The Difference Between the Practitioner and the Past

Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offers these profound teachings, recorded by Venerable HaiZe during the Thrice Yearning Ceremony on 12 December 2021.

The Weight of Our Hidden History

You and I have both been ordinary beings, drifting through the cycle of rebirth without true autonomy. Over countless aeons, we have accumulated experiences that are beyond our current imagination. These experiences are not lost; they are stored deep within our consciousness. Every single action, every thought, and every event from our past lives is recorded with absolute precision. These are not just vague memories; they are the bits and pieces of our history, documented without a single error.

Facing Our Karmic Creditors

These records include the karmic creditors we invite to manifest, whose accusations against you are vivid and clear. They also encompass the past relationships you have had with everyone around you. When we invite these beings to manifest, they bring with them the weight of our past interactions and the grievances they hold against us. These karmic creditors are not merely external forces; they are reflections of our own past actions. When they appear, they remind us of the debts we have incurred and the suffering we have caused. This is why the presence of these beings can be so challenging to face.

The Path of True Transformation

How does the practitioner you are today differ from the person you were in the past? The difference lies entirely in how we respond to the challenges that arise. If karmic creditors manifest, you must accept their presence with humility. You must engage in sincere repenting and change your ways. This is the only path to resolution. By acknowledging our past mistakes and committing to a life of purity, we begin to dissolve the barriers that have kept us trapped in the cycle of rebirth.

Living in the Eternal Present

Afterward, do not dwell on these memories or thoughts. Always live in the present moment; to dwell on memories and thoughts is to depart from the present. Do not be led by these memories and thoughts, which only cause past karmic creditors to manifest and obstruct your clarity. You must learn to let go. By living fully in the present moment, you remain free from the chains of your history. Do not be dragged away by the echoes of what has been. Instead, focus your heart and mind on the path ahead, and chant Namo Amituofo.

Namo Amituofo