The Profound Nature of Emptiness and the Four Immeasurables

The Thrice Yearning Ceremony is a profound opportunity to align our hearts with the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. During the first session of this ceremony, held on the twenty-fifth of December, 2020, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered these essential teachings on the nature of Emptiness.

The Boundless Radiance of Emptiness

Emptiness is not a void or a state of nothingness. It is, in its original nature, immeasurable and boundless. When we speak of emptiness, we are describing a state of profound coolness and spiritual refreshment. It is the clarity that remains when the dust of the world is washed away from our true nature.

The Serenity of True Freedom

To have no cravings or attachments is to find true freedom. When you do not let trivial matters weigh upon your heart, you discover a deep, inner peace. When the mind is settled in meditative concentration, everything in your life becomes unobstructed. Whatever changes may occur in the world around you, let them be. Do not cling to them, for they are but passing clouds and a light breeze.

The Boundless Radiance of the Four Immeasurables

The practice of the Four Immeasurables: Loving-kindness, Compassion, Joy, Equanimity is the path to realising this emptiness. These are the qualities that allow us to transcend the cycle of rebirth:

• Loving-kindness:
• Wishing all beings well without exception.Compassion:
• Actively seeking to relieve the suffering of others.Joy:
• Rejoicing in the virtues and happiness of all beings.Equanimity: Maintaining a balanced heart, free from attachment or aversion.

These qualities are not limited by boundaries. They are not directed only toward those we like, nor are they withheld from those we dislike. There is no room for discriminations between good and bad. This is not about choosing the good and discarding the bad; it is about recognising that all beings are one. This equality is the foundation of the Four Immeasurables and is a vital part of the wisdom of emptiness. Those who attain this state of emptiness naturally embody these virtues in their daily lives.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe, chief writer.

Namo Amituofo