Recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe
On the twenty-eighth of September, 2024, during the noon offering of the , Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju shared a profound teaching on the essence of the spiritual path: the practice of not acting for . To truly walk the Buddha's path, one must live by the principle of not acting for one's own benefit, but rather for the benefit of all beings. We must remember that we ourselves are also among these beings. When we cultivate this perspective, we begin to dissolve the rigid boundaries of the ego.
Regardless of where beings originate, which of the six realms of existence they inhabit, what space they occupy, or what form they take, every single one of them possesses the true self. Because of this, we are fundamentally one with all beings. When we dedicate our efforts to ensuring that others receive the benefits of the and find salvation, we are, in the final analysis, the ones who receive the greatest benefit and salvation ourselves.
The Interconnectedness of All Beings
Those who truly understand the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way will cherish every minute and second of their lives. They will not distinguish between themselves and others, but will instead serve the masses with a compassionate heart. This service takes many forms:
Practising Generosity to form broad, virtuous connections with all.
Seeing through the true nature of suffering in this world, not to escape, but to help more beings leave suffering behind.
Extending this to all beings across the ten directions, including celestial beings, asuras, humans on Earth, those in the hells, hungry ghosts, and animals.
Including all sentient beings within the Dharma Realm, the universe, and the vast Milky Way in our prayers and efforts.
This practice is also a vital way to save our parents and teachers from countless past lifetimes, our family members, and the countless beings within one's body. By working for their liberation, we walk the path of true compassion.
The Freedom of
To practise the principle of not acting for the self, one must truly let go. This means having no subjective views, no personal opinions, no stubborn attachments, and no fixed ways of thinking or acting. When one’s heart is truly empty of the ego, there is no self to defend or promote. Everything is done for the sake of all beings.
When one acts entirely for the sake of others, without any selfish thoughts, intentions, or behaviours, the Greed, Anger, Ignorance, Arrogance, and Doubt, as well as the attachments to wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep, naturally fall away.
The Path to
As a practitioner, you seek the path of liberation, the way to leave suffering behind and achieve rebirth in the . By not acting for the self, you are no longer trapped by the heavy weight of or the entanglements of emotional attachments. Only then can you see the facts of reality clearly.
When you are free from the self, you are selfless. This is the state of a practitioner who is diligent in chanting Namo Amituofo, whose meditative concentration is firm, and who does not retreat from the path. It is only through this state of non-attachment that one can walk the Buddha's path with integrity and eventually see their true nature.
Let us take this teaching to heart. By letting go of the small, limited self, we open our lives to the infinite compassion of Namo Amituofo. We invite you to practise this daily, ensuring that every thought is directed toward the welfare of all beings, thereby securing your own path to .
