The Divergent Paths of the Heart
Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju
Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
The beings of the six paths possess hearts that are vastly different from one another. It is the state of your heart—your intentions, your attachments, and your habitual tendencies—that dictates where you will go when this life comes to an end. Understanding this is the first step toward true liberation.
The Echoes of a Troubled Heart
If, during your lifetime, your heart is filled with hatred, anger, and a competitive spirit, you inevitably harm both yourself and others. Such actions, which disturb the peace of others, lead you into the hells after death. If you are ignorant, unable to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, you live in a self-constructed space of confusion. Upon the end of this life, you enter the animal realm.
If your heart is consumed by greed—not just for wealth, but for fame, sensory pleasures, food, and sleep—you create negative that harms all. By stopping this greed, you stop the . If you do not, you enter the hungry ghost realm.
The Foundation of Virtuous Conduct
In this world, where the human heart is constantly changing and impermanent, those who can practise the Five are able to retain a human body in their next life. These precepts are the foundation of a stable existence:
- Refraining from killing: Protecting all life.
- Refraining from stealing: Respecting the property of others.
- Refraining from sexual misconduct: Maintaining purity of conduct.
- Refraining from lying: Speaking only the truth.
- Refraining from intoxicants: Keeping the mind clear and sharp.
Those who can practise the Ten Good Deeds are able to enter the Celestial Realm, where they may freely enjoy the of that state. However, there are also those who perform great deeds and accumulate vast merit, yet remain prone to fierce anger and a volatile temper. Such individuals, upon death, enter the Asura realm. This is particularly common among those who possess great beauty but lack the patience to temper their rage.
The Call to the
You must ask yourself: where is your heart leading you? You can know your future destination by observing your actions today. If you have practised the Five Precepts and the Ten Good Deeds, you have secured a path forward. However, you have already tasted the bitterness and suffering of the cycle of reincarnated existence; do not let yourself fall back into it again.
Students of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, you are fortunate to have encountered Namo Amituofo in this lifetime. You must cultivate a good heart, a pure heart, and a Buddha-heart. You must chant Buddha's name and make your vows with sincerity. Do not walk back into the six realms of existence. If you truly wish to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, you must keep your vow unwavering and work diligently to dissolve your spiritual obstacles. Only then will you be able to travel to the West without obstruction.
The Boundless of the Buddha-Heart
If you can become an awakened being, you will be able to come and go from the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss at will, saving beings and spreading the Pure Land teachings. This is the heart of the fourfold assembly at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre! The Buddha-heart is vast and boundless, merging into one with the heavens, the earth, and the entire vastness of the Realm. To align yourself with this heart, you must embrace the Four Great Vows:
- Beings are infinite; I vow to save them all.
- Afflictions are endless; I vow to end them all.
- Dharma doors are measureless; I vow to learn them all.
- The Buddha's path is supreme; I vow to attain it.
These are the great vows made when one walks the . Only when you can truly make these vows and put them into practice can you connect with the Buddha-heart. , selflessness, and a mind free from attachment are the natural stages of practice. If you desire this and practise diligently, you will naturally connect with the Buddha-heart, receive the Buddha's blessings, and walk the Buddha's path without obstruction.
Namo Amituofo
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library