The Wisdom of Extinction

During the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, we are reminded of the profound significance of the practice of extinction. It is not a destruction of existence, but a vital process of letting go of the obstacles that prevent us from seeing our true self. Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provides the following guidance on how to walk this path.

The Fire Within and the Light of Wisdom

You must extinguish the fire that burns within your heart. If you allow this fire of anger and attachment to rage unchecked, it will spread across the heavens, and all the merit you have cultivated will be lost. This fire consumes your peace and obscures the clarity of your original nature.

You must extinguish the arising of confusion. As the fog of ignorance begins to lift, your mind will gradually become clear. It is in this clarity that your inherent compassion and wisdom are finally revealed.

Transcending the Illusions of Self

You must extinguish the disputes between self and others. By choosing to remove defilements and attain purity, your mind becomes settled and unmoving, free from the turbulent waves of conflict.

You must extinguish your ego and stubborn 'self'. When this ego-attachment is gone, suffering dissipates, and you find true peace, free from the constraints of rigid views. You must also extinguish the concepts of 'I' and 'mine'. If you ask yourself where this 'I' truly comes from, you will realise it arises only from an illusory environment. Furthermore, you must extinguish your subjective arrogance. These are merely phantoms in a dream; you must break them and let them go, for they have no real existence.

The Eternal Stillness of the True Self

You must extinguish the Five Desires and the Six Dusts. These are the poisons of your practice; you must cut them off immediately if you wish to progress.

You must extinguish all fluctuations of thought. This is the only way to see your true self, reclaim your eternal essence, and attain the state of Samadhi. This is the eternal life of no birth and no death, a state of stillness that remains constant forever.

This message was recorded by the chief writer, the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo