The Unchanging Heart
Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju
Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
The Nature of Worldly Love
In this world, the selfless devotion and love that parents offer their children is often described as an unchanging heart. However, we must realise that this heart and the causal conditions behind it still exist within the cycle of reincarnation and the laws of and cause and effect. It is a process of settling debts, seeking revenge, or repaying kindness from past lives. While it may seem constant, it remains bound by the limitations of the world.
The Vow of the Practitioner
For a practitioner, the true unchanging heart is the vow to seek the Buddha's path above and to save all beings below. This is a vow that has remained constant through the ages. When Buddha or Bodhisattvas work to save beings, they do so to help them leave suffering behind and find happiness. This means:
- Leaving behind the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, death, and the cycle of reincarnation.
- Finding the ultimate happiness of rebirth in the of Ultimate Bliss.
This is the true, unchanging heart that transcends the cycle of reincarnation.
The Path to
Those who are diligent in their practice and firm in their vow to realise their true nature understand a profound truth. By striving to save others, you also achieve your own perfection. Since you are also a being, you will be saved first through this process. This unchanging heart saves both yourself and all other beings. A person who possesses , wisdom, and a heart of gratitude knows that everything they have today comes from the teachings of the Buddha or and their true spiritual friends. Therefore, they merge this heart of gratitude with the heart that seeks to save all beings. This union is the unchanging heart.
Walking the Buddha's Path
With this unchanging heart and firm vow, you walk the Buddha's path and diligently practise to realise your true nature. If you are capable of giving lectures, you can counsel beings to make the vow to chant Buddha's name and be reborn in the Western Pure Land. You can also walk alongside the Buddha, guiding beings to accept the resolution of conflicts and inviting spirits for . By doing so, you help beings enter the Western Land of Nature and finally be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Overcoming Impermanence
In your life, you have tasted suffering and experienced the impermanence of birth, aging, sickness, and death. Because of this, you have become weary of this world and wish to seek the ultimate happiness of the Western Land. You make the vow to chant Buddha's name and be reborn in the Western Pure Land. This unchanging heart supports your diligent practice, ensuring you never grow lazy. Even when you encounter tests or difficult situations, you remain firm in your resolve to face and overcome them. Through the Buddha's and your own persistent chanting, you will surely see your wishes fulfilled, whether in this life or the next.
Namo Amituofo
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library