Retain and Do Not Abandon

Teachings by the Teacher. Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe

12 July 2026

Teachings by Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju:

Goodness is originally a pure appearance, inherent from birth.

Later, due to interactions with the external world—such as contact with sounds, images, and expressions—

the Six Roots correspond to the Six Dusts to form the six consciousnesses, which enter the consciousness to become karma,

meaning the six consciousnesses will become part of future karma.

If what enters the six consciousnesses is a negative cause, it is negative karma.

Later, when Causal Conditions mature, one receives the retribution of evil consequences, resulting in suffering,

which causes the original nature of goodness to gradually become polluted and no longer visible.

Therefore, one should retain the original nature of goodness and be cautious not to allow negative things to enter the consciousness.

The education and guidance of a child from a young age

should lead them to listen to kind words, not to listen to evil words, and to see goodness rather than evil.

The subtle influence of the elders' conduct and teachings

has an important impact on a child's growth and the preservation of their original nature of goodness.

If a child listens to unkind words or evil words from a young age, or sees evil rather than goodness,

it will easily cause their heart and original nature of goodness to become polluted.

Those with compassion see the suffering of beings

and naturally give rise to the vow to perfect themselves, to help beings leave suffering behind, and to bestow happiness upon them.

Compassion is the character that allows the Buddha's path to be achieved;

it should be retained and not abandoned, and one should not let it be polluted and regress.

If one cannot see compassion, but only sees evil and suffering, and compassion is replaced by an evil heart and selfishness,

then that is a great pity.

A child's growth is extremely important; therefore, from a young age, one must protect their original nature of goodness

and cultivate their compassion, such as by protecting life and small animals,

not harming them and causing life and small animals to suffer.

When seeing the suffering of others, one should be willing to help them leave suffering behind.

By cultivating this from small things and protecting their character of goodness and compassion,

this goodness and compassion will follow them throughout their life after they grow up,

serving as a priceless safeguard for their entire life.

If you see a child's compassion manifest, you should offer encouragement, protection, and praise,

letting them know that this is a good character, and do not extinguish it.

Joy is also an inherently complete, pure appearance.

If a child's character of joy manifests, and one can protect this character of joy and cultivate it well,

then it can become a priceless safeguard for their entire life.

To be willing to let go is to be without greed.

When they are children, one should teach them to let go and not be greedy.

Letting go and gaining are two sides of the same coin; one can inform and guide the child so that they have the awareness to perceive this,

and can possess the hearts and actions of letting go and gaining.

The hearts and actions of goodness should be retained and not abandoned,

the hearts and actions of compassion should be retained and not abandoned,

the hearts and actions of joy should be retained and not abandoned,

the hearts and actions of letting go and gaining should be retained and not abandoned.

Namo Amituofo