A Clear Heart: Teachings on the Path to Awakening

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

On the twenty-fifth of May, 2025, during the midday offering, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided the following guidance on the meaning of a Clear Heart.

The Essence of a Clear Heart

What does it mean to have a Clear Heart? It refers to a state of mind that is completely transparent, luminous, and free from the obscurations of ignorance. When one possesses a Clear Heart, one’s inner world is illuminated with absolute clarity.

Who truly possesses this clarity? It is the Buddhas, the Bodhisattvas, and those who have realised their true nature. Their body, mind, and spirit are entirely pure, and they possess a profound understanding of the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

The Clarity of Finality

A Clear Heart understands that this current life is the final opportunity for liberation. With this realisation, one is willing to offer up this physical body, entrusting it entirely to the Buddha. One must cultivate a firm and unwavering faith in both the Buddha and in one's own capacity for awakening. When the mind is free from the fog of confusion and doubt, it shines with a radiant, unwavering light.

The Rarity of This Human Life

A Clear Heart recognises the profound difficulty of obtaining a human body. It understands that the ability to hear the Buddha’s teachings and enter into true practice is a sign of a person who possesses tremendous blessings. To encounter Namo Amituofo, to meet with the teachers, and to be present at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is a rare occurrence indeed. It is truly a hardship among hardships, and there is no greater blessing than this.

Because of this, one must learn to cherish and grasp every moment of time. Do not waste even a single minute or second. Instead, one should:

• Focus on completing every task with diligence and care.
• Practise the Buddha-name recitation with unwavering focus.
• Make a firm vow that, while residing in this Buddha-land, one will successfully rediscover one's true self.

Relying on the Power of Namo Amituofo

A Clear Heart is also acutely aware that our current physical form is a karmic body, burdened by heavy spiritual obstacles. We must realise that it is only by relying on the power of Namo Amituofo that we can hope to escape the cycle of rebirth and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Therefore, one should let go of the past and cease worrying about the future. There is only the present moment, and in this moment, one must chant Namo Amituofo all the way. Do not allow your focus to slacken. Continue to chant until your heart becomes clear, calm, and peaceful. Continue to chant until the sufferings of birth, aging, sickness, and death no longer manifest in your mind. Even if sickness or the signs of aging appear, do not harbour resentment or regret; simply continue to chant the Buddha’s name with a sincere heart. Keep chanting until you see the Buddha come to lead you to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Service and the Path of Generosity

Finally, a Clear Heart is expressed through service to all beings. By practising Generosity and performing good deeds within this Buddha-land—the place where Namo Amituofo truly abides—one can cultivate tremendous blessings and manifest great Wisdom. This is an opportunity that is difficult to encounter in millions of years; therefore, you must grasp it firmly at this very moment.

Namo Amituofo