Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe. For every practitioner, the fundamental prerequisite for success is an unwavering faith in the Buddha. It is through this faith that we commit ourselves to the path of True Cultivation, seeking to transform our temporary, illusory existence into a life of genuine spiritual substance. We vow to follow the Universal Buddha, Namo Amituofo, in every aspect of our being, for it is only through this connection that we can truly find the strength to move far away from fear.
We must recognise that our physical bodies are limited, yet our spiritual life is infinite. By dedicating our limited time in this world to the pursuit of the , we allow our inner nature to shine forth. Our ultimate goal is to break free from the cycle of the six realms of rebirth. We no longer wish to be controlled by the heavy weight of our past . Instead, we strive to achieve the autonomy and freedom required to be reborn in the of Ultimate Bliss. This is the essence of the Faith, Vows, and Practice that every student of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre must uphold. If you practise with diligence and sincerity, these vows will surely be realised.
Understanding the Roots of Fear
You may ask, where does this fear in a practitioner truly come from? It arises primarily because one has not yet fully placed their trust in the Buddha, nor have they fully trusted their own original nature. When you feel that you have lost your support, when you feel untethered from the Truth, fear naturally takes hold. Furthermore, if you have not been diligent in your actual practice, you will find it difficult to see the results you desire, and this lack of progress often breeds deep-seated anxiety.
Many practitioners fear the inevitable decline of —the ageing, the sickness, and the pain that eventually comes to us all. They fear that when the body fails, they will lose their ability to make decisions and will instead be dragged along by the momentum of their past karma. In such moments, they may forget to chant the Buddha’s name. When their faith and their commitment to their vows are shaken by these obstacles, they begin to retreat from the path. This is a critical juncture where the fear of losing one's way becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The Trap of the Ego
A significant source of fear is the difficulty of letting go of . Because we have spent countless lifetimes clinging to the concept of an ego, it has become deeply rooted within our . We have become so accustomed to a life defined by the self that we have inadvertently become accustomed to the baggage of our karma and the rigid patterns of our personality. We carry these with us everywhere we go.
Because we struggle to let go of the self, our practice remains stagnant, and we are plagued by the suffering caused by ego-attachment, biased views, and selfish desires. This attachment makes it incredibly difficult to uphold the , as the ego constantly seeks to satisfy its own cravings rather than aligning with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. This internal conflict is a major barrier to our spiritual growth.
The Path to Liberation
I have outlined these various causes of fear so that you may recognise them within yourselves. However, do not let these obstacles discourage you. I urge every practitioner to engage in their practice with the utmost sincerity and earnestness. Do not dwell on the past, for it is gone; do not worry about the future, for it has not yet arrived. There is only the present moment, and in this moment, there is only the need to chant one Buddha's name to the end.
By relying on the dual strength of your own sincere efforts and the compassionate power of the Buddha, you will find the strength to dissolve these fears entirely. When the mind is focused solely on the Buddha-name, there is no room for fear to take root. May you all find the clarity and courage to walk this path until you reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
