Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
During the second session of the held on the sixth of July, 2025, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided the following guidance on the importance of balance in our practice.
The Appearance of Stability
The conduct, speech, and movements of a practitioner are a direct reflection of their inner state. When you are able to maintain a demeanour that is neither fast nor slow in your walking, standing, sitting, and reclining, you manifest the appearance of one who possesses true meditative concentration and stability.
Consider the consequences of losing this balance: if you are too fast, you easily appear hurried, anxious, and restless, thereby losing your sense of dignity and composure. If you are too slow, you may appear weak, lacking in vitality, or as if you are succumbing to the frailty of old age. True stability lies in the middle path, where your actions are measured, deliberate, and grounded in the present moment.
The Art of Composure in Interaction
When you are faced with the people, objects, and events of your daily life, or when you are managing various responsibilities, you should strive to remain in a state of equilibrium. Your heart should be free from turbulent waves, allowing you to respond to situations and perform your duties with grace.
For instance, in your daily conversations and interactions with others, you should aim to maintain a tone that is neither rushed nor sluggish. By speaking with a steady, calm rhythm and occasionally offering a gentle, compassionate smile, you can significantly help the listener to feel at ease, making it much easier for them to accept and trust the words you share.
Prioritising with Wisdom
Life is filled with tasks that vary in their level of urgency and importance. By practising the art of being neither fast nor slow in your speech and actions, you will find that you are able to manage your affairs effectively in the very moment they arise.
To navigate these demands, you must learn to distinguish between different types of tasks: important and urgent matters are those that directly concern the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, the welfare of the , and the salvation of all suffering beings. These must be prioritised and addressed first. Lighter and less urgent matters are those that primarily concern your own personal affairs or preferences; these can be addressed after the more pressing needs of the community have been fulfilled.
Regardless of the nature of the task, the most important thing is that you maintain a heart that does not move throughout the entire process of handling the matter. If you can cultivate the skill of keeping your heart unmoved, you will be able to handle external affairs with efficiency while your inner spirit remains perfectly still.
The Freedom of the Awakened Mind
When you have achieved the ability to remain unmoved within, you can act with total freedom, allowing your practice to flow naturally according to the needs of the situation. You will be able to perceive the needs of the moment with sharp, sensitive awareness and respond immediately.
By acting with clarity and decisiveness, you are no longer restricted by the labels of light or heavy, urgent or slow. This state of being—where one is fully engaged in the world yet remains completely unattached—is the true freedom of a practitioner who has achieved success in their cultivation. May you all strive to reach this state of perfect balance, always keeping the name of Namo Amituofo in your heart, and may you find the peace that comes from a mind that is truly at rest.
