Be Vigilant and Do Not Slacken

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

The Foundation of Unwavering Resolve

Before one has reached the state of an awakened being, the path of practice is fraught with challenges. If your vow is not firm and your perseverance is lacking, it becomes difficult to sustain your efforts; thus, your practice will struggle to achieve spiritual success. Therefore, you must cultivate a resolute vow and maintain an unyielding perseverance. You must be vigilant and never allow yourself to slacken in your efforts.

When you are chanting the Buddha-name, can you truly settle your heart upon the Buddha-name? When you chant the Buddha-name with a sincere heart, keeping every thought in continuous succession without relying on any other expedient means, you will naturally find your heart opening to the truth.

Understanding the Karmic Body

Impermanence is a constant presence, ready to invade this physical form at any moment. This is because the body we currently possess is a karmic body. Within this existence, we are often accompanied by karmic creditors and attached spirits, who manifest according to the personality of the karmic host and the state of their Body, Speech, and Mind.

If you chant the Buddha-name with a sincere heart, your own inner power will manifest. You will receive the Buddha's blessings, and the Buddha-name will act as a protective shield for your body. This practice will help your heart find meditative concentration, your body find peace, and your spirit find rest.

The Precious Opportunity of Human Life

The matter of life and death is of the utmost importance, and it hinges entirely on whether or not you possess this physical body. If you do not have this body and exist only as a spirit, you have no physical means to act, and your vows cannot be fulfilled. However, if you have a body, your vows have the strength and the vehicle through which they can be realised. This is the true preciousness of having a human body.

This vow can take many forms: it can be the dedication to your practice, the aspiration to reach the state of an awakened being, the commitment to propagating the Dharma, or the humble request for the Buddha to dwell in this world, ensuring that the wheel of the Dharma is always turning.

Navigating the Tests of the Path

Before you have successfully transformed your karma, this body remains a karmic body. As you make progress in your practice, you must be even more vigilant and never become lazy. You will often find that your karma or other beings will manifest at these times to test you. They are testing whether you are still attached to this body and whether you are still clinging to your own self-interest.

Especially when old age and sickness manifest, you must ask yourself: can you still maintain right mindfulness and keep the Buddha-name in continuous succession? This is the ultimate test of your faith in the Buddha and your faith in yourself. You must maintain right mindfulness, strengthen your heart of faith in the Buddha, and never cease chanting the Buddha-name. This is the path of a being of the Western Land, walking steadily toward the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo