The Truth of Reality

The Foundation of Awakening

During the first session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, we turn our hearts toward the profound teachings of Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju. To truly understand the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way is an essential, non-negotiable process for any practitioner who seeks to realise their true self-nature and attain Awakening.

Many may ask: what exactly constitutes this reality? It is not a hidden mystery, but the very fabric of our existence. It encompasses the fundamental experiences of birth, aging, sickness, and death. It includes the cycle of the six realms of rebirth, the Four Sacred Realms, and the intricate web of karmic conditions and the causes and effects that govern our lives. Furthermore, it is found in the practice of Compassion, Joy, and Selfless Giving, the diligent effort to rediscover our true self-nature, and the sincere vow to chant the name of Namo Amituofo to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. All of these are the undeniable truths of our existence.

The Light of Buddhist Education

The purpose of Buddhist education, delivered through lectures and the sharing of the Dharma, is to provide you with a clear map of these truths. We teach these methods so that you may recognise the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way without confusion. When your understanding is clear and your mind is free from doubt, your actions will naturally align with the righteous path. You will find yourself walking in the right direction, maintaining the right practice, and holding the right thoughts. This is the surest way to reach the state of Awakening.

Distinguishing the Real from the Illusory

Consider the nature of our daily lives. When our ordinary hearts, ordinary bodies, and ordinary actions move in opposition to the Truth, we drift further away from our true self-nature. The more we cling to worldly attachments, the more we become stained by the dust of the world, and the more karma we create. We must learn to distinguish between what is true and what is merely a passing shadow:

• The Truth: The reality of the Dharma, the purity of our true self-nature, and the attainment of Awakening are real and eternal.
• The Illusion: Our physical bodies, our worldly status, and the dust we accumulate through our senses are false, illusory, and temporary.

We must realise that our daily practices—such as listening to sutras and hearing the Dharma, performing prostrations, chanting the name of Namo Amituofo, reciting the Sutras, resolving the conflict, inviting spirits to hear the Dharma, and participating in our Dharma assembly—are all methods performed within this illusory world. We use these methods as tools to navigate the illusion, to cleanse the stains of our past, and to eventually reveal our true self-nature so that we may save ourselves and help all beings be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Path of Hsiang Kuang

Everything that we learn, do, and practise at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre is designed for one purpose: to help you understand the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, and to help you find your way back to your true self-nature. We encourage you to follow these teachings closely and to practise with a steady, grounded heart. By doing so, you will hasten the day of your own Awakening. This is the ultimate goal of our practice—to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and to achieve complete and final liberation from the cycle of suffering. This record was written by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo