Recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable Fa Hui.
During the second session of the on February 7, 2025, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided the following guidance on the importance of persistence in our spiritual practice.
Navigating the Changing Tides of Life
Many events in our lives are subject to constant change and uncertainty. However, as long as you do not deviate from the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, you can navigate these shifts with ease. Whether you must move forward directly or take a detour, you can adjust your approach according to the circumstances. By remaining flexible yet grounded in these core principles, you will find the strength to keep going.
If you find that your actions are beginning to conflict with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, or if you detect the influence of your own ego and selfish desires, you must stop immediately. Do not continue, for to persist in such actions is to create negative causes. If you are aware that your path is wrong but you choose to continue regardless, you are merely piling upon karma, deepening the cycle of suffering.
The Unwavering Resolve to Save Beings
Human hearts are impermanent, and the affairs of this world are ever-shifting. To be a person who can truly take charge of their own life, one must act from a state of and selflessness. If your actions are dedicated to the noble goal of saving beings, you must strive to overcome any obstacles that arise. Even when faced with great resistance, you must persevere and keep going.
When the opportunity to save a being arises, you must act with speed and determination. Do not hesitate; seize every second to reach out and help. Keep going, do your absolute best, and leave the results to the natural unfolding of conditions. If you can save someone, do so; even if you can only save one person, that is a victory. If you find that a situation is difficult and you cannot save them, you must still try your best. Once you have exhausted your efforts, you must accept the outcome with a peaceful heart.
The Infinite Capacity of the Heart
Whatever is right, you must keep going with it. The tasks you can perform to benefit others can be large or small, but their true value depends entirely upon your heart. Consider the nature of this heart:
It can be as small as a sesame seed, a grain of sand, or even an air molecule that is invisible to the physical eyes.
It can be as vast as the empty void, encompassing everything in the universe without limit.
Consequently, the work you do will vary in scale according to the size of your heart. When you are dedicated to saving beings, the scope of your actions will manifest according to the depth of your heart, the strength of your faith in the Buddha, your devotion to chanting Namo Amituofo, and the sincerity of your vows. With this clarity, you must keep going straight ahead.
Living the Vows: The Direct Way to
By Living the Vows: The Direct Way to Enlightenment, you become the first person to be saved. This process is how you accumulate the necessary provisions for Faith, Vows, and Practice, which will allow you to save yourself and others, reaching the and finding one's own Buddha nature. Acts of , , and Selfless Giving are in sync with your true self. You should perform these acts with joy and faith, and keep going without hesitation.
It is truly difficult to find the correct direction and goal in one's life, especially one that is dedicated to the benefit of all beings and the attainment of rebirth in the Western Pure Land. If you have found this path, you must keep going. This is the path that all students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre are now walking.
