Starting Anew from the Heart

Words of Namo Amituofo, recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.

January 1, 2022

The Weight of Yesterday

Your past experiences have piled up layer upon layer, rising as high as a mountain and running as deep as the ocean. This history is so heavy and so profound that one must ask: how can you, my children, possibly carry such a burden and still walk freely on the path of life? It is impossible to move forward with agility when you are weighed down by the accumulated baggage of countless lifetimes.

Living in the Eternal Present

I wish to teach you a simple yet profound method to lighten this load. Do not dwell on the past, and do not worry about the future. Instead, live fully in the present moment and start anew from the heart. Every single moment is an opportunity for a fresh beginning. When you are not tethered by the regrets of the past or trapped by the anxieties of the future, you are truly engaged in the work of practice. This is the essence of spiritual liberation.

Transforming Karma through Diligent Practice

When the karmic consequences of your past actions manifest, you must immediately cultivate a heart of repenting. You must be sincere in your repenting and truly change your ways. Often, you may feel that your body, mind, and spirit are completely occupied by karmic debts and the influence of other beings, leaving you unable to be the master of your own life. In such times, there is only one way forward:

• Engage in diligent practice
• .Perform prostrations
• to the Buddha with a sincere heart.Chant Namo Amituofo
• with unwavering focus.Perform acts of Goodness to benefit others.

By doing so, you will give rise to all roots of goodness and achieve the fruit of Bodhi, which has the power to resolve the conflict of your past transgressions. Understand that any result you are experiencing right now is still in a state of flux. It is not set in stone; there is always room for transformation.

The Stillness of Your Original Nature

Do not allow yourself to become trapped in a muddy swamp of despair, unable to pull yourself free. You must cultivate meditative concentration within your heart so that you are not easily moved by external circumstances. Only when your mind is still and undisturbed can you truly perceive and receive the vast, encompassing, cool, and liberated nature that has always been yours. Namo Amituofo.