The Cessation of Ignorance, Greed, and Anger

The Path to Permanent Liberation

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe, on the twenty-eighth of March, 2026, these teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju illuminate the ultimate goal of our spiritual journey. The phrase, "The permanent cessation of ignorance, greed, and anger," describes the profound state of a practitioner who, through diligent practice and unwavering effort, has finally severed the roots of confusion. In this state, the cravings of greed and the fires of anger have been extinguished, no longer existing within the heart. This is the true achievement of our practice and the essential process of attaining Buddhahood.

Confusion is the fundamental affliction that clouds our true nature. When combined with the three poisons of greed, anger, and delusion, it forms the very essence of our suffering and serves as the greatest obstacle to our spiritual progress. To counteract these, one must diligently practise the Precepts (Discipline), Concentration and Wisdom. This is the authentic path of practice. It is the fundamental and miraculous method for a diligent practitioner to address and dissolve these afflictions. When you apply this method in your daily life, you will reap immeasurable benefits.

The Thieves Within the Mind

The three poisons of greed, anger, and delusion are like cunning thieves. They wait for the moments when you are not paying attention, when your guard is down, and when your awareness is dim. In those unguarded moments, they manifest to steal away your merit and the wealth of your Dharma practice. If you lack the necessary awareness, the merit you have accumulated will leak away, drop by drop, until your spiritual treasury is empty. In truth, the one who suffers the most from this loss is you, not anyone else. This is why awareness is an indispensable condition for any practitioner.

Once you detect the presence of these three poisons—the moment any one of these thieves appears—you must immediately stop them. Do not allow your Body, Speech, and Mind to continue being poisoned by these afflictions, for doing so only leads to the creation of various forms of negative karma. You must be vigilant, for your spiritual achievements depend on your ability to guard your heart.

Achieving the State of Deep Peace

The state of "the permanent cessation of ignorance, greed, and anger" is not easily attained; it requires a significant amount of effort and dedicated practice. This level of skill can be achieved by maintaining continuous chanting without interruption, 24/7, so that your heart remains in perfect sync with the Buddha-name. Through this, you will eventually attain the Buddha-Recitation Samadhi.

The path to realise one's true nature and attain Buddhahood is a path that everyone can walk. By relying on the vast and compassionate Pure Land Dharma, you can receive the assistance of Namo Amituofo to successfully complete this spiritual journey. Please, do not let a moment of regression cause you to lose the immense benefit of awakening that is right before you. Stay diligent, keep your heart focused, and continue your practice with sincerity.

Namo Amituofo