The Essence of Prostration

The Heart of Prostration

The Thrice Yearning Ceremony is a sacred time for us to realign our spirits with the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. During the third session, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided profound guidance on the practice of prostration. Prostration is not merely a physical act; it is a profound movement of the heart. The primary importance of prostration lies in the heart; you must let the heart lead your entire body and your Six Roots. If the heart is not present, the body is merely performing a ritual without substance.

The Fourfold Unity

To truly engage in this practice, you must unite your entire being in a state of complete focus:

• Eyes:
• Observe the Buddha with deep reverence and clarity.Ears:
• Listen intently to the Buddha-name being chanted, letting it resonate within.Body:
• Perform the prostration with sincerity, grace, and physical dedication.Heart: Maintain the constant mental note of chanting Namo Amituofo.

You must ensure that no thoughts, delusions, or messy thoughts arise during your practice. Do not allow external speech or actions to interrupt your focus. You must be wholeheartedly dedicated to the act of prostration.

Guarding Against Distraction

If you find that the Buddha-name is echoing in the space around you but not entering your ears, or if your body is bowing while your mind is filled with delusions, you have drifted into a state of space and drowsiness. In such moments, your heart is devoid of the Buddha, and you are merely bowing to an empty space. You must wake up immediately, cast aside these delusions, thoughts, and messy thoughts, and return to the clarity of the present moment.

The Path to Awakening

Prostrate with a pure heart to remove selfish desires. Prostrate with pure thoughts to cleanse your karma. Prostrate with a heart free of attachment to repent. Prostrate without wandering thoughts, and you will be chanting the Buddha's name in every moment. Eventually, you will attain the state of an awakened being and realise the Buddha nature within you. Let us cherish these teachings and apply them to our daily practice, ensuring that every prostration brings us closer to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe, as the chief writer.

Namo Amituofo