The Path to Awakening and the Universal Truth

During the second session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, we are blessed with profound insights from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, as recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe, on the ninth of April, 2021.

The Radiance of the Awakened Heart

Those who realise one's true nature and attain Buddhahood are those who have thoroughly understood the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, and the true reality of the universe. They do not merely hold these concepts in their minds; they embody these teachings through their actions, walking the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, verifying these truths through their own conduct, and dedicating themselves to helping all sentient beings leave suffering behind.

The Shadows of the Demon Path

Conversely, those who fall into the path of the demon have failed to thoroughly understand the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, and the true reality of the universe. Their hearts and characters are clouded by strange and intense sufferings, causing them to deviate from the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. They commit various evils, endangering others and inflicting suffering upon them. Consequently, they themselves shall endure the most extreme and wretched suffering—trapped beneath icy mountains, crushed under massive peaks, or submerged in raging volcanic magma—with no foreseeable end to their retribution.

The Wandering Heart Between Two Paths

Most people wander between the path of the Buddha and the path of the demon, oscillating between the two. At times they act with the compassion of a Buddha, and at other times they fall into the destructive patterns of a demon. This occurs because their hearts have not yet attained meditative concentration, leaving them vulnerable to the interference of internal thoughts and external circumstances. Their bodies and minds lack stability, being pulled by the currents of their karmic conditions.

The Vitality of Meditative Concentration

They may be drawn toward the Buddha's path through purity, or pulled into the path of the demon through impurity. Thus, we must recognise the vital importance of meditative concentration and Dharma affinity. You must make the attainment of meditative concentration the primary priority in your practice!