Progressing in Purity: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju
Teachings from the Thrice Yearning Ceremony
(This image was created by Lay Practitioner Hui Hui.)
Teachings from the Teacher
Chief Writer: Venerable HaiZe
June 11, 2023
The Essence of Purity
Purity manifests within our Body-Mind-Spirit. It is within this very Body-Mind-Spirit that we must seek to progress, for this is how we elevate our spirits. In our practice, we observe a clear correlation: when we dwell in purity, we are capable of making genuine progress; conversely, when we dwell in impurity, we inevitably regress. The practice of the path is defined by its focus on purity. We must strive to be pure, and then to be even purer still, for only through this continuous refinement can we eventually behold our original, true face.
Identifying the Stains of the Mind
Those who possess true awareness must learn to let go. We must let go of the impurities that cloud our Body-Mind-Spirit. We must recognise that anything improper, unwholesome, or impure is a stain. This includes:
- Our speech, conduct, and physical actions.Our thoughts, mental concepts, subjective views, and opinions., , , and .Greed, Anger, Ignorance, Arrogance, and Doubt.Wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep.Our emotional attachments and mental burdens.
All of these are stains. They must be purified, and they must be let go. Do not keep them in your heart, and do not leave any room for them to remain.
The Path of Continuous Chanting
The most effective method for this purification is to chant Namo Amituofo all the way. Do not allow your focus to shift, do not allow your practice to become mixed with other thoughts, and do not allow these impure, messy thoughts to manifest before you. Chanting the Buddha-name is the primary area where a Pure Land practitioner must put in the work. Before one has reached the state of an awakened being, one must chant diligently. By doing so, one can make steady progress within this state of purity.
the Buddha Within
When you chant with such diligence that the Buddha-name becomes a continuous, flowing stream that never stops—24/7—this is what we call progressing in purity. You must continue to purify yourself, layer by layer, until your heart becomes singular and pure. When there is nothing left in your heart but the Buddha, the Buddha nature within you will naturally manifest. This is the moment of Awakening. May you all find the strength to persist on this path, leaving suffering behind to find true happiness.
Namo Amituofo
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Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
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