The Path to Leaving Suffering Behind
Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju
Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
The Foundation of Existence
The Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, when viewed through the lens of our daily lives, can be understood as the fundamental principles of Ethics and Morality. The root cause of all human suffering lies in the violation of these sacred truths. When we act in contradiction to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, we inevitably disrupt the harmony of our lives, leading to the manifestation of complex and the causes and effects that govern our existence.
Throughout the endless cycle of rebirth, these karmic conditions and the causes and effects have become deeply intertwined. We find ourselves caught in a web of past actions, and in this current life, we are often unaware of which specific karmic forces will manifest. Because we lack the wisdom to see these hidden threads, we feel as though we have no choice and no autonomy, simply drifting along as we are carried by the momentum of our past .
The Illusion of Inevitability
Many beings are currently trapped in a state of profound suffering, yet they yearn deeply to be saved and to leave suffering behind. However, there are still many others who are immersed in such deep suffering that they do not even realise they are suffering at all. They mistakenly believe that the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death is merely an unavoidable process of human life.
They do not understand that these experiences are the fruits of past causes, manifesting as the results of our present life. They are unaware that these are all created by the laws of karma and cause and effect. Furthermore, they do not know that by chanting Namo Amituofo with such dedication that the unfamiliar becomes familiar and the familiar becomes unfamiliar, one can effectively transform karma. They do not realise that this transformation of karma is the key to leaving suffering behind.
The Light of Wisdom
Through the guidance provided by Buddhist education, we are able to reveal these hidden truths to all beings. Therefore, receiving Buddhist education is the fundamental method for helping people leave suffering behind. When we initiate this process through our own sincere efforts, and when we combine this with the Buddha's , we can begin to adjust our hearts and minds.
- Adjusting the Heart: By aligning our inner state with the Buddha's teachings, our actions will naturally follow suit.
- Transforming Karma: As our actions shift toward the right path, our karma is transformed, allowing us to leave suffering behind.
- Deepening Practice: Practice helps us recognise the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, as well as the true reality of our existence.
By engaging in the process of calming the mind and stilling our wandering thoughts, a practitioner can gradually leave suffering behind. We will no longer be pulled by the force of past negative karma into states of misery from which it is difficult to escape.
Returning to Our Original Nature
The suffering we experience today is a sign that our original nature has been obscured. Our purity has been clouded by the dust of defilements and attachments. The ultimate purpose of our practice is to remove these defilements, attain purity, and rediscover our original nature. This journey of purification is, in itself, the process of leaving suffering behind.
When observed that sentient beings were suffering and unable to leave suffering behind through their own limited strength, he made his Forty-eight Great Vows. He established the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss specifically to lead sentient beings in the ten directions and the realms into this pure domain. By entering the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, beings can finally leave suffering and gain happiness.
Moreover, within this glorious land, one can continue to practise until they attain Buddhahood. This is the ultimate way to leave suffering behind, and it is the very purpose for which Dharmakara Bhikshu established the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the supreme grace that Namo Amituofo bestows upon all beings.
Namo Amituofo.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library