Perseverance on the Path to Awakening

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe. On May 3, 2024, during the first session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered these profound teachings.

The Two Paths of Life

Practice is one of the most significant scenes in the drama of your life. If you achieve awakening through your practice, the next scene will be one of liberation—where you become a being who can save others, helping them leave suffering behind and attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. However, if your practice remains incomplete, you will continue to be an ordinary person trapped in the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death. In that case, the next scene will find you still waiting to be saved, still a being lost in the cycle of reincarnation.

The Final Curtain

As long as you have a single breath remaining, the final scene of your life is not yet set in stone. It is subject to change at any moment. Perhaps, in your final hours, you will experience a sudden flash of clarity. You might fully "see through" and "let go" of all worldly attachments. At that critical juncture, you must focus your heart and mind on the Buddha-name. Whether it is one thought, ten thoughts, or a continuous recitation of the Buddha-name, you must remain steadfast. You should focus on:

• One recitation of Namo Amituofo, held with absolute sincerity.
• Two recitations of Namo Amituofo, maintaining a clear and focused mind.
• Three recitations of Namo Amituofo, allowing the sound to fill your entire being.

By doing so, you will witness the golden body of Namo Amituofo appearing before you. He will bring the lotus flower you have cultivated through your daily practice, lead you onto the lotus platform, and guide you into the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Call to Persevere

Remember, never let the Buddha-name be interrupted. Do not allow other sounds, images, or distractions to pull your attention away. You must chant with a sincere heart until the Buddha appears before your eyes to lead you home. If you are still in this body, you must repent for your past laziness and indulgence. Awakening is possible for everyone. You must be fiercely diligent, persevere, and transform your karma. This is how your true self will be revealed.

At Hsiang Kuang: A Sacred Sanctuary, even if you have regressed in your practice, you can always change your ways. Do not give up; keep moving forward with renewed effort. Namo Amituofo.