The Power of the Present Moment

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded by Venerable HaiZe.

The past has already vanished. It is a shadow that no longer holds substance in the light of the present. In this very moment, you have the opportunity to begin anew. Every present instant offers you the chance to become a new version of yourself, living a life that is no longer tethered to the shadows of what has gone before.

Breaking Free from the Magnet of Karma

Do not allow yourself to be pulled by the currents of the past. When you dwell on what has happened, you are acting like a magnet. You are drawing your past karma toward you, binding yourself to it so tightly that you cannot escape its influence. This attachment is what keeps you trapped in the cycle of suffering.

Only by fundamentally transforming yourself can you find the strength to overcome this heavy burden. This process of transformation involves several crucial steps:

• Transform karma:
• Actively changing the direction of your karmic path.Transforming your karma:
• Purifying the seeds of past actions so they no longer bear bitter fruit.Becoming an awakened being: Realising your true self so that you are no longer swayed by external circumstances.

Once you have achieved this, you can return to save sentient beings with karmic affinity. You will no longer be at the mercy of your karma, nor will you be swept away by its relentless tide.

The Constant Practice of the Buddha-Heart

This present moment is the perfect time for diligent practice. You must keep the Buddha in your heart at all times. Do not let a single second pass without maintaining your connection to the path. This involves a continuous commitment to your daily spiritual exercises:

• Chant Buddha's name:
• Keeping the name of the Buddha at the forefront of your mind.Prostrations:
• Bowing to the Buddha to cultivate humility and respect.Recite the Sutras:
• Absorbing the wisdom of the teachings.Listen to sutras and hear the Dharma: Hearing the truth to clear away confusion.

Even when you are busy with external affairs, you must ensure that your heart remains focused on the Buddha. You must act in accordance with the Buddha-heart, the Buddha-vow, and the Buddha-actions. Do not let your mind become scattered, aimless, or dominated by your ego, anger, or the tendency to gossip about right and wrong.

Aligning with the Forty-eight Great Vows

You must have faith in yourself and faith in the Buddha. This faith allows you to actively transform your thoughts, your actions, and your vows until they are one with the Buddha. You must cultivate the Buddha-heart, constantly purifying your worldly, stained mind and transforming it into the pure, untainted heart of the Buddha.

You must shift your focus from your own desires to the service of all beings. Every word you speak and every action you take should be a Buddha-action, dedicated to helping others leave suffering behind and find happiness, and guiding them toward Chao Du for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. You must develop your awareness, transforming your selfish thoughts and messy thoughts into the selfless, no-self, and mindful state of the Forty-eight Great Vows of Namo Amituofo.

If you can truly achieve this, you will experience a profound transformation. You will rediscover your true self and begin to live a life that is genuinely autonomous, free, and serene. Namo Amituofo.