Transcending the Past: Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.

Noon Offering, 7 January 2022.

My dear children, are you still clinging to the past? Whether the memories are sweet or bitter, they always surface in your mind, do they not? Although you know that all phenomena are illusory, these memories still arise from time to time, quietly stirring your heart.

The Invisible Web of the Past

Perhaps you find it difficult to let go of the energy, time, and wealth you once invested, only to see them vanish into thin air. Or perhaps it is the deep bonds of family affection that you find so difficult to release. You know that dwelling on these things is useless and that you should not think of them, yet it is so difficult to stop or interrupt this process.

These memories are like an invisible spiderweb that ensnares you. Because of this, your practice remains stagnant, or perhaps you even find yourself regressing, or moving forward only at a glacial pace. It feels as though there is a constant, unseen force pulling you back, making it nearly impossible to advance. You know you should cut these ties, yet you find it so hard to do so. Often, in the middle of the night, these dreams manifest, and your spirit remains trapped within them, unable to return fully to your body.

The Priority of Self-Cultivation

My children, in all these various situations, you must understand that for the sake of both yourself and those you wish to help, you must first achieve success in your own practice. Only then will everyone have a genuine opportunity to be saved. If you allow yourself to sink into the cycle of rebirth, how could you possibly hope to save your family members?

Therefore, you must first let go. Do not dwell on the past. Instead, be fiercely diligent in your practice. This is the best path for you. By doing so, you are truly acting in the best interest of all.

The Moment of True Deliverance

Wait until you can see and hear the world without letting it enter your consciousness. Wait until you have attained deep meditative concentration, where your heart is no longer moved by external circumstances. Wait until you can teach others according to their conditions. When you finally realise your true nature as an awakened being, that is the very moment your family will be saved.

All of this is done to elevate the past, not to let it drag you down into the depths of suffering. You must act in accordance with this truth. Everything you do must be based on the premise of saving the world and rescuing all suffering beings:

• You are one of these beings.
• The people and events you encountered in the past are also beings.
• All of them are waiting to be saved by your awakened heart.

Embracing the Truth of the Present

If the conditions are not yet ripe, simply wait until they are. Do not force anything, for everything has already changed from what it once was. Do not cling to the idea that things are real, for everything is fundamentally an illusion. Even if it seems real, it is still an illusion. Grasp the present moment, for this very instant is the only reality that truly matters.

Namo Amituofo