Recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe. On the third of May, 2026, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered these profound teachings to all beings wandering in the world.
Imagine a traveler who has left their home and their native land, wandering far and wide in search of a place to settle. In this long journey, the traveler has experienced countless events, encountered a multitude of people, and listened to endless words. They have tasted a vast array of delicacies, witnessed breathtaking landscapes, and resided in many different dwellings. Throughout these travels, the traveler has utilised various modes of transport, from the humble ox, horse, and donkey to the simple carts of old. All these experiences, memories, and attachments are gathered and stored within a heavy baggage that the traveler carries everywhere.
The Weight of Our Attachments
Despite having visited so many places, the traveler has yet to find a true place to rest. Finally, they choose a location, set down their heavy baggage, and attempt to build a life there. Within this baggage, they have carefully preserved many memories:
The sweetness of and success.
The bitterness of sorrow and loss.
The sharp sting of regret and conflict.
The mundane routine of daily existence.
The traveler frequently opens this baggage to relive these past events, tasting the full spectrum of life’s flavours. They find a companion, marry, and raise children, only to eventually face the inevitable cycle of aging, sickness, and death. Thus, they are pulled once more into the six realms of rebirth, continuing their long journey as a wanderer who has yet to return to their true home.
The Compassionate Father’s Mission
In another realm, a child bids farewell to their Compassionate Father. The child wishes to venture into distant lands to help all beings leave suffering behind and to teach them the way back to their original home, the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This home is a magnificent place for practice, where one can surely become a Buddha.
After saying goodbye to the Compassionate Father, the child descends into the world, becomes a monk, and begins to teach the . They successfully save many followers, teaching the masses to chant the holy name of Namo Amituofo—the sacred name of the Compassionate Father—and encouraging them to make the vow to return to their true home.
Lost in the Ocean of
However, the Compassionate Father waits, yet the child does not return. Looking down into the world, the Father sees that the child has become lost in the vast ocean of karma. Why does the child continue to sink, even though the Compassionate Father is always shining His light to protect and guide them?
This happens because the child’s past heavy karma has manifested. The weight of this karma is so immense that it becomes difficult to resist, causing the child to fall into the ocean of karma and drift aimlessly within it.
from the Great Dream
The child spends many lifetimes in this state, enduring various forms of suffering and tasting the full bitterness of the world. Yet, there comes a day when the child hears the call of the Compassionate Father. Suddenly, they awaken as if from a long, deep dream, realising that it is finally time to return to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
They choose to lay down the baggage they have carried for so many lifetimes and begin their journey home. Only then do they discover that the Compassionate Father has been watching over them all along. The child had simply been unable to see the Father or hear His call because their original, pure nature and their Six Roots had been covered up by the dust and grime of the world.
The Path Back to Purity
On the road back home, the child continues to teach the masses to chant the holy name of Namo Amituofo. They lead all beings who have made the vow to enter the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. Under the guidance and protection of the Compassionate Father, they journey together towards their true home, leaving the cycle of rebirth behind forever.
