Manifestation or Concealment: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

The Veiled Plight of Wandering Souls

The suffering of sentient beings is truly immense. They suffer because there is no one to save them, and they suffer even more because, while trapped within this cycle of pain, they remain unaware of their own plight. We live in a defiled and evil world of suffering. When sentient beings find themselves in urgent crises, they either receive the grace of deliverance and leave suffering behind, or they sink deeper into the vast, turbulent ocean of karma. Because their karmic bonds differ, the fruits they reap are also vastly different.

It is essential that we manifest the work of saving others and the places where this salvation occurs, so that all beings may see it clearly. When the light of compassion is hidden, it cannot guide those who are lost.

Awakening the Dormant Compassionate Heart

In this world, the compassionate heart of humanity is often concealed. In our daily lives, it is frequently invisible, hidden beneath layers of habit and indifference. However, when we encounter circumstances that do not go our way, our inner peace is stirred. In those moments, anger manifests—sometimes with great frequency and intensity. This is a clear sign that our compassion and our mind-capacity are insufficient.

If we can truly realise the state of no-self, there will be no place for these triggers to take hold. How could anger arise if there is no ego to be offended? By learning to see the situation before us with clarity and detachment, we begin to open our mind-capacity and nurture our compassion.

The Path of No-Self and Wisdom

When we witness the suffering of others, we must make this suffering visible so that all may know of it. By allowing others to see the places where beings suffer, we stir the compassionate heart within them. This is how the desire to help and save others is awakened and manifested into action. This is the true practice of compassion and wisdom.

At the same time, when we engage in this work, any anger within our hearts will naturally fade away. This is a skillful means to help all beings leave suffering behind and find happiness. It is a path that transforms our internal state while simultaneously benefiting the world around us.

The Sanctuary Where Namo Amituofo Abides

While we possess a human body, we may live together in one place due to our shared karmic bonds. Yet, when our lives come to an end, our destinations differ greatly because our individual karma is unique. No one in this world can truly know where a spirit will go after death.

However, at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, Namo Amituofo is truly residing here. As the Universal Buddha, whose body encompasses the entire Dharma Realm, Namo Amituofo clearly knows the destination of every spirit after life has ceased.

The Sacred Mission of Chao Du

When the living perform Chao Du for their departed loved ones, they can invite these spirits to enter the Western Land of Dharma Nature, thereby resolving the suffering of these spirits. After this initial deliverance, and in accordance with the spirit's own vows, they can be sent to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. There, they enter a place where they can truly leave suffering behind and find happiness, eventually attaining Buddhahood.

• This work of deliverance must be made manifest to all.
• We must strive to save as many beings as possible, one by one.
• By guiding them into the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, we help them achieve the status of honoured Buddhas.

Namo Amituofo