Recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
During the third session of the held on August 31, 2024, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided essential guidance on the meaning of passing the test in our spiritual journey.
The Art of Letting Go
What does it mean to pass the test? For those who are still tightly grasping onto worldly attachments and cannot let go of their worries, the path to liberation remains obstructed. To pass the test, one must reach a state where, even when the objects of your attachment appear directly before your eyes, your heart remains completely unmoved. Even if these attachments call to you in your dreams, you must recognise them as mere illusions and remain steadfast and unmoved. This is what it means to pass the test.
Overcoming and Distraction
Many practitioners struggle during their morning service, while listening to sutras and hearing the , or during a Dharma assembly. They often find themselves becoming drowsy or drifting into other states of . To pass the test, you must:
Actively cultivate your awareness to face and overcome this drowsiness.
Choose the right Dharma path to avoid drifting into these mental states, or awaken yourself immediately if you do.
Continue your diligent practice to transform .
When you can consistently do this, you have passed the test.
Maintaining Amidst Conflict
In our daily lives, we encounter people who may criticise, slander, harm, disregard, or treat us with rudeness and anger. They may even create interference and obstacles to our practice. To pass the test, you must ensure your heart does not fluctuate in response to these actions. You must not retaliate with words, but instead face these situations with a calm heart, remaining unmoved. When you can maintain this inner stillness regardless of external provocation, you have passed the test.
The Comprehensive Examination of the Soul
If you can pass the various examinations—whether they are tests from the Buddha, tests from demons, or tests from other beings—you are truly making progress. By relying on Faith, Vows, and Practice, you accumulate the necessary provisions for rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. By ensuring your actions do not violate the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, you will eventually become an awakened being and attain true freedom. When specific people, objects, or situations manifest in your daily life and threaten to trigger your personality or ego, you may find it difficult to remain silent or stop your thoughts from spiralling into anger. However, if you are diligent in your practice, you will reach a point where these triggers no longer manifest. You will be able to face whatever others say or do without rising in anger, possessing the meditative concentration to handle any situation. This is passing the test.
The Ultimate Test: Facing the End
For the practitioner who diligently chants the Buddha-name 24/7, the ultimate test arrives during times of severe physical pain or sudden, emergency situations. To pass this test, you must ensure that your chanting of the Buddha-name remains continuous and uninterrupted. You must not allow the pain or the external circumstances to stop your practice. If a practitioner can maintain this focus, even if they pass away due to illness or in a sudden emergency, they will be led by the golden light of Amitabha Buddha to be reborn in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is truly passing the test, and it is worthy of the highest praise. It ensures that your diligent chanting in this life was not in vain, and your wish to be reborn in the West is fulfilled.
