The Art of Introspection: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

People are habitually accustomed to looking outward and seeking externally. This is because the moment an image enters your eyes, it is immediately processed, discriminated, and broken down by the mind. Looking inward, however, is a strange and unfamiliar experience for most. Consequently, people continue to look outward and seek externally, hoping to find satisfaction in the world around them.

The Five Roots of Suffering

What is it that people look for and seek? It is almost always the five desires: wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep. It is not without reason that these five are known as the five roots of the hells. They represent the five primary desires that frequently become the source of our sins and the creation of negative karma. Everyone must be extremely cautious regarding these!

The Weight of Every Thought

Practitioners must understand that the Pure Land path is Mahayana Buddhism. The moment an intention arises in your heart, you have already entered the realm of the laws of karma and cause and effect. You are immediately forming karmic conditions and the causes and effects that will eventually ripen. The principle that even after a hundred thousand kalpas, the karma you have created will not disappear is rooted in this very truth. People often rely on their habitual ways of handling the situations they encounter, and because of this, they frequently fail to see their own problems. The formation of these problems is deeply connected to the roles we play, the positions we hold, and the environment in which we reside.

The Foundation of Precepts

For practitioners, the Precepts must be the foundation of your life. This is especially true At Hsiang Kuang: A Sacred Sanctuary. You must take the teachings of the Buddha and the reminders from Practitioner Su to heart. You must know what should not be done and refrain from it, and know what should be done and carry it out. Furthermore, you must engage in diligent practice. You should create a list of items for daily—or even moment-to-moment—reflection. If you continue this practice consistently, you should see results within a short period. The thirty-second to thirty-fifth chapters of the Infinite Life Sutra are particularly worthy of your reflection; you must follow the teachings within them.

Cultivating Awareness

Every thought and intention is of the utmost importance. If you can maintain awareness the moment a thought arises, you will know when to stop. If a thought is unwholesome, you must stop it immediately. When you are in the bodhimanda, you must leave behind the habits you developed in your family life. Your behaviour, your daily routine, and especially your personal ego and selfishness cannot be brought into this sacred space. Anything that is not in sync with your practice must be improved immediately to avoid creating karma or breaking the Precepts.

The Courage to Change

You must listen to counseling. If your behaviour or speech is inappropriate and you are advised to change, you must change your ways immediately. You must not hold onto your personal ego and selfishness. Do not bring the habits of your home life into the bodhimanda, as doing so is a great harm to yourself. This is especially important for those who lack self-discipline. If you make a mistake, change it immediately to prevent a small error from becoming a major one. If the manifestation of karma occurs, the suffering will be difficult to bear.

Namo Amituofo