Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable Fa Hui. We are reminded by the ancient wisdom: "Do not disregard small acts of goodness, and do not commit small acts of evil." This is a vital warning to all people in this world. We often mistakenly believe that minor actions are insignificant, yet this is a grave error in our understanding of the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.
We must understand that both great goodness and great evil are not spontaneous occurrences. They are the result of the gradual accumulation of our daily choices. Therefore, we should consider the following:
Small acts of goodness: You should perform them diligently and treat those who perform them with respect, for these are the seeds of virtue.
Small acts of evil: You must stop them immediately and ensure you do not allow yourself to become a person who habitually commits them.
If small evils are not stopped or severed, they inevitably grow into great evils. This can lead to the creation of heavy , even resulting in rebirth in the hells. This is the fundamental reason why beings continue to suffer endlessly within the cycle of reincarnation.
The Purity of the Heart
If you are a practitioner who wishes to become an awakened being, you must strive to be free from any thoughts, actions, or speech that create faults. Whether achieving this state of "no faults" is difficult or easy depends entirely on your heart, your vows, and your practice. It is essential and necessary for you to have faith in the Buddha, to study the teachings of the Buddha, and to actively change your personality traits.
A heart that is pure, good, and free from defilement is the key to becoming an awakened being. Without this purity, the mind remains clouded by the dust of our past actions and current attachments.
The Challenges of the -Ending Age
In this age of the Dharma’s decline, we find ourselves living in a defiled and evil world of suffering. The minds of beings are constantly agitated, filled with delusion, discrimination, and attachment. We are perpetually focused on :
We are obsessed with our own physical bodies.
We are fixated on our own and sensations.
We act primarily out of selfish desires.
Because of this, we simply continue to drift and sink within the vast ocean of karmic reincarnation. Our own actions serve only to further pollute our minds, leaving us without the opportunity for purification and making the possibility of becoming an awakened being seem distant.
The of Shakyamuni Buddha
Shakyamuni Buddha, in his infinite compassion, has reminded all beings that in this age of the Dharma’s decline, we must rely solely on the Dharma Gate to achieve success. It is only through this path that beings have the possibility of leaving suffering behind and finding liberation. It is only through this path that we have the opportunity to make the vow to chant Namo Amituofo and attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is truly a testament to the great mercy of Shakyamuni Buddha.
The Power of Constant Chanting
As a practitioner, you can receive the Buddha's by keeping Namo Amituofo in your thoughts at all times. When you chant Namo Amituofo 24/7, chanting then becomes a continuous, flowing stream that never stops. In this state of continuous , you will naturally be free from faults. By focusing on the purification of your Body, Speech, and Mind, as well as your Body-Mind-Spirit, you will attain a state of purity. Only then will you have the true possibility of becoming an awakened being. Namo Amituofo.
