The Essence of Truth

In the practice of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, we seek to align our lives with the ultimate reality. Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provides this essential guidance on what it means to live in the Truth.

The Four Pillars of Truth

To walk the path of the Buddha, one must cultivate four fundamental qualities. These are not merely concepts to be studied, but realities to be lived:

• True Heart: A heart that is sincere, honest, and free from deception.
• True Faith: An unwavering belief in the power of Namo Amituofo and the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
• True Vows: A firm commitment to leave suffering behind and attain Buddhahood for the sake of all beings.
• True Practice: The diligent application of the Dharma in every action, word, and thought.

One might ask, where can these be found? Where do we locate this true heart, this true faith, these true vows, and this true practice? They are not hidden in distant lands or ancient texts; they are found right here, in the immediacy of the present moment.

Where Truth Resides

Truth is not an abstract ideal; it is the fabric of our daily existence when we are fully awake. We find it in the following states of being:

• In the Present Moment: By focusing entirely on the now, we stop the wandering mind.
• In the State of No-Mind: By letting go of the ego, we enter a state of no-mind and no-thought, where the true self shines through.
• In Harmony: By fostering harmony between ourselves and others, we dissolve the barriers of the self.
• In the Dharma Body: By realising the Dharma Body of our true self, we connect with the infinite nature of the universe.
• In Compassion: By expanding the capacity of our heart to embrace all beings with compassion.
• In Awakening: By deepening our understanding of the Dharma until it becomes our own wisdom.
• In the Fulfilment of Vows: By actively working to realise the aspirations we have set for our spiritual journey.
• In Saving Beings: By dedicating our lives to the work of saving the world and rescuing suffering beings.
• In Chao Du: By performing the sacred work of Chao Du to help souls find rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Oneness of Being

Within the oneness of all existence, one perceives the Truth clearly. When we let go of the illusion of a separate self, we enter a state of no-self, where there is only constant joy and purity. This is the natural state of the Buddha-heart.

The Eternal Present

We must understand the nature of time in our practice. When the present moment passes, it is gone; yet, if we ensure that every single moment is filled with truth, faith, vows, and practice, then every moment becomes the Truth itself. As this moment becomes the next, we continue to maintain this state. By ensuring that every instance of our lives is grounded in these four pillars, we live in the Truth, moment by moment, forever.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo