The Fleeting Nature of All Things: Teachings of Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

During the midday offering on the tenth of May, 2025, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided these profound insights on the nature of existence.

The Fleeting Nature of Time

The events of yesterday have already faded into history. Even the very moment you are experiencing right now is slipping away as we speak. Everything is becoming the past. Since these things have already passed, you must not cling to them or chase after memories. Life is much like a dream.

When you are deep within a dream, the people, the scenery, and the events all seem incredibly real. It is only when you wake up that you realise everything was merely a dream—a fleeting experience that has already passed and can never be retrieved.

Seeing Through the Illusory World

You must understand that the essence of all things is empty. Within this vast emptiness, a myriad of phenomena manifests, and the dream state is but one of these countless scenes. All the events of the past exist only within this empty space.

Even the various encounters you experience in this current lifetime are merely scenes within this empty environment. You must not be deceived by these illusory states. Everything you see, hear, and encounter within this illusory world is exactly that—an illusion. None of it is truly real.

Because our lives are limited, our physical bodies are precious. You must not waste your life by living it entirely within these illusions. If you spend your days lost in the dream, you will miss the opportunity to realise your true potential.

The Eternal Truth of Your Original Nature

The cycle of rebirth is also an illusion. Before one becomes an awakened being, everything one encounters, sees, or hears is illusory. There is not a single thing that is not a product of this illusion. This includes all the people, events, objects, and scenery that surround you at this very moment. They are all destined to become the past. Only by seeking to rediscover your true self can you find what is real and not illusory.

Your true self is eternally existent. It is real because it is unchanging and immovable. It does not transform according to external circumstances, yet it possesses the capacity to manifest in a myriad of ways. To respond to the various changes in the world, your true self generates diverse strategies and methods. However, its fundamental heart remains unmoved and constant.

Living with a Heart of Gratitude

Therefore, do not look back. Do not dwell on the past. Instead, let your heart be filled with gratitude for every moment. By maintaining this state of mind, you align yourself with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

Namo Amituofo.