A Clear Goal for the Path to Awakening

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

On the tenth of April, 2026, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided these essential teachings on the importance of maintaining a clear and unwavering goal in our spiritual practice.

The Foundation of Our Aspirations

When you begin your journey in learning the Buddha’s teachings, your primary goal must be clearly defined. You are here to understand the nature of suffering and to learn how to leave suffering behind. This requires a deep commitment to comprehending the Universal Principles, Truth, and the Right Path. Without this clarity, your practice lacks the foundation necessary to withstand the challenges of the world.

The goal of your practice is to transcend the cycle of birth and death, to exit the three realms of existence, and to ensure that you are no longer reincarnated within the cycle of rebirth. This is the fundamental purpose of your spiritual life.

The Ultimate Destination

For those of us following the Pure Land path, our goal is even more specific. We strive to leave suffering behind and gain happiness, ultimately attaining Buddhahood. We aim to see our true nature in this very lifetime, to achieve the state of an awakened being, and to save ourselves while helping countless suffering beings achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

This is the path to a state where you will not grow old, not get sick, and the spirit does not die. By achieving rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, you step out of the limitations of the physical world and into the eternal light of Namo Amituofo.

The Power of the Buddha-Name

Your goal in chanting Namo Amituofo must be absolute. You must chant one Buddha's name to the end. When you do this, the prospect of seeing your true nature and being reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss becomes a reality. As it is written in the Shurangama Sutra, in the chapter on Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva’s method of perfect penetration through Buddha-recitation: If you remember the Buddha and chant the Buddha's name, you will certainly see the Buddha, either in the present or in the future.

As you progress through the world, you must use your practice to purify your mind. With every step, you will find yourself drawing closer to your ultimate goal. This goal is to see your true nature, attain Buddhahood, and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, all while maintaining the capacity to save countless suffering beings. To achieve this is to ensure that your limited time in this life is not spent in vain.

Clearing the Path of Obstacles

Often, when your heart still harbours attachments and worries, your practice will encounter obstacles. You will find it impossible to focus your mind. This is why it is essential to see through and let go. As a practitioner, you must not allow the people, events, objects, or environments of this world to take root in your heart. If you allow them to remain, they become a form of pollution.

Your practice is the process of washing away this pollution until not a single trace remains. Only then will you be able to see your original, true face. While the actions you have performed in the past—the various good karma, negative karma, and pure karma you have created—do not simply vanish, they are recorded clearly. You must remain aware of them, yet not be bound by them.

The Mind of the Awakened

The difference lies in the state of your heart. For those who have realised their true nature, the heart is transparent. They understand that all phenomena are illusory. Their hearts are free from defilement because they have thoroughly learned to see through and let go, leaving no trace of attachment behind.

Conversely, those who have not yet realised their true nature and have not yet transformed their karma remain burdened. If you continue to dwell on the bits and pieces of the past, or if you remain attached to the people, events, and circumstances you encounter in the present, these will remain as obstacles to your practice. If this pollution is not completely removed, you cannot see your true nature. This is the simple, factual truth of the path.

If you truly wish to see your true nature and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and save yourself while helping others, you must take these words to heart. Only then will you have the opportunity to reach your goal.

Namo Amituofo.