Clarity, Purity, and Stability

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

21 December 2025

The Mirror of the Mind

Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offers us this profound teaching on the state of clarity, purity, and stability. To be clear, pure, and stable means that one’s heart is as bright and transparent as a calm, still lake, with no waves to disturb its surface. This is a state of mental cultivation that every practitioner should strive to attain. Imagine a pool of water so clear that you can see all the way to the bottom; this is the nature of a mind that has been properly nurtured through the practice of the Dharma.

Reflecting the World Without Attachment

When the surface of this lake is clear and stable, it can reflect everything that comes before it. Even if you do not know where these beings come from, the lake can still illuminate them clearly. It helps them see their own current state, which is the very essence of the practice of saving beings according to their conditions. By maintaining this clarity, you are not merely observing; you are providing a mirror for others to see their own true nature, which is a vital part of your compassionate work.

Consider what happens when a mist descends upon this clear, stable lake. Whether the fog is thick or thin, the mist itself is composed of countless beings. Even though you may not know when this fog arrives or when it departs, it does not in any way hinder the clarity or the stability of the lake. This is what it means to be a person of true meditative concentration. You possess a nature that remains completely unmoved by external environments or conditions. You are like the lake, which remains calm regardless of the weather above it.

The Path of Wisdom and Self-Correction

If your heart is clear, pure, and stable, you will be able to reflect upon and observe the condition of your own Body-Mind-Spirit. This self-awareness is the key to your progress:

• If you identify a fault, you must correct it immediately.
• If you recognise an opportunity for goodness, you must act upon it without hesitation.
• If you encounter evil, you must distance yourself from it entirely.

Furthermore, when your chanting of the Buddha-name is filled with true awareness, you will find that the name of Namo Amituofo continues in your heart 24/7, without a single moment of interruption. This is the heart and action of a wise person.

The Essential Condition for Saving Beings

Clarity, purity, and stability are not qualities that appear by chance. They are the fruits of your diligent practice, your adherence to the Discipline (Precepts), and your commitment to continuous purification. When you reach this state, you will no longer be turned by the environment; instead, you will have the power to transform the environment itself. You will be able to see the condition of all beings clearly, allowing you to teach and guide them at any moment according to their needs.

This state of clarity, purity, and stability is the hallmark of the Buddhas, the Bodhisattvas, and those who have realised their true nature. It is the heart and character of those who have achieved success in their practice and whose Buddha-name chanting has become truly powerful. It is the indispensable condition for saving beings, ensuring that you can transform them without being turned by them yourself.

Namo Amituofo