Teachings from Teacher-Practitioner Xia Lianju. Recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
20 September 2024, Second Session.
The Fleeting Nature of Time
The term 'then' refers to a time that has passed, a moment that is no longer within our grasp. We often find ourselves reflecting on the past, wondering how things were and how they have changed. Time has flowed onward, and our physical appearances have altered. The 'now' is fundamentally different from the 'then' we once knew. Even our hearts and minds have shifted; they are not the same as they were in the past. How, then, can we find peace and settle our hearts in this present moment? The answer lies in grasping the present moment—the 'now'—with complete focus.
Anchoring the Heart in the Present
Regardless of what your current circumstances may be, do not let this moment pass in vain. Instead, dedicate it to chanting Namo Amituofo. No matter what you face, you must maintain your practice: whoever you may encounter in your daily life, whatever environment you may find yourself in, and whatever tasks or responsibilities you must face. If you keep the Buddha in your heart and chant Namo Amituofo in every thought, you will maintain a continuous, pure . Do not let a single moment be wasted. In the past, you may have been a child, but now you wear the robes of a monk, serving the Three Jewels. Especially here at Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, where Namo Amituofo truly abides, the significance of your practice is extraordinary.
The Long Journey Through Samsara
We were once beings of the Western Land. We looked upon our past and witnessed the profound suffering inherent in the six realms of existence. Out of deep , we descended into the human world to save all those with whom we share an affinity, hoping to lead them to rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Yet, we became trapped in the vast sea of . We have been reincarnated life after life, enduring the hardships of samsara and the bitterness of the cycle of rebirth. We have been bound by the Five Aggregates: form, our physical bodies and the material world; feeling, the sensations that arise from our experiences; perception, the way we interpret the world around us; , the impulses and habits that drive our actions; and , the underlying awareness that stores our karmic seeds. Lost in this confusion, we are often unaware of our own suffering. Even when we do realise the nature of this suffering, we find it incredibly difficult to break free. We ask ourselves: when will we finally be saved? When will we be liberated from the cycle of rebirth, freed from the bonds of life and death, and no longer subject to such endless pain?
The Sanctuary of Namo Amituofo
Now, Namo Amituofo has come to Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. This is a place where the Western Pure Land manifests in the human world, a sacred sanctuary where one can practise and achieve . Beings from the Realm and even those who were once considered demons have heard of this place and have come forward. They have come to receive the deliverance of Namo Amituofo and the performed by Practitioner Su. Countless beings are now entering the Dharma-Nature Land. Those who were once beings of the Western Land are now seeing Namo Amituofo again, preparing to return to the Land of the Golden Lotus. Likewise, those who are currently chanting Namo Amituofo are also seeing the Buddha in this very moment, fulfilling their wish for rebirth in the Western Pure Land. Namo Amituofo.
