The Essence of Clarity: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

The Fundamental State of the Heart

Clarity of the heart is the fundamental state of an awakened being. It is not something that must be created or sought from the outside; rather, it is the original nature of our own hearts. This clarity possesses the vast capacity to contain the infinite and embrace the boundless. When the heart is truly clear, it can reflect the reality of the universe exactly as it is. One will know how to act without veering off the right path, and one will no longer be deceived or swayed by external circumstances.

The Interdependence of Purity and Clarity

You may ask, if this state is so wonderful, how can one practise to attain it? The answer lies in the relationship between purification and clarity. Purification is the essential process of clarifying the heart, while clarity is the natural result of that purification. These two are inseparable; they support and complete one another. Where there is clarity, there is purity, and where there is purity, clarity will naturally manifest. They are two sides of the same coin in the life of a practitioner.

The Discipline of the Heart

As practitioners, we must learn to discern what should not be done and refrain from doing it. This is the essence of keeping the Precepts, which serves as our primary method of purification. If we know that an action is harmful yet we choose to perform it, we are actively polluting our own hearts. This creates internal turbulence, leaving the mind restless and unsettled. A heart that is filled with such turbulence is easily influenced by variables and karmic forces. When we allow our minds to be led by these forces, our karmic creditors may manifest, making it increasingly difficult to purify the heart, achieve clarity, or realise one's true nature.

The Supreme Dharma Jewel

The six-character name of Namo Amituofo, which is pure and perfectly good, is the ultimate Dharma Jewel for purification and awakening. It is the most direct path to returning to our original nature. All practitioners should diligently hold onto this Buddha-name at all times. Do not forget the Buddha-heart, the Buddha-vow, and the Buddha-actions. By keeping the Buddha-name in your heart, you prevent karmic seeds and deluded thoughts from taking root. Only by maintaining this focus can you sever your delusions and subdue the demons of distraction. This is the only way to attain a pure heart, achieve true clarity, and eventually reach the state of an awakened being.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo