The Practice of Severing: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju
Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju
The Essence of Severing
To practise the art of severing is to perform a profound work upon the heart. It is not a physical act, but a mental discipline that requires your complete focus. When you truly engage in this practice, you will find that there are no longer any stray thoughts to pull you away from the path, and no lingering ruminations to hang onto your . The various events and concerns of the past, which once occupied your mind, must be allowed to vanish in the present moment.
What Must Be Severed
To walk the path of the Buddha, you must be diligent in cutting away the obstacles that keep you trapped in the cycle of rebirth. You must specifically address and sever the following:
- Wrong Views: You must sever the false belief that there are no laws of and cause and effect, and the dangerous notion that there is no cycle of rebirth.
- Ignorance: You must sever the confusion that leads you to doubt the existence of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
- Afflictions and Confusion: You must actively work to clear away the mental fog that obscures your original nature.
- : You must sever the 'self,' personal ego, and selfishness, and the deep-seated habits that define your worldly identity.
- Emotional Entanglements: You must sever emotional entanglements, ensuring that you are no longer pulled by the heavy weight of emotional karma.
The Lotus Root Metaphor
You must be particularly vigilant regarding your emotions. If even a single thread of emotion remains, it acts like the fibres of a broken lotus root—though the root is severed, the threads remain connected, obstructing your clarity and making it nearly impossible to realise your true nature. Any form of karma or consciousness acts as a barrier to those who have realised their true nature; all must be severed within the heart.
The Path of the Awakened Being
Maintain only the pure thoughts of the Buddha, and dwell only in , Wisdom (Prajna), mind-capacity, and tolerance. This is the state of those who have realised their true nature. They live in a state of constant purification, without impurity. Because they are clear, they can see the truth of reality as it is. They are no longer swayed by the pull of emotion, and they face both themselves and all other beings without selfishness.
Transforming the World
By maintaining this clarity, you will no longer be turned by external circumstances; instead, you will have the power to transform them. You will be able to transform emotional entanglements into affinity, using every encounter as an opportunity to share the truth. You will remain unblinded by external conditions, using them with the skilful means of the Buddha. You will follow your vows without retreat, and with a heart free from fear, you will take up the responsibility to carry the Dharma forward for the benefit of all beings.
This message was recorded by the Buddhist disciple Venerable HaiZe.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
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