The Taste of Life: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

These teachings were recorded by Venerable HaiZe on the 31st of December, 2021, during the Thrice Yearning Ceremony. Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offers these profound insights on the nature of our worldly experiences.

The Many Flavours of Existence

Life is filled with a myriad of sensations, emotions, and trials. We encounter the bitterness and sweetness of birth, aging, sickness, and death. We navigate the complex web of gratitude, resentment, right, and wrong in our interactions with others. We face the joys and sorrows of reunions and partings brought about by impermanence. Our lives are constantly caught in a mixture of these experiences, forcing us to adapt to ever-changing circumstances.

The Illusion of Worldly Tastes

We must realise that the tastes of this world are illusory and impermanent. Any result we gain from chasing these worldly sensations is equally illusory. They do not provide lasting peace or genuine happiness. Because we are often caught in the cycle of these experiences, we fail to see their true, hollow nature.

Guarding the Mind

Before one has developed the necessary skills to detach from these experiences, one must be cautious. Do not be easily deceived by the allure of these tastes. Maintain a healthy distance; do not rush to taste or experience them, for doing so often leads to unnecessary suffering and emotional wounds. It is essential to protect your mind from being swayed by the external environment.

The Path to True Stillness

When your practice matures and you truly understand the reality of impermanence and suffering, you will reach a different state. Even when these worldly tastes appear before you, you can remain unmoved. You will not be tempted or influenced by them. Only then will you have the opportunity to realise your true nature as an awakened being and attain true, cool, and liberated peace. Namo Amituofo.