The Hundred Battles Within: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

The Internal Battlefield

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

18 January 2025, Third Session.

When we speak of being experienced in a hundred battles, we are not referring to the conflicts of the physical world. Instead, we are describing the profound, internal war that every practitioner faces: the struggle between the self that wishes to change its personality traits and the self that finds it impossible to let go of old habits. This is the true battlefield of the spirit.

It is a constant, unfolding engagement between the Buddha-heart and the demon-heart. It is the daily choice between the Buddha-vow and the demon-vow, and the decisive moment of choosing between Buddha-actions and demon-actions. Every thought we hold, every word we speak, and every action we take is a move in this great, invisible war.

The Choice of Heart and Action

To understand this battle, we must clearly distinguish between the two paths that lie before us. The path of the demon-heart and demon-actions is aligned with greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, doubt, and wrong views, as well as the five desires of wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep.

Conversely, the path of the Buddha-heart and Buddha-actions is aligned with the following: Discipline (Precepts) to keep the mind steady; meditative concentration; growing Wisdom (Prajna); and working to save oneself and countless suffering beings. It also involves maintaining the Six Roots in a state of purity, free from the stains of wealth, lust, and fame, while exercising moderation in food and sleep. It is our sincere hope that the Buddha-heart and Buddha-actions can be fully realised in your life, while the demon-heart and demon-actions are completely eradicated and left far behind.

The Daily Struggle of the Fourfold Assembly

Members of the fourfold assembly (monks, nuns, laymen, laywomen), you must ask yourselves: are you often caught in the crossfire of your own internal conflicts? Do you find yourself struggling between the commitment to uphold the Precepts and the tendency to forgive your own lapses, telling yourself you will just relax for a moment and try again next time?

Are you caught in the battle between the desire to indulge in more food and sleep, and the aspiration to sleep less so that you may make the most of your time, effectively living one day as if it were two? Do you frequently struggle between the urge to browse websites that serve no purpose for your spiritual practice and the discipline required to focus entirely on Buddha-work and your assigned duties? Are you engaged in the battle between the concept of self and the realisation of no-self, wanting things you know you cannot have, or dwelling on thoughts you know you should not entertain? Are you fighting the battle between the desire to "see through" and "let go" of worldly attachments and the persistent inability to actually do so?

A Call to Diligent Practice

Fourfold assembly, do you dare to be diligent? Have you considered the importance of seizing every moment to save more beings? Have you made the firm decision to thoroughly "see through" and "let go" of all attachments? Even when your body experiences interference, are you still determined to change your personality traits, to offer your body in Generosity (Giving), and to advance through diligent practice so that you may reach the state of an awakened being as soon as possible?

Can you withstand the suggestions and criticisms of others when they point out the personality traits you need to change, and instead of feeling anger, can you remain grateful? Are you working to increase your compassion and Wisdom (Prajna), choosing to see the good and think the good, rather than spending your days in negativity, anger, and dissatisfaction? Do you wish to keep your focus on the Buddha-name steady and unwavering? Do you wish to prostrate to the Buddha more often, to complete the recitation of a sutra in its entirety, and to finish your daily practice with sincerity? Are you striving to change your personality traits, to overcome drowsiness, and to enter the space of true spiritual clarity? After having been experienced in a hundred battles, what is your record? Reflect upon this, and encourage yourself to do better. Namo Amituofo.