The Middle Path of Relaxation and Tension

The Balance of the Heart

During the second session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered vital guidance on the nature of our spiritual efforts. He explained that terms like relaxation and tension are merely names we assign to our mental states. In truth, these labels reveal the underlying condition of your heart. Whether you feel relaxed or tense depends entirely on the state of your mind. To be neither too relaxed nor too tense is the natural state of a practitioner.

If you are too relaxed, you may become lazy and lose your focus. If you are too tense, you create unnecessary pressure that hinders your progress. Neither extreme is appropriate for long-term cultivation. A balanced approach, where your effort is steady and moderate, is what allows you to sustain your practice over a lifetime.

Finding the Path Home

Clarity and wisdom are your original nature, yet you have lost your way due to the confusion of the world. You may find yourself groping about in the dark, searching for the way home, but do not despair. If you persist, you will eventually find the path of light. You must pick up your pace without hesitation. For those of us at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, the path to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is the only true destination.

If your heart has a vow, let that vow be present before you at all times. When you hold your vow firmly in your heart, your direction becomes clear, and your steps become steady.

The Joy of Diligent Practice

Diligent practice should never be a source of pressure or anxiety. Instead, it is a natural and joyful part of your journey. Taking the initiative to change your ways is your duty as a practitioner. When you advance straightforwardly without retreating, your heart will be filled with Dharma joy. In this state, you will begin to perceive the true nature of all phenomena.

• Fiercely Diligent: Practise with unwavering focus at Hsiang Kuang.
• Seeing True Nature: By maintaining this effort, you will surely succeed in seeing your true nature.
• Total Resolution: Once you have rediscovered your true self, all worldly problems are resolved.

Whether you are relaxed or tense, you will always be at ease because your heart is no longer swayed by external conditions. This is what we call true liberation. This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe, who served as the chief writer.

Namo Amituofo