Transforming the Pursuit into Vow Power

Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provides these teachings, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

People often live their lives in a constant state of pursuit. Our existence is woven together by these endless searches, forming a lifetime of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, all bound by the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death. How many can truly step back and reflect on the nature of these pursuits?

The Endless Cycle of Pursuit

Life is a series of moments spent chasing after things that are ultimately fleeting. We are caught in a web of emotions and physical limitations. However, through dedicated practice, we can begin to recognise the true facts of our existence. We learn to distinguish between what is real and what is merely an illusion, and we begin to see the vast difference between the substantial and the hollow.

Distinguishing the Real from the Illusory

What is real? It is our true self, our Buddha-nature, which is eternal and unchanging. What is illusory? It is the cycle of rebirth and the nature of impermanence. These are merely false appearances—transient phenomena that gather when Causal Conditions arise and scatter when those conditions fade away. By practising, we come to understand the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. Only when we grasp these can we live in true reality and move away from the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death.

The Path of True Vow Power

Practice enables us to transform what we pursue into genuine vow power. This vow power is not for the sake of the self, but for the sake of all beings. We must walk firmly and steadily on this path to realise our vows. This allows us to live a life of saving ourselves and others, helping all to leave suffering behind. Vow power is not about satisfying the desires of this physical body. It requires a true direction, a clear goal, and the dedication to put it into action.

The Responsibility of the Practitioner

At Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, we can realise the vow and practice of following Namo Amituofo to save ourselves and others. However, we must first save ourselves; only then can the Buddha's power support us. This is something the fourfold assembly must understand clearly. Transforming our pursuits into true vows and strength is the duty of every practitioner and every student of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Namo Amituofo.