Steadfast and Valiant

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe

26 July 2026

Teachings by Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju:

Steadfast and valiant refers to being firm and courageous.

Firm and courageous means having steadfast faith, perseverance, courage, and vigorous strength.

The power of being firm and courageous can overcome ten thousand enemies.

In terms of practice,

ten thousand enemies can be laziness, retreating, avoiding reality, self-torment,

breaking the Precepts, lack of meditative concentration, and restlessness.

They can be the Five Poisons: greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, and doubt;

the Five Desires: craving for wealth, attachment to material goods, craving for sexual desire, craving for fame and status, craving for food, and craving for sleep.

Firmly and courageously seek Right Enlightenment,

in practice, one must possess a steadfast and valiant spirit, and take practical actions of diligent practice to seek the state of an awakened being.

Especially in difficult situations, one must act in this way; do not let yourself stagnate,

causing your faith and vigorous strength to decline; this is not the behaviour of one who is firm and courageous.

A practitioner who can achieve firm and courageous pursuit of Right Enlightenment and forge ahead,

guiding those who follow to act in the same way, and if those who follow can achieve success, this is the transmission of the Dharma.

Steadfastness and valour are attitudes, spirits, and courage in conduct;

starting from the big picture while being focused on the details, not neglecting small tasks,

one can often accomplish great things.

Those who see the suffering of beings and make a vow to firmly and courageously seek Right Enlightenment, when they achieve success,

will have the vows and the power to help beings.

If one has not yet achieved success, one’s vows and power are insufficient, and one cannot be a reliance for beings,

let alone have the ability to save beings?

On the path of practice, steadfastness and valour are the necessary forces for progress.

The fourfold assembly should always be vigilant and encourage themselves to firmly and courageously seek Right Enlightenment,

this is the attitude and persistence required for success in practice.

Namo Amituofo