Awakening from the Dream of Samsara
Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju
Second Session of the Winter Disaster Relief and Wish-Fulfillment Dharma Assembly, 2019
The Illusion of the Waking World
When do we enter this dream? When do we finally wake from it? The past is but a dream, and the present moment is no different. How many times have the lonely spirits within this dream wept? Their tears have flowed like an endless ocean.
How joyous is their laughter? It echoes into the vast emptiness of the sky. How deep is their happiness? It lingers even in their sleep. How profound is their sorrow? It is sharp enough to pierce through solid stone.
We enter the dream to search for the dream. We seek illusions within illusions. We chase shadows beneath the light. Our hearts are like the ocean, tossed by waves; our thoughts are like drifting clouds. Everything is in a state of constant flux, never finding a moment of stillness.
As the waves flow and the clouds drift, we must ask: where are we going? We are led by our desires, our cravings, our fleeting thoughts, and our impulsive intentions.
The Endless Cycle of Impermanence
With the shadow of impermanence always following us, how can there be true happiness? The cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death remains a riddle we cannot solve on our own. Please, follow the teachings of the Buddha to break through the barriers of your confusion.
You must understand the true nature of these states: The aging of is not true aging; it is the aging of the heart that truly matters. The death of the body is not true death; it is the death of the heart that is the real end.
Healing the Heart and Mind
If the sickness of the heart is resolved, you will realise that, originally, there was nothing to worry about. When the sickness of the body is healed, and the suffering caused by past is addressed, your can listen to the sutras, receive , and find their way to the West.
You must awaken from this dream, shatter the illusions, and dissolve the shadows. Only then will you see the true reality, where the emptiness of all things is the ultimate truth. Everything that appears in this emptiness arises from conditions and eventually fades away; it is the manifestation of infinite .
The Path to the Land of the Golden Lotus
The dream is not a dream, the illusion is not an illusion, and the shadow is not a shadow. The Buddha-light transforms our environment, the Buddha’s words shatter our confusion, the Buddha-land resolves our suffering, and the Buddha-water purifies our dust.
With firm Faith, Vows, and Practice, and by focusing solely on chanting Namo Amituofo, a lotus will bloom for you in the West, and you will eventually enter the Land of the Golden Lotus. This teaching was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
Namo Amituofo
More by Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
The Final Curtain Call of Chu Ke-liang
A candid reflection from the late Taiwanese entertainer Chu Ke-liang on his life, his career, the karmic weight of his influence, and his ultimate deliverance to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
The Soul's True Equality: A Conversation with Mahatma Gandhi
This is a record of an interview with Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his journey to the Pure Land.
A Reflection from the Western Pure Land
This is a record of an interview with Zhao Puchu, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life in the 20th century. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Hui, on April 18, 2026.
The Truth Behind My Rebirth: A Message from Liu Suqing
Liu Suqing, the elder sister of the renowned practitioner Liu Suyun, shares her harrowing journey through the spirit realms and her ultimate deliverance to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss through the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
The Burden of a Historical Name
This is a record of an interview with Lin Biao, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life approximately 54 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on May 18, 2026.
The Poet’s Journey to the Western Pure Land
A reflection on the life, tragedy, and ultimate spiritual liberation of the ancient statesman Qu Yuan, who found peace through the teachings of Practitioner Su.
About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library