Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
The Preciousness of the Present Moment
The past is not a separate, distant entity; rather, it is composed of countless present moments. Every instance of what we call the past contains within it a vast history of previous moments. Because there is no end to this sequence, the past is essentially a collection of infinite present moments that have already transpired. Therefore, I urge you to cherish every single present moment. Do not allow these moments to pass by in vain, and do not let time slip away through the cracks of your awareness.
When many such gaps in awareness accumulate, they form a segment of time. Within these segments, we experience countless cycles of birth and death. The spiritual life of beings caught in the cycle of rebirth is constructed entirely from these successive segments of life and death. If you do not take control of your present, you remain a prisoner to this endless cycle.
Transforming Our Daily Experience
How we spend our present moments determines the quality of our spiritual journey. You must learn to observe the nature of your current thoughts and actions:
If the present moment is one of Goodness: Please continue to cultivate it. Let every moment be filled with the light of kindness, allowing the radiance of your true nature to shine forth.
If the present moment is one of evil: Please transform it immediately. Do not allow negative thoughts to continue to pollute your mind and obscure your clarity.
If the present moment is one of chanting Namo Amituofo: Please maintain this practice continuously. Let each thought follow the next in an unbroken stream, ensuring that every moment is filled with the Buddha-name.
By filling your life with the Buddha-name, you allow this pure practice to exert a powerful influence, bringing forth a light of purification that illuminates your entire being.
The Eternal Path of the Universal Principle
Concepts of good and evil, or right and wrong, are not fixed, immutable states. They are relative to our current level of understanding. The only true, eternal reliance is to act in accordance with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. Your true self is eternal and unchanging; it resides constantly within the harmony of this Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.
Those who have realised their true nature—the awakened beings—are able to maintain this eternal state within the world of non-retrogression. In that state, there is no longer a distinction between good and evil, nor between right and wrong. There is only the pure, perfect, and virtuous nature of every present moment.
The Magnificent State of Non-Retrogression
The Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is a world of non-retrogression. Every being who reaches this magnificent realm is an Avatamsaka , a being who will never fall back into the cycle of rebirth. In this pure and virtuous world, these Bodhisattvas continue to practise diligently:
They continue to chant the name of Namo Amituofo.
They chant until they reach the state where there is no chanting and no chanter, yet the chanting continues naturally.
They chant until they attain the and the wisdom of the Dharani.
They chant until they finally attain Buddhahood.
The magnificence of the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss is waiting for you. It awaits the moment when your vow to chant Namo Amituofo is fully realised. By entering the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss, you fulfil your ultimate goal to attain Buddhahood. Remember: chanting the Buddha-name is the cause, and attaining Buddhahood is the result. When every thought is a thought of the Buddha, the present moment itself becomes the Buddha. Namo Amituofo.
