Recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
10 October 2025
Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju:
To "return to zero" means to return to the original point of your existence. It is a process of starting fresh, stripping away the layers of accumulated that cloud your true nature. When you are in the process of resolving conflicts with your , you must be sincerely repentant. You must acknowledge your past mistakes and resolve to change. Once you have done this, do not dwell on the past or allow those memories to resurface. To let go completely is to return to zero.
The Danger of Wandering Thoughts
This is vital because every time you allow your mind to wander, you trigger the dormant forces of your karma. When you dwell on past grievances or negative thoughts, you inadvertently call forth the karmic creditors associated with those events. They manifest to seek balance, to demand repayment, or to express their lingering resentment. Furthermore, such a state of mind makes you vulnerable, often attracting spiritual attachment that can cloud your judgment and hinder your progress.
Maintaining your awareness at every moment is therefore of the utmost importance. Even when you are engaged in practice, if you fail to observe your every thought and intention, those thoughts will take shape. Every shape carries , and when that consciousness enters your storehouse, it becomes new karma, creating fresh suffering for you to endure.
The Power of Continuous Chanting
Consider the nature of time: for the next moment, the previous moment has already become the past. Every instant, every present moment, is a precious opportunity that you must use wisely. The most effective way to utilise this time is to ensure that chanting Namo Amituofo becomes a continuous, flowing stream that never stops, 24/7. Although chanting Namo Amituofo is still a form of thought, it is not a thought of greed, anger, or ignorance; it is a pure thought. As the saying goes: "If you remember the Buddha and chant the Buddha's name, you will surely see the Buddha, either now or in the future."
Finding Renewal at Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre
When you enter the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia, you are entering a place where Namo Amituofo is residing here. You are in an environment specifically designed for purification. Regardless of what your past has been, please let it return to zero. Let go of the "old you"—your personality, your subjective views, and your deep-seated attachment.
Instead, approach your practice with a humble and modest heart. You must be willing to learn anew as you engage in the following activities:
Listen to sutras and hear the to gain true wisdom.
Perform prostrations and chanting Namo Amituofo to cleanse and mind.
Recite the Sutras to align your heart with the Buddha’s teachings.
Participate in the and the resolution of conflicts with karmic creditors.
Attend the to connect with the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Engage in service to the community and temple duties to cultivate merit.
At the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, you will be able to see and hear many truths about the reality of our existence. If you can approach these truths with a sincere and honest heart, you will gain a profound new understanding and experience of Namo Amituofo, the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, and the path of Pure Land practice.
