Recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
On the ninth of May, 2025, during the second session of the , Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered the following guidance:
The Illusion of Escape
To flee in panic is to describe a state where one encounters a situation that feels impossible to resolve, or where one is overwhelmed by disaster and retreats in a state of frantic confusion. In the context of our spiritual journey, this reaction is often a manifestation of the laws of and cause and effect, or the result of collective karma surfacing in our lives.
When you encounter difficulties, if you can remain cautious and calm, you will find a path forward. Even if circumstances necessitate your departure, you should handle the situation in a way that minimises the impact on others. You must not allow your personal temperament or emotional state to interfere with the quiet retreats of others or the collective work of saving beings. Such actions will only lead you into a dangerous state where you lose control over your own path, ultimately resulting in heavy . This is something you must truly strive to avoid.
The Weight of Our Actions
is a vital character trait for any practitioner. If you distance yourself from this compassionate heart, your practice will struggle to progress, and you will inadvertently create more karma. If those around you simply follow your whims, they are not helping you; they are harming you. You must understand that if you leave your post due to such emotional impulses, you will be creating heavy karma. This heavy karma will cause your body, mind, and spirit to suffer immense pain—a debt that cannot be repaid in a single lifetime or a fleeting moment.
Even if you have accumulated merit through your daily practice, you must understand that merit is merit, and faults are faults. They cannot cancel each other out. This is the inherent equality of the laws of karma and cause and effect. You must be clear that your actions have consequences that ripple through time.
The Preciousness of the Present
This human body is precious. Having the opportunity to enter the path of practice during this age of the ’s decline, and to encounter the name of Namo Amituofo, is a rare blessing. This is the very moment you have been waiting for—the time to finally leave the cycle of rebirth behind and achieve rebirth in the of Ultimate Bliss. Throughout your past lives, you have already created countless causes and suffered the resulting effects. How can you bear to repeat the same mistakes now?
This life is your opportunity to rediscover your true self and ensure that your body, mind, and spirit no longer suffer. You must cherish and grasp this chance with all your heart.
The Path to True Liberation
Where can we see the state of one's character? It is visible in every mental note, every action, and every word. If you harm yourself, the matter is small; however, if your actions influence the collective or hinder the work of saving beings, the karma is heavy. You must truly believe in the Buddha, and you must repent and change your ways.
Believing in the Buddha is the most important foundation, and you must chant Buddha's name. Although Namo Amituofo possesses infinite compassion and tolerance, if you cannot chant the Buddha's name, how can you be considered a being of the Western Land? You must rely on the combination of two forces:
arises: You must take responsibility for your own mind and actions.
Buddha's : You must open your heart to receive the support of Namo Amituofo.
Only by using both can you avoid repeating these patterns and suffering further harm. This situation is not something you can resolve through self-power alone; it requires the dual strength of your own resolve and the Buddha's grace. Especially when you face interference from demons, how could you possibly face or resolve such challenges without the Buddha's blessings and a sincere heart that is willing to repent and change?
Do not let your temperament continue to dictate your life. The one who suffers the most from such behaviour is, in truth, yourself. You must cultivate the ability to "see through" and "let go" in your daily life; this is the essential skill that every practitioner must possess. Where else, at what time, or in what world could you ever find a place like this again? From what we can see, such an opportunity is rare indeed. The fourfold assembly must be diligent, grateful, and cherish this path with the utmost sincerity.
