During the , we gather to align our hearts with the wisdom of the Buddha. In the mundane world, the 'self,' personal ego, and selfishness may seem to function well; they are often how one navigates social interactions, secures success, or maintains a sense of identity. However, when you enter the path that appears in the world and commit yourself to spiritual practice, these very traits become significant obstacles.
When you cling to the 'self,' personal ego, and selfishness, you inadvertently trigger the manifestation of . This creates an opening for your to find you. Because of this, your practice becomes difficult, and you may find yourself taking one step forward only to take two steps back. Instead of progressing toward liberation, you remain stagnant or even regress in your journey.
The Barrier to Your True Self
For a practitioner, the 'self,' personal ego, and selfishness serve no purpose other than to create obstruction. When you look at your own practice, you must realise that there is no alternative path to take. You cannot simply ignore these traits; you must change your ways. You must work diligently to transform these habits until they are entirely gone, for only then is it possible for your true self / self-nature to be revealed.
Think of the 'self,' personal ego, and selfishness as an evil person standing directly in your path. This figure possesses a malicious nature that blocks the light of your true self / self-nature, preventing it from manifesting. To allow your true self / self-nature to emerge, you must ensure that this 'evil person'—your ego—no longer appears. Only when this obstruction is removed can your true self / self-nature have the opportunity to step forward and reveal its full, luminous state. This state is characterised by:
Absolute purity, where no trace of selfishness remains.
Perfect Goodness, reflecting the of the Buddhas.
Omniscience and omnipotence, the natural qualities of your original nature.
The Critical Role of Mindset
Whether you succeed in this transformation depends entirely on your mindset and your level of diligent practice. Your heart must be the compass that guides your actions. If your mindset is correct, you will find it easy to identify your shortcomings and change your ways. Through this diligent practice, you will naturally make progress and find the opportunity to reach the state of an awakened being.
Conversely, if your mindset is skewed, you will face many difficulties. Consider the consequences of a misaligned heart:
Persistence in error: You may insist on your own views, refusing to listen to the wise counsel of others.
The rise of anger: When your ego is challenged, of resentment or anger may arise, which cloud your judgment.
Loss of energy: By clinging to these negative states, you deplete your spiritual energy, leading to physical illness, mental fatigue, and a decline in your practice.
When you are in this state, it becomes incredibly difficult to maintain a heart of diligent practice, and the goal of becoming an awakened being remains far out of reach.
The Path to True Liberation
My dear disciples, you must understand the necessity of change. You must know how to change, be capable of changing, and be truly sincere in your efforts to change. Only by doing so can you receive the true benefits of the in the school. This is the only way to reach the state of an awakened being early in this lifetime.
By transforming your 'self,' personal ego, and selfishness, you will be able to save yourself and, in turn, save all beings. You will be free from the sufferings of samsara and successfully achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Let this be your focus, your vow, and your daily practice as you walk the path of the Buddha.
