Do Not Hesitate: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

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

During the Noon Offering on the first of June, 2025, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered these words of wisdom to all practitioners:

The Weight of Choice

My child, the journey of life is filled with moments of decision, and often, you may find yourself lingering in a state of hesitation. To have entered the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is no small feat; it is a testament to the fact that you have already undergone many trials and tests to finally step through these doors to begin your practice.

Within the process of your practice, you will encounter many different stages. Each stage serves as a test of whether you are acting out of attachment to your own self or for the benefit of all beings. When you feel hesitation or doubt, it is often because you are still clinging to the idea of a self—you are worried about your own comfort, your own reputation, or your own future. This attachment to the self is the very source of your suffering.

The Crossroads of Existence

You may find yourself caught in a cycle of hesitation, wondering about the nature of your path:

• Are you hesitating between the worldly life and the life of a practitioner?
• Are you caught between the fear of being reincarnated in the cycle of samsara and the aspiration to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss?
• Are you struggling with the concept of having a self versus the state of no-self?
• Are you uncertain about whether to hold onto your physical body or to transcend it?
• Are you wavering between listening to your own feelings and following the counseling provided by Namo Amituofo, your Teacher, and Practitioner Su?

If you are truly willing to practise, to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and to embrace the state of no-self, then you must be willing to listen to the guidance of Namo Amituofo, your Teacher, and Practitioner Su. If you are still in the process of working hard, still striving to overcome your own karma and personality, and are willing to face these challenges head-on, then I counsel you to dedicate your heart to the infinite realms.

The Power of Surrender

When you truly surrender your body and mind to the Buddha, the state of hesitation will naturally dissolve. You will no longer be lost; instead, you will move forward with a direct and unwavering focus. Those who can act in this way are the ones who cherish every second, practising with an active and persistent spirit.

You will come to realise that the fluctuations of your mental notes are merely reflections of your direction in life. You will see that your past helplessness and hesitation were rooted in the desire to protect this physical body. Once you let go of this attachment to the self, the sense of being lost will naturally vanish. This is the natural state of things, returning to the original, pure nature of the universe.

The Path of Pure Devotion

Remember that working for the benefit of all beings is, in truth, working for yourself, because you are also one of these beings! Do not let hesitation cloud your vision. At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, simply focus on your practice and move forward with a steady heart. Everything you need is already here, waiting for you to awaken to it.

Namo Amituofo