The Infinite Merit and Dharma Wealth

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Haize.

On May 22, 2022, during the third session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided profound guidance on the nature of true wealth.

The Fleeting Shadows of Worldly Wealth

In this world, money and material wealth are necessary for our physical survival. Those who lack wealth naturally pursue it, and those who possess it often desire even more. It is important to recognise that wealth is the foremost of the Five Desires: wealth, sex, fame, food, and sleep. Because it is the first, it is often the most difficult to let go of, yet it is merely a tool for existence in this transient world.

The Radiant Treasures of the Inner Path

A true practitioner may not possess worldly riches, but they possess a far greater treasure. Their wealth is found in their spiritual cultivation and the purity of their conduct. This inner wealth consists of several essential qualities:

• The Precepts: Maintaining strict discipline to keep the mind and body in harmony.
• Purification of the Six Roots: Through the practice of the Precepts, one achieves a state where the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind are no longer clouded by external dust.
• Meditative Concentration: A profound stillness that emerges from this purity.
• Wisdom: The clarity that manifests within that deep meditative state.
• Humility and Repentance: A sincere recognition of one's own shortcomings and a deep remorse for past transgressions and the harm caused to other beings.
• Diligent Practice: The unwavering perseverance and determination to move forward on the path without hesitation.

By constantly refining one's practice—purifying the mind, cultivating goodness, and deepening concentration—the practitioner eventually finds their true self. They attain the Dharma Body, gain the ability to resolve conflicts with karmic creditors, and successfully perform Chao Du to deliver infinite suffering beings, helping them leave suffering behind and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Boundless Wisdom of the True Self

Within our true self lies the Wisdom of Prajna. This wisdom is all-knowing and all-capable; it is the key to resolving the confusion of all beings. For those who have realised their true nature, every action, every word, and every vow they make becomes a form of magnificent merit and Dharma wealth. Everything they do is dedicated to the benefit of all beings.

The Eternal Wealth of Compassionate Vows

The practitioner possesses an inexhaustible store of merit and Dharma wealth. This includes:

• Compassion and Dharma joy.
• The ability to let go of attachments.
• The Buddha-heart, Buddha-vows, and Buddha-actions.
• The power of Chao Du to deliver sentient beings.

This wealth is not only for the practitioner's own benefit, making them the most prosperous person in the world, but it is also a resource to be shared. By teaching and saving others, the practitioner enables all beings to receive the benefits of this infinite merit. We can lead everyone to leave suffering behind and help them realise their true self—a state where they do not grow old, do not get sick, and the spirit does not die—ensuring their rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo