Far from Delusional Dreams: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

The Veils of Inversion

On the seventh of December, 2025, during the third session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered profound guidance on the necessity of distancing ourselves from delusional dreams. What does it mean to be inverted? It refers to the deep-seated habits of delusion, discrimination, and attachment that obstruct our practice and prevent us from realising our true nature and attaining Buddhahood. These are the roots of our ignorance and afflictions. To be free from these is the essential path for every practitioner who seeks to awaken.

The Mirage of the Worldly Dream

Dreams are not reality; they are illusions born from the momentum of our karma. Even if a dream seems to come true, it remains a dream. While in this world and during our practice, we are often led by the power of ignorance and karma, mistaking the false for the true. We create various sins, suffer through all kinds of hardships, and allow our true nature to be obscured. We fail to understand the truth of reality and become unable to be autonomous.

The Unwavering Path of Vows

How do we break this cycle? By following the Pure Land path of Faith, Vows, and Practice. You must let your Vows be the guide and move forward with unwavering focus. When your Vow becomes reality, you will see your true self. This is not a dream; it is the ultimate truth. By entering the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, you leave suffering behind and gain happiness, attaining Buddhahood in a single lifetime. When you distance yourself from these delusional dreams, you learn to distinguish between the true and the false, finding a state of cool, refreshing clarity.

Awakening to the Eternal Truth

These delusional dreams are the primary cause of our cycle through the six realms of rebirth. By distancing yourself from them, you remove the very cause of your wandering. For those who chant Namo Amituofo with the vow to be reborn in the West, this practice ensures that at the moment of death, your heart remains steady and clear, and your wish to be reborn in the West is fulfilled. This practice helps you in several vital ways:

• Achieve Buddha-Recitation Samadhi, a state of deep peace and wisdom.
• Attain the wisdom of the Dharani.
• Prevent the interference of karma and the manifestation of karmic creditors.
• Reclaim your original, true self.

Namo Amituofo.