The Past and the Present

Teachings by the Teacher. Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable Fa Hui.

9 August 2026.

Teachings by Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju:

It is because of the various events of the past that the fourfold assembly can now practise at the place where Namo Amituofo is residing here — the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Goombungee, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.

Therefore, one must be grateful for the past and let go of all rights and wrongs, self and others, and grievances.

The past is formed by the connection of Causal Conditions.

The various people, matters, objects, scenes, and environments of today also proceed within the cycle of cause and effect; therefore, do not be attached to any of them, and let go of them all.

If one wishes to achieve spiritual success in practice, one must thoroughly let go in one's heart, both in matters and in principles, so that one can have an unmoved mind, act truthfully, not create karma, and not obstruct one's practice.

In past lives, one has tasted the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death; the suffering of being with those one dislikes; the suffering of being separated from those one loves; the suffering of not obtaining what one desires; and the suffering of the five aggregates—form, feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness—burning like fire.

Today, being able to enter the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, to be an awakened being, and to be led by the Buddha’s power to rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, leaving suffering and gaining happiness.

One must be fiercely diligent; this is the right way.

In the past, while in the world, one did not know of the true self, nor did one understand the value of being an awakened being.

Only after learning the Buddha’s teachings did one realise that the Dharma is like a vast ocean that can resolve all suffering.

Having come to know Namo Amituofo and the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, one has now entered into practice, and only now is there a time to generate Bodhi (Enlightenment), and to desire to chant Buddha's name for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Because of the suffering of having a body, one understands the suffering of beings.

Under the teachings of Namo Amituofo, the Teacher, and Practitioner Su, the assembly can understand the importance of generating Bodhi (Enlightenment).

Thus, one generates Bodhi (Enlightenment), desires to be fiercely diligent in chanting Buddha's name, and has the opportunity to enter the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is a Buddha-land for becoming a Buddha through the One Vehicle.

In the past, within the Forty-eight Great Vows of Namo Amituofo, Namo Amituofo provided various skilful means for beings, leading beings from the Ten Directions of the Dharma Realm into the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Today, Practitioner Su of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre sees the suffering of beings, and with the arising of the Ultimate Vow, wishes to save beings and pull them out of suffering.

Practitioner Su leads the deceased through Chao Du into the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and leads the fourfold assembly to be fiercely diligent, hoping that they will soon find their true self.

The past and the present both share the wish to walk the Buddha's path together, and to follow the Buddha in saving countless suffering beings.

Namo Amituofo