Self-Power and Self-Salvation: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

The Two Pillars of the Pure Land Path

The Pure Land Dharma Gate is a path of two powers: self-power and the power of Namo Amituofo. To walk this path successfully, one must understand how these two forces work in harmony, aligning oneself with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. You cannot rely solely on the Buddha’s power without putting in the effort of your own practice, nor can you rely solely on your own strength without the compassionate support of Namo Amituofo. Both are essential for your journey toward the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Navigating the Age of the Dharma's Decline

We are currently living in the age of the Dharma’s decline. This is a time when the world is filled with the defiled and evil world of suffering. The influence of demon crowds is rampant, and the collective karma of all beings is heavy and profound. Because of this, many people find themselves trapped in a cycle of suffering, unable to take charge of their own lives or even realise that they are lost. They lack the awareness to wake up from their confusion.

However, if you can awaken, if you can truly know and understand the Truth, and if you can see your true self-nature, then you are a person of superior capacity and sharp wisdom. Such a practitioner is able to break through the heavy weight of karma, overcome the interference of karmic creditors, and transcend the obstacles of the five aggregates: Feelings, Perceptions, Mental Formations, and Consciousness.

The Essential Discipline of Daily Practice

What does it mean to rely on self-power and engage in self-salvation? It begins with the foundation of your daily practice. You must be diligent and unremitting in your morning service, which includes:

• Prostrations to the Buddha, which humble the ego and purify the body.
• Chanting the name of Namo Amituofo, which aligns your heart with the Buddha’s light.
• Reciting the Sutras, which plants the seeds of wisdom deep within your consciousness.

These are the vital components of self-salvation. Beyond these, you must rely on self-discipline and self-regulation. You must follow the rules of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, ensuring that you are punctual and consistent. The words of Namo Amituofo, the teachings of your teachers, and the guidance provided by Practitioner Su are all specifically designed to address the problems faced by the fourfold assembly. When you receive these teachings, you must learn to put down your own ego and personal feelings. You must listen with your ears, take the words into your heart, and put them into actual practice. This is the most important aspect of saving yourself.

Listening to the Dharma as a Gateway to Liberation

You must engage in the diligent practice of purifying the body, heart, and spirit, and then purify them again. Do not add more confusion or afflictions to your life, as this will only cause your body, heart, and spirit to become further entangled and trapped in a web of your own making. You must listen to the sutras and hear the Dharma.

When you are listening to the teachings, you must strive to overcome drowsiness and enter the space of the Dharma with a focused and sincere mind. It is important to realise that when you are listening to the Dharma, the karmic creditors and all other beings residing within your body are also listening. Through this process, they can come to understand the laws of karma and cause and effect, and they can accept the mediation, the invitation to hear the Dharma, and the Chao Du that leads them to liberation. This is a crucial method for the fourfold assembly and all beings to resolve their suffering and achieve self-salvation.

The Mirror of Personality: Transforming the Self

Changing your personality traits is the most important step in overcoming drowsiness and entering the space of the Dharma. If your personality remains unchanged, it will be very difficult to improve your state of mind or overcome the heaviness of drowsiness. You might ask, where can one see their personality? It is revealed in every aspect of your daily life:

• In your habitual ways of living and reacting to the world.
• In your interactions with others, specifically in your immediate reactions and the thoughts that arise within you.
• In the fluctuations of your emotions when you face situations you like or dislike.
• In your own personal opinions, views, and methods of doing things.
• In the various feelings and sensations that you cling to as your own.

All of these are parts of your personality. The fourfold assembly must reflect upon these traits and work to improve them. Self-power and self-salvation are tasks that must be practised at every moment. Only then can your practice truly make progress. Namo Amituofo.