The Nature of Birth and Death

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju:

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

24 April 2026

The Interconnected Web of Existence

Birth and death are not random occurrences; they unfold within the intricate framework of karmic conditions and the causes and effects. For ordinary people, the physical body is a vessel created by karma. Because of this, we are bound by the sufferings of birth, aging, sickness, and death. We experience the constant cycle where conditions arise and then fade away, leaving us adrift in the vast ocean of samsara.

The Luminous Nature of the True Self

Those who have realised their true nature have found their way back to their original essence. Once this true nature manifests, the light of the heart shines forth, and the light of the spirit is revealed. This true nature is beyond birth and death; it is not subject to the appearance of coming into being or passing away. It is neither defiled nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing. It is inherently pristine and untainted. The light that shines from this true nature is transparent, pure, and free from all stains.

Transforming Karma Through Wisdom

When you encounter your karmic creditors or sentient beings with karmic affinity from the past, you must be able to resolve these karmic debts with wisdom. The most important thing is to keep your heart unmoved. Do not let it be polluted. You must maintain the brightness and purity of your inner heart. This is a natural skill possessed by those who have realised their true nature.

Before you reach this state of Awakening, if your karma manifests and you encounter karmic creditors or other beings, you must:

• Use wisdom to resolve the karmic grievances.
• Transform these negative encounters into positive Dharma affinity.
• Refrain from letting your mind be moved or attached to appearances, which would cause you to fall back into the cycle of consciousness.

If you allow your mind to be moved or attached to appearances, you will create new karma. Your heart will become clouded, and the light will be obscured, taking you further away from the moment of Awakening. If you fail to transform this karma, you will remain trapped in the continuous cycle of birth and death, wandering through samsara without an end to your suffering.

The Supreme Path to Awakening

At this point, if you practise chanting the Buddha's name—arouse the Bodhi mind and single-mindedly recite Namo Amituofo—you will find a path that is perfectly in sync with the Buddha-heart and the Buddha-vow. This practice is based on the Infinite Sutra (The Buddha Speaks the Mahayana, Infinite Life, Adornment, Purity, Impartiality, and Enlightenment Sutra). By following the teachings and applying yourself with sincerity and diligence, you can achieve inconceivable results. This is the direction for all ordinary people who are still caught in the cycle of birth and death to focus their diligent practice.

When your heart is completely free of even a single speck of dust, when it is clean, bright, and pure, your true nature—which is beyond birth and death—will manifest. That is the moment of Awakening.

Namo Amituofo