The Sacred Duty of Protecting Life

The Thrice Yearning Ceremony serves as a profound gateway for practitioners to align their hearts with the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. During the third session of this sacred ceremony, held on the nineteenth of March in 2021, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided essential teachings on the sacred duty of protecting life.

The Sanctity of Every Spirit

Every living being, no matter how small, possesses a spirit. We must cherish life with the same care we would show to a human being, for even the smallest ant is a spirit currently navigating the cycle of rebirth. Human life manifests in a thousand and one forms, yet the quality of our existence is determined by the state of our hearts. Are you, my children, truly alert in your hearts? Have you considered what your next life will be based on the actions you take today?

The Path of Compassion

Protecting life and protecting the human body is the essence of compassion. When we protect the lives of others, we are, in essence, protecting our own. To walk the Buddha's path, we must embrace these truths: we must recognise that our physical bodies are no different from the bodies of other sentient beings, and we must understand that our lives are fundamentally connected to the lives of all others. We must commit ourselves to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

The Karmic Consequences

The laws of cause and effect are absolute. Our actions today dictate our future. Those who cherish life will receive the karmic reward of health and longevity, while those who engage in killing will face the karmic retribution of a short and difficult life. Do not let your precious time pass in vain; cherish every fleeting moment. Saving lives and performing acts of Goodness need not be spoken of in excess, for this is the True Teachings and the Right Way within the Buddha's path. By living in this way, you ensure your journey leads to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

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