The Luminous Heart: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

The Original Purity of the Heart

The Luminous Heart is vast, open, and entirely free from even the slightest trace of impurity. This is your original heart, the nature you have possessed since the very beginning. It is naturally perfect and inherently bright. However, because of the deep-seated confusion that has clouded our minds, this original heart has become obscured. It is now covered by layer upon layer of karmic filth, which prevents its natural brilliance from shining through.

The Universal Nature of the Luminous Heart

Every being throughout the entire Dharma Realm possesses this same Luminous Heart. It is your true self, and it is present everywhere, at all times. Because it is your inherent nature, it has the potential to manifest naturally. Before one reaches the state of an awakened being, however, every person is governed by the eight consciousnesses and the fifty-one mental factors. This is why you often feel that you are not the master of your own life, as you are heavily influenced and controlled by the momentum of your past karma.

The Path of Purification

Although you may feel controlled by karma and unable to act with true autonomy, your original heart has never been truly polluted. It remains luminous and pure, even if it is currently hidden from your view. It is simply waiting for you to realise this truth and understand the principles of the Dharma. The process of spiritual practice is, in essence, the process of washing away these layers of karmic filth one by one, allowing the Luminous Heart to reveal itself once more.

• Recognise the truth: Understand that your true nature is not your karma.
• Wash away the filth: Diligently practise to remove the layers of delusion, discrimination, and attachment that have accumulated over countless lifetimes.
• Reveal the light: As you cleanse your mind, the inherent brightness of your true self will naturally begin to emerge.

Awakening to the True Self

When your Six Roots—the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind—interact with the Six Dusts—the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touch, and thoughts of the external world—you must learn to let go of the habitual patterns that arise. As you gradually remove the delusion, discrimination, and attachment that arise from these interactions, the influence of your six consciousnesses will also begin to weaken. As these obstacles fade, your pure body will begin to manifest, and the natural abilities of your Six Roots will be restored. When the Luminous Heart is gradually revealed and its light shines forth completely, that is the moment of Awakening. Namo Amituofo.

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.