Letting Go of Attachment: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju
Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju
Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
16 August 2025
Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju:
The Barrier to Our True Nature
Attachment refers to the stubborn insistence and persistent clinging of the mind. It is a deeply ingrained trait within our personality that acts as a profound barrier to realising our true self. When Shakyamuni Buddha sat under the tree and witnessed the morning star, He attained Buddhahood and proclaimed: "How wondrous! All beings possess the wisdom and virtue of the Tathagata, yet they cannot realise it due to their delusions and attachments." From these words, we can understand how deep and immense the harm caused by attachment is to all beings.
Attachment can be light or heavy, yet regardless of its intensity, it is still a form of "existence" that belongs to ego-attachment. It keeps us bound to the cycle of rebirth, preventing us from seeing the clarity of our original nature.
The Many Faces of Attachment
Attachment manifests in countless ways in our daily lives. We often find ourselves clinging to various aspects of our existence, such as:
- Our physical body: The constant concern for our health, appearance, and comfort.
- Specific individuals: Clinging to loved ones, friends, or even those we dislike.
- Material objects: The desire to possess, maintain, or accumulate worldly goods.
- Events and circumstances: Being fixated on how things should happen or how they have happened in the past.
- Internal states: Clinging to our own emotions, fleeting , and personal thoughts.
In truth, everything that exists or that we perceive can become an object of our attachment. We must recognise that these attachments are not permanent; they are merely products of our own minds.
The Illusion of
Because of our Causal Conditions, the seeds we have sown in the past have matured into the behaviours and mental states we experience today. This is the nature of karma. When we cling to these experiences, we are merely reacting to the fruits of our past actions. We must recognise the truth of the situation: whatever we are attached to is caught within the cycle of cause and effect. It is a part of our karma, and like an illusory dream, it will eventually fade and disappear.
If we do not recognise this truth and continue to grasp tightly to these things, we will inevitably suffer. The suffering we experience is the result of our own inability to let go. Therefore, we must learn to let go of attachment.
The Path to Purity
How do we transcend this? When you are chanting the Buddha's name, Namo Amituofo, you must hold firmly to the name. Do not let your practice be interrupted by wandering thoughts or attachments. If you can truly let go of attachment and enter the state of non-attachment, you will attain purity and see your true self. This is the path to leaving suffering behind and finding true happiness.
Namo Amituofo
More from Teachings of Practitioner Xia Lian Ju
The Boundless Grace of the Buddha
Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju shares profound insights on the immeasurable grace of the Buddha, the manifestation of Bodhisattvas across the six realms, and the rare, magnificent opportunity for spiritual growth at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
The Radiance of the True Nature
Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju explains the profound nature of Buddha-light, how it purifies the soul, and how the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre serves as a beacon of hope for all beings.
Lay Down Your Baggage and Journey Home
A profound teaching on the soul's journey through the cycle of rebirth, the heavy burden of worldly attachments, and the compassionate call of Namo Amituofo to return to our true home in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Humbly Seeking Guidance: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju
Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offers profound guidance on the necessity of humility, repentance, and the unwavering practice of chanting Namo Amituofo to achieve liberation and rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
More by Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
The Redemption of a Hollywood Icon
A candid reflection from the spirit of Elizabeth Taylor, who shares her journey from the blinding lights of Hollywood to the serene, transformative teachings of the Buddha in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
The King of Pop's Journey to the Western Pure Land
Michael Jackson shares his journey from the pressures of global fame to the peace of the Western Pure Land, revealing the truth behind his life and his ultimate deliverance.
A Voice from the Darkness: Helen Keller's Journey
Helen Keller, the renowned deaf-blind philanthropist, shares her journey from the darkness of the ghost realm to the light of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, guided by the compassion of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su.
The Scientist's Awakening: An Interview with Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein, once considered the most brilliant mind in human history, reflects on his life, the nature of 'science' versus the Truth of the Dharma, and his existence in the Western Pure Land.
A President's Repentance: Ronald Reagan's Journey to the Pure Land
Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, reflects on his life, his political career, and his profound journey from the depths of hell to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss through the compassion of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su.
The Reflection of a Nation's Founder
This is a record of an interview with Kim Il Sung, the founder and former leader of North Korea, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and the spiritual truths he has realised since his passing thirty-two years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable Fa Hui, on May 18, 2026.
About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library