The Radiance of Aspiration

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

On the twenty-eighth of October, 2023, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered these teachings on the nature of aspiration.

The Echo of Future Hopes

Aspiration is the human tendency to look toward the future, filled with anticipation and hope. Whether these hopes can truly be realised depends entirely on how well you grasp the present moment. This is because the future is not a distant, separate entity; it is constructed from the accumulation of every passing moment. Each distinct point in time that we call the future is simply a continuation of the present.

The Fleeting Nature of Time

The Buddha’s teachings remind us that the mind of the past is unattainable, the mind of the present is unattainable, and the mind of the future is unattainable. Before one has realised their true nature, the mind remains trapped in the cycle of reincarnation. It is a mind governed by the laws of karma and cause and effect, composed of the following elements:

• Impermanence: The constant flux of all phenomena.
• Birth, aging, sickness, and death: The inevitable physical cycle of our existence.
• Karmic creditors: The spirits who seek balance for past harms, who are themselves trapped within the cycle of reincarnation.

Because our lives are filled with so many variables, the future is merely a combination of change and illusion. Why, then, do we struggle so hard to grasp at it? To chase after that which cannot be held is the very definition of suffering.

The Stillness of the Awakened Heart

However, for those who have realised their true nature, the perspective is entirely different. In a state of selflessness and no-self, their six roots are pure and function with clarity. They can perceive the future without being attached to it. They move forward step by step, yet their inner heart remains unmoved, anchored in deep meditative concentration. They possess the wisdom to know what should be done and what should not be done. They are truly autonomous, remaining entirely unaffected by external influences.

The Vow to Save All Beings

Even when an awakened being makes adjustments or changes in their approach, the fundamental premise remains the same: the vow to save all beings. They may appear to move externally, but their inner heart remains as still as a mountain. Their commitment to saving beings is as firm as a rock. By utilising the innate abilities of an awakened being, they can manifest changes in the external world. This is the principle of dependent rewards following the primary reward.

For those of us still striving, we must ask ourselves: will our aspiration to save all beings be met with the necessary Dharma affinity and supportive conditions? Will these conditions manifest, and when will they appear? We must wait and observe with a patient, pure heart.

Namo Amituofo