Recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe, on May 2, 2026, during the second session of the , Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provides these essential teachings on the nature of meditative concentration.
The Foundation of a Stable Heart
Meditative concentration is the state where the heart is level, calm, and at peace. It is a profound skill of the , and it is certainly not something that can be achieved in a single day or night. Within the three essential studies of , meditative concentration, and Wisdom, one must first focus on the Precepts. By practising with diligence and avoiding all transgressions, one naturally stabilises the heart and opens the door to true Wisdom. When one attains this state of concentration, the heart becomes cool, clear, and free of ripples. It becomes serene and auspicious, allowing Wisdom to manifest fully.
The Path of Buddha-Recitation
To achieve this, you must chant Namo Amituofo 24/7, ensuring the Buddha-name continues without interruption. You should chant until you reach the state of chanting while not chanting, and not chanting while chanting. When the Buddha-name arises naturally and spontaneously within you, you have successfully attained the . In this state of constant meditative concentration, the heart remains unmoved. Because the heart is stable and free from agitation, external people, matters, and environments will no longer influence your inner peace and .
Living by the Universal Principles
Those who truly understand the laws of and cause and effect, as well as the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, are able to follow these teachings without deviation. This adherence to the truth is what brings stability to the heart. This is the hallmark of a practitioner who has achieved success in their practice. A person who has attained meditative concentration does not seek external connections; their heart does not rise in agitation, and they remain perfectly at ease in the present moment. They possess the ability to transform their environment rather than being swayed by it. Their —the eyes, ears, and body—remain undisturbed by external distractions, and their heart does not follow the shifting conditions of the world.
Deep Concentration in Motion
Furthermore, a practitioner who has attained this level of meditative concentration, through the purification of their heart, is able to draw inferences and see things more deeply, more clearly, and more thoroughly. There is also the state of meditative concentration in motion. Even when the physical body is active, the heart remains unmoved. The heart is not influenced by 's movement, and the Buddha-name continues to be chanted without a single moment of interruption. This is the mark of one who has attained deep meditative concentration.
Seizing the Opportunity for
At this very moment, here at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, we are blessed because Namo Amituofo is residing here. This is a magnificent and rare opportunity. Those who hear these teachings should seize this chance to draw close to the temple and seek the . For every practitioner, you must be fiercely diligent and take charge of your own destiny. Strive to reach the state of an awakened being as soon as possible, so that you may save yourself and help others. By doing so, you will surely be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss in this very lifetime.
