The Path of Repentance and Prostration
Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju
Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on August 7, 2021.
The Necessity of Change
As children of the Buddha, we all inevitably make mistakes. When we err, it is our responsibility to change our ways. Often, we receive warnings or guidance to cease our harmful actions, yet we find that external advice is insufficient to alter our deeply ingrained wrong views and behaviours. When this happens, we must look inward to identify the internal resistance that prevents us from moving forward. In many cases, the weight of our past is the primary cause of this stagnation.
To truly break through these barriers, one must commit to a process of genuine transformation. At such times, the practice of repenting and performing prostrations is a viable and effective path. Regardless of your age, if you engage in this practice with a sincere heart, you will undoubtedly see results. It is a method that transcends the limitations of time and circumstance, offering a way to cleanse the spirit and realign with the Truth.
The Danger of Empty Practice
However, one must be cautious. If you perform prostrations without a heart of true repentance, your past mistakes will remain difficult to resolve or transform. If you prostrate while your mind is filled with messy thoughts and delusions, the Buddha is not truly present in your heart, nor are you listening with your ears or seeing with your eyes. In such a state, you are merely performing an empty . Your past errors remain, and your path forward remains obstructed by the weight of your own confusion.
The Light of Transformation
True practice begins when the Buddha enters your heart, your ears, and your eyes. When you prostrate with this level of focus, you will eventually reach a state of meditative concentration and inner peace. In this state of stillness, your body and all the beings residing within your body can receive the Buddha’s light. This light provides a powerful energy blessing that permeates your entire being.
If these beings are willing to enter the Buddha-light, Namo Amituofo will lead them into that radiance. This light acts as a catalyst to help resolve the conflict with your . It helps to untangle the web of wrong views and harmful behaviours that have bound you to them. When these misunderstandings are cleared and the karmic debt is settled, your past errors will no longer manifest in your life. This is the true essence and purpose of repenting and performing prostrations.
May you always keep your heart open to this light, allowing the wisdom of the Buddha to guide you from confusion to , from wrong paths to the right path, and from impurity to purity. By diligently practising in this way, you will surely leave suffering behind and find happiness.
Namo Amituofo
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