Fearlessness: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

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

May 25, 2025, Second Session

Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offers these teachings:

The Foundation of True Fearlessness

Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and those who have realised their true nature possess a profound understanding of the suffering of all beings. Because they understand this suffering, they are able to resolve it. They work to save all beings without any sense of fear. They are not afraid of the interference of demon crowds, nor are they shaken when these forces attempt to use magic to attack the body or cause physical suffering. This is because their hearts are inherently fearless. Their actions naturally manifest this courage, for they have transcended all terror and anxiety.

This fearlessness arises because all forms of suffering have been resolved and all delusions have been clarified. Their hearts are bright and clear, free from confusion or doubt. They have achieved a state where the principles of the world and the phenomena of existence are perfectly integrated, without any obstruction. By clearly understanding the laws of karma and cause and effect, they no longer create negative causes, and therefore, they no longer suffer the negative consequences. They know how to align their hearts and actions with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. Because they never deviate from this path, they attain a state of fearless freedom.

The Perils of the Unawakened Mind

If you are a practitioner who has not yet realised your true nature, you may not fully understand the true reality of all phenomena, the Universal Principle, the Truth, or the Right Way. Consequently, you may fail to see the suffering that stems from negative causes and negative consequences. You might only have a partial understanding, or you may find yourself obstructed by the following forces:

• The weight of ignorance and karma: These forces cloud your judgement and keep you tethered to the past.
• Karmic creditors: These are the spirits who seek to settle past grievances, often causing obstacles in your practice.
• Demon crowds: These influences seek to lead you away from the path of light and into confusion.

When your heart and actions are clouded by these influences, you may fall into wrong paths or follow misleading teachings. This makes it difficult for the True Teachings to enter your heart. You may find yourself drifting further and further away from the supreme path of the Great Vehicle and the Western Pure Land. In the most severe cases, you might even enter the demon path, slandering the True Teachings and creating the causes for the hells.

The Path to Liberation

Ordinary people often feel fear because their hearts have no true reliance. They have not yet understood the true reality of all phenomena, the Universal Principle, the Truth, or the Right Way. Because they do not understand the laws of karma and cause and effect, they are controlled by their own karmic forces and their karmic creditors. They act according to their past karma, making it difficult to escape the six realms of rebirth. Even if you wish to find the Truth, you may struggle to locate it. Without the guidance of noble people or a connection to the True Teachings, you might inadvertently fall into false practices. Even if you spend your entire life in practice, you may fail to transform your karma, thus missing the opportunity to realise your true nature.

The Pure Land practice is the path to attaining Buddhahood. It allows you to cultivate the Four Immeasurables: Loving-kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity. Through the practice of Discipline, you will attain meditative concentration, and from this, Wisdom will manifest. You will then be able to walk the path of the Six Paramitas at all times. If your practice does not reflect these qualities, it indicates that your heart still holds onto the self, remains attached to private desires, and has not yet been purified. If you only seek personal liberation, you will fail to act with the selfless, altruistic spirit required to save all beings.

The Sacred Sanctuary of Hsiang Kuang

If you truly wish to realise your true nature and attain Buddhahood, you must quickly adjust your heart and actions. You must be active and persistent in removing defilements and attaining purity. Only then will you have the opportunity to reach Awakening and realise your true nature. Today, the Buddha-land where the students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre reside is a place where Namo Amituofo truly abides. It is a place of the Universal Buddha, a site where Practitioner Su and I provide guidance, and a sanctuary protected by Skanda Bodhisattva, Sangharama Bodhisattva, and the Dragon and Heaven Dharma Protectors.

In our current lectures and teachings, we emphasise that there is no past and no future. There is only the present moment, where you must chant Namo Amituofo all the way. This means that no matter what you are doing, the Buddha is always in your heart; you never forget the Buddha. This practice will elevate the spiritual quality of the fourfold assembly of disciples, allowing your heart and actions to be in sync with the Buddha. This is how you gain the opportunity to realise your true nature. This is a rare and precious spiritual connection; you must cherish it deeply.

Namo Amituofo