The Path of Positive Development
Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju
Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe
7 July 2023
In the context of our spiritual practice, the ability to look within and change your ways is a fundamental lesson. Whether you have truly mastered this will determine the quality of your spiritual growth and the effectiveness of your purification.
The Vital Practice of Introspection
To progress, you must constantly raise your level of awareness. When you discover that you have committed an error, or that your practice is lacking or veering off the right path, you should immediately change your ways, fill the gaps in your understanding, and return to the right path. This is what we mean by positive development. Do not allow these deviations to persist, for they only serve to deepen and weigh down the laws of and cause and effect you carry. You must examine your own heart and actions at every moment, ensuring that your life remains aligned with the right path.
Cultivating Goodness and Purity
What does it mean to develop in a positive way? It is a process of constant refinement. It is the act of choosing Goodness over evil and Purity over defilement. When your actions, your words, and your thoughts are far removed from the negative and the impure, you are walking the path of positive development. You must strive to be good, and then be even better; be pure, and then be even purer.
The Constant Presence of the Holy Name
The Holy Name "Namo Amituofo" must be recited continuously, without interruption. This is the heart of positive development. You should look for the good in all things, speak words that are beneficial, perform actions that are virtuous, and maintain thoughts that are wholesome. This is the essence of a positive life.
Expanding the Mind and Saving Beings
True positive development also requires you to be selfless. You must nurture your , your Wisdom, your mind-capacity, and your ability to be inclusive. When you interact with others, you should do so in a way that makes everyone feel happy and drawn to the light of the . By doing this, you will give rise to all and achieve the fruit of .
The Ultimate Achievement
To be fiercely diligent in your practice until you see your true nature is the ultimate, practical result of positive development. It is the state of being where you follow the Buddha to save the world and rescue all suffering beings. Namo Amituofo.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library