The Time of Perfect Clarity

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju. Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe. January 31, 2025, during the Third Session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony.

Perfect Clarity is a state of complete and luminous perfection. It signifies that both the underlying principles of the universe and the phenomena we experience are unobstructed. When one attains this state, the inner truth and the outer reality exist as one, flowing together without any resistance.

The Radiance of Perfect Clarity

People in this world often yearn for completeness and light. When we speak of Perfect Clarity, we refer to a state where one's understanding of the world is entirely unobstructed. It is a state of total harmony where the inner truth and the outer reality exist as one. In this state, the practitioner is no longer hindered by the illusions of the material world, as they have transcended the limitations of ordinary perception.

Seeing Through the Eyes of Wisdom

Those who have attained the Five Eyes of wisdom can perceive the past, the present, and the future with absolute clarity. They see the truth of all facts and understand the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. Because they possess this profound insight, every action they take and every word they speak is in perfect alignment with the Truth. They understand the laws of cause and effect, and therefore, they do not plant negative causes or form negative karmic connections. They recognise the vital importance of growing roots of goodness, which allows them to eventually attain the fruit of Bodhi.

The Harmony of Body, Mind, and Spirit

When one reaches the time of Perfect Clarity, the heart is open, honest, and free from concealment. Everything is understood clearly within the mind. More importantly, because of this clarity, one can perceive the suffering of all beings and engage in the true work of teaching and saving them. Through this, beings are liberated. In this state, one is filled with joy and satisfaction, and the heart is brimming with Dharma joy. The virtues of Compassion, Joy, and Selfless Giving are naturally present within the practitioner.

Before one attains this clarity, there is always a sense of incompleteness. The heart and the actions are not yet unified; they often pull in different directions. Your intentions may be one thing, but your actions may reflect something else entirely. This leads to a state where the spirit and the mind cannot be solidified, and the Body-Mind-Spirit cannot be harmonised or unified. Furthermore, those who have not yet reached this clarity are often driven by selfishness and a lack of compassion. They fail to put themselves in the shoes of others, prioritising their own needs above all else.

The Path of Compassionate Action

When you finally reach the state of Perfect Clarity, your heart and your actions become one. Your Body-Mind-Spirit is harmonised and unified. You develop a sense of oneness with all beings, allowing you to understand their hearts and fulfill their wishes, guiding them onto the Buddha's path. This is the state of perfect, luminous light, where there is no obstruction between principle and phenomena, and no obstruction between phenomena and phenomena. It is the ultimate goal of our practice, leading us to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo