Recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe. On the twentieth of March, 2026, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered these profound teachings regarding the nature of our spiritual journey.
The Metaphor of the Mountain-Sea Pass
The Mountain-Sea Pass is a physical gateway, a formidable barrier that one must traverse to continue a journey. In the context of our spiritual practice, this serves as a powerful metaphor. To move forward on the path toward the of Ultimate Bliss, you must be able to pass through the various barriers of your life. If you cannot reach or successfully cross these gates, you will find yourself stalled, unable to progress further.
Whether you find yourself passing through these gates or remaining stuck behind them is entirely determined by the laws of and cause and effect. Life is a series of such gates. However, the true essence of spiritual practice lies in the ability to let go. Only when you can truly let go of your attachments can you find the coolness of liberation. By doing so, you will rediscover your original nature, which is the very embodiment of a serene and liberated state.
Navigating the Barriers of Body and Mind
It is precisely because you possess this physical body that you encounter these obstacles. Because you have this form, there are gates that must be crossed. Spiritual practice is the process of navigating through these layers of barriers. Whether you are facing a physical challenge or a mental one, you must learn to overcome them all.
The barriers of are numerous and often manifest through our attachments and the natural cycle of life:
The : These include our cravings for wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep.
The : These are the deep-seated habits of greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, and doubt.
The Cycle of Life: The physical body itself faces the inevitable challenges of birth, aging, sickness, and death.
Beyond these physical barriers, there are the barriers of the heart. These refer to your personal , your subjective ideas, and the constant stream of thoughts that occupy your mind. In truth, these thoughts and feelings did not exist originally; they are later additions to your pure nature. If you can learn to let go of these mental constructs, you will be able to find the true you that exists beneath them. By letting go and returning to the state of emptiness, you will finally behold your original nature.
Achieving the State of Eternal Spirit
Letting go is certainly not an easy task, but it is not impossible. If you have sincere faith in the Buddha, you will receive the support of the Buddha’s . By maintaining your faith and consistently chanting Namo Amituofo, you will surely become a Buddha, both in the present and in the future.
You may ask: how can one truly not grow old, not get sick, and ensure the spirit does not die? The answer lies in your perspective. If you can remain calm and at ease, seeing clearly and facing the reality of birth, aging, sickness, and death without fear or attachment, then you have transcended these states. In this way, you do not grow old, you do not get sick, and your spirit does not die.
The emotions of , anger, sorrow, and happiness are merely external manifestations. They are ripples on the surface of a pond. When your heart remains unmoved by these external conditions, it is a sign that your practice of chanting Namo Amituofo has reached a state of true accomplishment. Continue to chant Namo Amituofo all the way, and you will find the peace you seek.
