16/05/2026 Zhongfeng Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Second Session: Teachings by Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju on "Seizing This Lifetime"

Teachings by the Teacher. Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable Fa Hui

16 May 2026

Teachings by Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju:

The suffering of karma in reincarnation is known to those who have endured such pain; they understand how unbearable it is and thus give rise to a heart that wishes to leave suffering behind and is weary of this world.

This is the bitter reality of aging, sickness, and death that beings in reincarnation cannot prevent.

After the end of this life, where will one go in the next? This is also subject to change.

While one breath still remains, both this life and the next are within the realm of variables.

Beings in reincarnation follow their karma; everything proceeds according to the unfolding of karma;

and the preciousness of the human body lies in the ability to "transform karma".

When one understands that everything is illusory,

and when one is willing to "see through" and "let go", the shackles of karma are loosened;

but can one put this knowledge into practice?

Many people can understand and comprehend this, but lack the strength to act,

remaining at the mercy of reincarnation and unable to be the master of themselves; they are still beings bound by karma.

If one truly sees through the false, illusory, and temporal nature of reincarnation and this body,

knowing that once it passes, it is gone and will not return, and if one truly practises chanting Namo Amituofo based on this understanding, one is truly fortunate!

To be able to single-mindedly chant "Namo Amituofo",

under the Buddha's blessings,

whether suffering from the body of aging or sickness, one can face it with a peaceful heart,

this is the result of firm faith in the Buddha and an earnest vow to seek rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is a beautiful world that everyone yearns for with joy.

Those who have achieved success in the practice of chanting Buddha's name and are able to attain rebirth with ease,

can be the masters of themselves, not controlled by the karma of reincarnation, and face the circumstances they encounter with composure,

not being turned by circumstances, but instead being able to transform them.

How one spends this life, where one goes after death, and how one spends that time,

is related to one's actions in this life.

Life is connected in segments like this, which is known as "segmentary birth and death".

This segment of life proceeds here,

after the end of life, the spirit enters another segment of life, proceeding in another place,

presenting a different appearance and bearing a different name.

These processes are all transformations of the "spirit".

The main body of this spirit is the "Alaya consciousness", which is the true self.

When the true self can be the master, the spirit, complexion, and Body-Mind-Spirit can maintain stability;

if the true self cannot be the master, and karma manifests,

then beings connected by karmic affinity to the karmic body take control,

perhaps they are karmic creditors, attached spirits, or demon crowds.

If it is a Buddha or Bodhisattva, they can be free in birth and death, not restricted by the karma of reincarnation,

and the phenomenon of birth and death they present to save beings is called "mutated birth and death".

Nowadays, Namo Amituofo is residing here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia,

and the fourfold assembly has the opportunity to transition from segmentary birth and death to mutated birth and death,

which is to say, from being ordinary people bound by karma to entering the body of a Buddha or Bodhisattva.

I only hope that the fourfold assembly will seize this lifetime and strive diligently.

Namo Amituofo.