Walking the Path with Down-to-Earth Diligence

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

The Foundation of True Practice

If you wish to achieve success in your practice, you must walk the path with down-to-earth diligence. Spiritual practice is not something that can be achieved in a single leap; it requires a steady, step-by-step approach, leaving a firm footprint with every action. Only by maintaining this consistent, grounded effort can you truly achieve success in your spiritual journey.

The Daily Rhythms of Devotion

Your daily practice is the bedrock of your progress. You must engage in these activities with a focused and sincere heart:

• Chanting Namo Amituofo: Ensure that every single character of the Buddha-name is recited clearly and distinctly, allowing the sound to resonate within your heart.
• Prostrations: As you chant, follow the rhythm with your physical movements. Each prostration should be performed one after another, ensuring you remain alert and present, avoiding any state of being drowsy or wandering into space.
• Reciting the Sutras: Read every word with clarity. Do not become overly preoccupied with intellectualising the meaning while you recite. When you have practised enough and reached a state of familiarity, the profound meaning will naturally reveal itself to you.

By participating in the morning service with a steadfast and sincere heart each day, you allow yourself to be bathed in the Buddha’s light. This process washes away the accumulated dust of your past, enabling your Body-Mind-Spirit to be cleansed of impurities and revealing your original, pure nature.

Building a Stable Spiritual Foundation

You must be down-to-earth in your diligent practice. Whether you are chanting, performing prostrations, reciting the sutras, or attending to your daily duties and chores, you must never be careless. Think of your practice as the construction of a great building; if the foundation is laid firmly and deeply, the structure will stand tall and stable against any challenge. If you are lax in your foundation, your progress will remain fragile.

Cleansing the Heart of Obstacles

To advance, you must consciously distance yourself from and eventually eradicate the following obstacles:

• The Five Poisons: Greed, Anger, Ignorance, Arrogance, and Doubt.
• The Five Desires: Wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep.

As you strive forward in your diligent practice, you must ensure that you do not continue to accumulate new karmic stains. You must avoid any word, action, or behaviour that hinders your spiritual growth. Do not harbour a mentality of luck or wishful thinking; remember that every step forward is a victory for your own soul, and every step backward is a loss you must bear yourself.

The Moment of Awakening

When it comes to the work of the heart, the more you purify yourself, the more your innate wisdom will manifest, and the closer you will draw to your true self. When the conditions are ripe, there will come a moment of sudden clarity—a breakthrough that clears the final blockage—leading you to Awakening. This is the true success of your practice, and it is a great blessing for all beings. Namo Amituofo.