The True Meaning of Life in This World

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju: Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

March 7, 2025

The Illusion of Worldly Existence

For those who are still bound by the heavy weight of karma, life is often perceived through a narrow lens. One lives primarily for the sake of family, for those they hold dear, and for the pursuit of worldly comforts. In this state, existence is defined by a cycle of mutual reliance and shared benefits, yet it remains trapped within the relentless turning of the wheel of reincarnation. One is born, one ages, one falls ill, and eventually, one passes away, only to be reincarnated once more into the same cycle of suffering.

The Higher Calling of the Practitioner

However, for the true practitioner, this life is not lived for the sake of the physical body alone. Instead, one lives to elevate the quality of one's spirit and to see their true nature in order to save beings. This is the true purpose of our existence. To achieve this, the practitioner must be willing to let go of the attachments of the home and family life, abandon the pursuit of worldly desires that cloud the mind, and engage in True Cultivation to strip away the personal ego and selfishness that the physical body brings.

By chanting the Buddha's name with fierce diligence, one can remove all defilements to attain purity and see their true nature. The ability to see one's true nature is not an end in itself; it is a tool for the salvation of all beings. A practitioner must dedicate their entire life to the act of saving beings. We must help sentient beings leave suffering behind so that they no longer need to endure the endless torment of the world. This is the very meaning of a practitioner's life in this world.

The Mission of Compassion

The most profound and ultimate method to save beings is to introduce the Pure Land method of chanting the Buddha's name into their ears. Once the holy name of Namo Amituofo enters the ear-root, it becomes an eternal seed of the Dharma, ensuring that the being will eventually be saved. If the holy name of Namo Amituofo can deeply penetrate the hearts of people, they will naturally develop the sincere vow to chant and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This provides the heart and spirit with a true home, granting them a sense of stability and peace that the world cannot offer.

The Harmony of Body, Heart, and Spirit

Chanting the Buddha's name is the most essential method for purifying the body, heart, and spirit. When one can see their true nature and spread the Dharma, encouraging others to chant the name of Namo Amituofo, this world will transform into a place of harmony and serenity. When the cells within our bodies, our karmic creditors, our attached spirits, and even the demon crowds can all chant Namo Amituofo, the physical body will no longer be subject to the decay of birth, aging, sickness, and death, and the spirit will never die.

By achieving this, we can guide all the beings within our own bodies and all the sentient beings with karmic affinity whom we have saved to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the concrete action of self-salvation and the salvation of others; it is the true meaning of living as a practitioner. Namo Amituofo.