the heart with wisdom.
Prostrations, chanting the Buddha's name, and reciting the Sutras: To cultivate discipline and concentration.
Resolving conflicts with spirit realm beings: Through inviting spirits and performing for .
Dharma-Body Visualisation Deliverance: A profound method to help spirits find liberation.
These practices provide every practitioner with the opportunity to achieve purification and , allowing us to save the world, rescue suffering beings, and ensure our rebirth in the Western Pure Land.
