A Pool of Pure Water

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

Water is the fundamental substance required to sustain life and maintain health. Without it, the physical body cannot thrive. It is a vital element that we often take for granted, yet its nature holds a profound lesson for those of us on the path of practice.

The Process of Purification

Consider raw water. In its natural state, it is filled with impurities. Only after undergoing rigorous filtration can it be transformed into water suitable for drinking. This process is a perfect metaphor for our spiritual journey.

Raw water represents the ordinary person, still clouded by the dust of the world. The rigorous filtration process is analogous to the path of practice. As a practitioner, you must face and break through various states of mind and external circumstances. The impurities within the water represent the various forms of pollution that cloud our true nature. Through the layers of practice, you must wash away these pollutions from your body, mind, and spirit. This purification is the essential work that leads, eventually, to the realisation of your true nature.

Skillful Means for All Beings

Once the water is purified, it can be served at different temperatures—boiling hot, warm, cool, or even icy. Each temperature serves a different purpose and is suitable for different people at different times. Similarly, once you have reached Awakening, you must observe the capacity of others, the timing of the situation, and the specific needs of the individual. You then apply the appropriate Dharma words and the Dharma Jewel to help them.

Every Dharma word and every piece of the Dharma Jewel is designed to counteract the suffering of sentient beings. They are the methods to heal the aging, the sickness, and the restless heart and spirit of all beings. These teachings allow beings to leave suffering behind, find peace of mind, achieve physical health, and attain spiritual stability. They are the path to becoming ageless, free from sickness, and spiritually eternal.

The Mission of the Fourfold Assembly

The fourfold assembly of disciples at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre should all aspire to become beings of the Western Land and awakened beings. You must strive to be those who can resolve the suffering of others and heal their body, mind, and spirit, guiding them back to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo