Cherishing and Letting Go: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

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

The Illusion of Sensations

Understand that all feelings are merely illusions and false. If the fourfold assembly of disciples remains attached to these feelings, you will forget your true purpose and become deeply trapped within them. This attachment causes suffering for both the heart and the body, and it makes it impossible for your spirit to find peace. When you allow yourself to be led by the sensations of this temporary body, you only invite further confusion and impurity into your heart.

The Path of Letting Go

To succeed in your practice, you must learn to let go. You must release the heavy burdens that keep you from the truth. Specifically, you must learn to let go of the following:

• The self: Release the ego that creates barriers between you and others.
• The body: Do not become overly attached to the physical form, which is impermanent.
• Sensations and perceptions: Recognise that these are fleeting and do not define your true nature.
• Consciousness and wandering thoughts: Quiet the mind so that your original nature can shine through.

Do not let the concept of the self hinder your progress. You must not get your priorities reversed; you must clearly understand what is truly important in this life.

The Urgency of Purification

At this moment, purification is your most important task. Achieving the Buddha-Recitation Samadhi and realising your true nature is an opportunity that is difficult to encounter even in millions of years. When you are caught in these feelings, you are already being interfered with by karmic creditors, attached spirits, and demon crowds. Therefore, you must be even more diligent in your practice. You must engage in:

• Prostrations to the Buddha to humble the ego.
• Chanting Namo Amituofo to maintain a clear and focused mind.
• Reciting the Sutras to align your heart with the wisdom of the Buddhas.

This is the only way to find a breakthrough in your spiritual journey.

A Rare Opportunity in the Buddha-Land

Members of the fourfold assembly of disciples, entering this Buddha-land is not an easy task. You must cherish this rare opportunity. You must let go of your personality, your feelings, your concerns about how others perceive you, and your own selfish desires. You must cherish this sacred place and be diligent, ever more diligent, in your practice. Focus on turning your attention inward for purification rather than seeking validation from the outside world. There is no past and no future; you must grasp the present moment and chant Namo Amituofo all the way.

For the fourfold assembly of disciples at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, this is a rare and magnificent opportunity. You have the chance to resolve conflicts, invite spirits to listen to the Dharma, and perform Chao Du. This is not something that can be found just anywhere. It is truly a rare and precious encounter, and you must be filled with gratitude and cherish it deeply.

You must let go of your feelings and your thoughts, and you must let go of the distinctions between you, me, and others. You must cherish the ability to diligently purify yourself and the moment you hear the Buddha’s words and realise your true nature. When it is time to let go, do so without hesitation; when it is time to cherish, do so without abandonment. Only by clearly distinguishing what to cherish and what to let go can a wise person achieve success in their practice.

Namo Amituofo