Strict Teachers Produce Excellent Students

The Synergy of Self-Power and Buddha-Power

On the second of December, 2023, during the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided these essential teachings. Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Practice is a journey that requires one to initiate the process through one's own efforts. You must move forward with a steady, grounded approach, doing exactly what is required without hesitation. In the Pure Land school, the combination of self-power and the power of Namo Amituofo is the ultimate shortcut among all shortcuts.

Once you have initiated your own practice, you will receive the support of the Buddha's blessings. This is like a boat being pushed by the current; it significantly accelerates your journey across the ocean of samsara. Reaching the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is equivalent to arriving at the other shore, where you are finally saved from the cycle of rebirth.

The Guidance of a Wise Teacher

A teacher uses their own qualifications, knowledge, and hard-won experience to guide and instruct those who follow. Practitioner Su, with his extensive background in Pure Land practice, possesses a unique depth of insight. This is especially evident in his ability to perform Chao Du through his Dharma Body and his countless manifestations. His profound understanding of the suffering of all beings, gained through what he has seen and heard, is a rare and precious opportunity for all students to inherit.

It is truly difficult to encounter such a teacher in this lifetime. Therefore, as students, you must be diligent and persistent. You should strive to make one day of practice count as two, working tirelessly until your Buddha-recitation skills are firmly established. When you reach this level, your mind will remain unmoved even when external conditions are chaotic. This is the path to awakening, where one cultivates true compassion, inclusiveness, and a vast mind-capacity that deeply empathises with the suffering of all beings.

The Compassion of Direct Correction

Practitioner Su addresses the various situations of his students with directness, cutting straight to the core of the issue. He is able to see clearly where the problems lie, and he speaks with absolute clarity so that his students can understand and accept his guidance. Time is incredibly precious. Amidst his busy schedule, Practitioner Su observes the struggles of his students at every moment. He speaks whenever necessary, sometimes using the Lion’s Roar to startle his students into awakening, hoping they will realise their errors and stop procrastinating.

The Path to Awakening

If you know where your defilements lie, you must act quickly to remove them and attain purity. Only then will you have the opportunity to realise your true nature and manifest your Dharma Body. For all spirits and those who hear the Dharma through the internet today, please recognise the compassion and the deep, sincere desire of Practitioner Su to save and liberate all beings through his lectures. May you all find joy in hearing the Dharma and dedicate yourselves to learning.

Whether a strict teacher truly produces excellent students is a question that now rests entirely upon you. May you take these words to heart and practise with sincerity.

Namo Amituofo