Recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
On the eighth of February, 2025, during the noon offering, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided the following teachings on the nature of spiritual momentum and the path to .
The Source of Your Inner Strength
To surge forward in your practice requires immense energy. You may ask, where does this energy originate? It does not come from external sources, but from the desires and vows held deep within your heart. When your vows are pure and resolute, they generate a powerful momentum that carries you through the challenges of life.
How can you ensure your vows possess this transformative energy? You must elevate your spirit to a higher level. Through diligent practice, your efforts become like a surging river, constantly moving forward without hesitation. This continuous flow of effort is the key to allowing your true self to manifest.
Expanding the Buddha's Light
Your practice must be rooted in the cultivation of goodness and the embodiment of the Buddha's qualities. This involves three essential aspects of your daily life: goodness of heart, goodness of affinity, and goodness of action. Ensuring that every deed you perform is aligned with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way is paramount.
Furthermore, you must embody the Buddha-heart, cultivate Buddha-affinity, and perform Buddha-actions. These qualities should not be confined to yourself; they must extend throughout the entire Realm. The energy of the Buddha must be shared universally. We must extend this compassionate energy even into the Demon Realm, working to purify the hearts and actions of those who have lost their way.
The Endless Quest for Truth
Where does this surging energy truly come from? It originates from the place where the golden light of the Buddha shines. This is the union of pure goodness and the infinite power of the Buddha. When you are illuminated by the golden light, the darkness of the mind is subdued. The power of the Buddha is so vast that it can pacify countless negative forces, bringing peace where there was once turmoil.
If you wish to surge forward with strength, you must possess an unquenchable thirst for the Truth. This search for the Truth is a journey that spans the entire Dharma Realm, the universe, and the vastness of the Milky Way. Many seek the Truth in every corner of existence, yet they often find that their search remains incomplete. They search and search, wondering if there is ever an end to this quest.
The Sanctuary Where Namo Amituofo Abides
When does the search finally conclude? It ends when you realise that the Truth is not something to be found in a distant land, but something to be discovered in the present moment. Countless beings have finally found the place where the Truth resides. They have found it here, at Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, because Namo Amituofo truly abides in this place.
Where Namo Amituofo is, there the Truth is also. Therefore, you must surge forward to meet Namo Amituofo. Do not let your prostrations, your chanting of Namo Amituofo, or your recitation of the sutras ever cease. By maintaining this constant practice, you will eventually be rescued and enter the Dharma-Nature Land. From there, you will be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the final, peaceful destination for all beings. Do not let the presence of Namo Amituofo at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre go to waste; cherish this opportunity and attain liberation.
