Joyful Awakening: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

The Rare Opportunity of the Pure Land

What is it that brings such profound joy, causing one to smile with an open heart? It is the realisation of the rare opportunity we have been granted. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Queensland, Australia, is the place where Namo Amituofo truly abides. To encounter such a sacred sanctuary in this world is an opportunity that is difficult to encounter even in millions of years. In the midst of this defiled and evil world of suffering, to be able to encounter the presence of Namo Amituofo is truly a cause for immense joy and a heart filled with light.

The Buddha as Our Protector

Only the Buddha has the power to subdue demonic enemies and help beings live without the constant interference of demonic crowds or the weight of anxiety and fear. The Buddha is the ultimate healer of the human heart. Through the Buddha's guidance, we are able to:

• Turn our hearts back toward the right path.
• Understand the laws of karma and cause and effect clearly.
• Cease the creation of all evil deeds.
• Diligently cultivate all forms of goodness.

By following this path, the Buddha provides the strength to help practitioners of the Pure Land and those who chant the Buddha's name to stay far away from the suffering of old age and illness. Through this practice, one’s spirit never dies, and one is assured of rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Path of Diligent Practice

The teachings of the Buddha, the ancestral masters, and those who have attained Awakening are essential for your journey. They provide the support needed to help you:

• Practise with fierce diligence and follow the teachings faithfully.
• Maintain the purity of your Precepts.
• Face and overcome every demonic test with courage.
• Break through the difficulties and obstacles that arise in your life.

You must work to change your personality traits and overcome the states of drowsiness that hinder your progress. By entering the inner space of your own mind, you will soon break through delusion and attain enlightenment. When you finally see your true nature and recognise your original face, there will be no other concerns weighing upon your heart. You will naturally find yourself smiling with a heart full of joy.

The Ripple Effect of Awakening

For those who are practising in this age of the Dharma’s decline, achieving success in your practice, manifesting your skills, and seeing your true nature is truly a cause for great celebration. When one person attains Buddhahood, the benefit is not limited to themselves; immeasurable and boundless beings can receive salvation. This is not only a great blessing for the human world, but it is also a great fortune for the spiritual realms.

Because of this, beings and demonic crowds have the opportunity to receive Chao Du and leave suffering behind. Through the education provided by the Buddha's teachings, we come to understand that our bodies contain countless spaces, and our cells are filled with beings. These include our family members from accumulated lifetimes, our karmic creditors, attached spirits, and demonic crowds. Because the fourfold assembly practises at Hsiang Kuang, these beings have the opportunity to be resolved, to receive Chao Du, and to enter the Western Land of Dharma Nature or the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. The chance for these beings to leave suffering behind and be reborn in the Pure Land is truly a reason to smile with an open heart. Namo Amituofo.