Do Not Be Deceived: Teachings on True Cultivation

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

On April 26, 2026, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided the following essential teachings for all practitioners:

The Great Deception of Reincarnation

My children, do not be deceived. You must be vigilant against the traps of reincarnation and the influence of your karmic creditors. Everything in this world is a phenomenon governed by the laws of karmic conditions and the causes and effects; it arises, it exists for a moment, and then it vanishes into nothingness. The world is a complex tapestry woven from both truth and illusion, reality and falsehood. When you encounter the joys and sorrows of life, the separations and reunions, or even the inevitable cycle of birth, aging, sickness, death, you must not become overly attached to them. These experiences are merely illusions. Once they pass, they leave no trace behind.

Do not allow yourself to sink into these illusions. Most importantly, do not continue to commit evil deeds, for doing so only serves to perpetuate your cycle of reincarnation. The only true path forward is to focus your energy on your practice and the elevation of your spirits.

Transcending the Physical Form

Do not be deceived by the needs and desires of your physical body. When your karma manifests and your karmic creditors appear, you may feel tempted to think negatively, view the world through a lens of cynicism, or act in ways that are harmful. You must stop these impulses immediately. The most important task in this lifetime is to engage in True Cultivation. You must strive to find your true self and avoid any actions that would create obstacles to your Awakened Being.

The Mechanics of Karma and Consciousness

Every feeling you experience, every thought you entertain, and every action you take is part of a complex process:

• The Six Roots: Your sensory inputs—eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind.
• The Six Dusts: The external world—sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touch, and thoughts.
• The Six Consciousnesses: The internal processing that turns these interactions into karmic seeds.

When you allow these interactions to enter your consciousness, they become karma. This is the very mechanism of karmic conditions and the causes and effects that bind you to the cycle of reincarnation. Because this cycle is continuous and relentless, it is a state of profound suffering. Therefore, any thought or action that is impure, unkind, or contrary to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way must not be allowed to take root in your consciousness. Do not engage in such things, for they only lead to further suffering.

Returning to the True Self

During this limited span of life, you must seek to rediscover your true self. The true self is characterized by a state of being that is free from the burdens of the ego:

• You do not calculate or keep score of gains and losses.
• You possess no discriminations.
• You see no distinctions between high and low, good and bad.
• You are free from attachment and the desire to possess.

When you reach this state, you can transform all things into Goodness. This is how you give rise to all roots of goodness and achieve the fruit of Bodhi. Your true self is free from the manifestation of negative karma; it is pure, kind, and luminous.

The Path to Awakening

You must be wise. The most wonderful method to avoid being deceived, to ensure your rebirth in the Western Pure Land, and to achieve Awakened Being as early as possible is simple yet profound: chant one Buddha-name to the end. By dedicating yourself to doing all that is good, stopping all that is evil, and truly chanting the Buddha-name well, you will find the path to liberation.

Namo Amituofo