Teachings from , recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe, on the thirtieth of March, 2024.
The Foundation of Humility
When you interact with others and navigate the complexities of the world, being humble and modest is the fundamental basis of your conduct. However, within the Buddha’s gate, this humility must go even deeper. You must learn to shrink yourself, and then shrink yourself even further, until you are as small as a single grain of dust.
If you can truly achieve this state of selflessness, your past karmic debts will not easily manifest to obstruct your path. This is especially vital for resolving the heavy created in the past through arrogance, pride, and self-importance. When you are small, there is no target for these karmic forces to strike.
The Infinite Power of the Buddha-Name
The Buddha-name is your greatest support in this process. If you can chant Namo Amituofo with a focused mind, chanting until you completely forget your own self, then the distinction between being large or small ceases to exist. You will be able to follow the hearts of all beings, adjusting yourself as needed with perfect ease. This is the state of being one with the .
As a practitioner in the Buddha’s gate, you must recognise that the suffering of beings is waiting to be saved. You must see this suffering clearly and hear their cries with a heart of . When your compassion is activated, you must exert your greatest effort to achieve your own practice first, and only then can you truly help others achieve their own liberation.
The Mastery of Expansion and Contraction
You must understand that every being possesses the same true self and Buddha-nature. It is only because they are lost in confusion and delusion that they suffer. When you have achieved success in your own practice, you will rediscover and manifest your true self, and then you will be able to lead others to leave suffering behind.
At this stage, you must strictly adhere to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, ensuring that you do not violate them. It is for the sake of saving beings that you expand yourself. This is the skill of an awakened being:
Utilising :
You use the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind to act, rather than relying on the of the ego.Observing the Capacity:
You observe the needs of beings and teach them accordingly.Natural Flow: You flow naturally with the Dharma, moving with perfect freedom.
This ability to expand and contract at will is the true skill of one who has realised their true nature.
Cultivating the Path for Future Generations
This skill is a precious treasure for saving beings during this age of the Dharma’s decline. You must cherish it, ensuring that those who follow you have no worries and can focus entirely on their practice. You must help them exert their strength where it is most needed, fulfilling the mission of saving the world and rescuing beings.
We must strive to cultivate talented individuals who have realised their true nature. We must pass on our experiences and insights to educate those who come after us, helping them remove their impurities and reveal their purity. This will allow them to receive the benefits of the Dharma and help their true self manifest.
The Synergy of Two Powers
For those who seek to realise their true nature in the path, the foundation of chanting Namo Amituofo must be laid firmly. Only when your own arises can the Buddha’s be fully received. It is the combination of these two powers—your own sincere practice and the Buddha’s compassionate support—that provides the opportunity for .
In this age of the Dharma’s decline, beings carry heavy karma. Your own practice of purification may struggle to overcome deep-seated bad habits and the interference of . Therefore, the Buddha’s blessings, the illumination of the Buddha’s light, and the fragrance of the Buddha are provided to assist you at the right time. When your heart and mind are liberated, you can help resolve the conflicts with your karmic creditors. Even these creditors may then be willing to chant Namo Amituofo and seek rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. When the Buddha’s light appears and the Buddha manifests before them to lead them to the Western Land, this is the ultimate application of the true self—the ability to expand and contract with perfect freedom.
