Recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
The Profound Meaning of Turning Around
To 'turn around' is to fundamentally pivot the direction of one's existence. It is not merely a change in habit, but a complete reversal of the momentum that has kept us bound to the cycle of suffering. When we speak of turning around our and the inevitable cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death, we are talking about the essential work of a practitioner. This process is the very heart of the , requiring us to look inward and shift our orientation away from the mundane and toward the eternal.
To transform karma, one must engage in diligent practice. This involves several vital steps that require our full devotion. We must engage in consistent, focused effort to purify the mind, actively working to clear the heavy burdens of past actions. Through sincere repentance, we acknowledge our past mistakes to cleanse the spirit, and by accumulating merit, we build a foundation of virtue and wisdom through good deeds and study. By doing so, one enters the state of an awakened being. In this state, one is no longer subject to the decay of aging or the pain of sickness, and one realises that the spirit never dies. This is how we turn around the destiny of being trapped in the six realms of rebirth, choosing instead to be reborn in the of Ultimate Bliss.
Releasing to Find Freedom
We often find ourselves trapped by the 'self'—by our greed, our attachments, our endless desires, and our constant, restless thoughts. To turn around, we must learn to let go of these heavy burdens. We must consciously release the ego and its demands. This means letting go of the self, moving beyond the narrow confines of the ego; letting go of greed, releasing the hunger for more that never satisfies; letting go of love and desire, transcending the attachments that bind us to the material world; and letting go of restless thoughts, quieting the mind to find the stillness within.
As we release these, we naturally enter a state of , no-greed, and no-desire. We replace these with profound and a mind that is free from the turbulence of constant, wandering thoughts. This is a liberation of the heart, allowing us to walk the Right Way with clarity and peace, unburdened by the weight of our own projections and cravings.
Cultivating the Unmoved Mind
Many of us struggle with a volatile personality, a heart that is easily swayed by external circumstances, and a tendency to flare up in anger. Turning around means we must actively change these traits. We must cultivate the virtues of compassion and Patience (Endurance). By doing so, we develop an unmoved mind—a heart that does not succumb to anger or frustration, regardless of the challenges we face in our daily lives.
When we achieve this, we become like the gentle breeze: we are able to follow the needs of the community, our nature becomes soft and direct, and the fires of anger are extinguished. This is the hallmark of a true practitioner who has learned to align their heart with the Truth. By changing our personality traits, we create the space for the Universal Principle to manifest within us, guiding our actions and our interactions with all sentient beings.
The Power of Faith and the Buddha’s Blessing
Every form of transformation requires a foundation of faith—faith in the Buddha and faith in your own potential to awaken. This requires great strength, great courage, and the commitment to make and fulfil the Ultimate Vow. Most importantly, we must recognise that we cannot do this alone. We need Namo Amituofo as our ultimate reliance, and we need the Buddha's blessing to sustain us through every trial and tribulation.
Please, continue to chant the Buddha-name directly and without pause. Let your chanting be continuous, like a flowing stream that never dries up. By chanting 'Namo Amituofo' with a pure and focused heart, you are utilising the most effective method to rely upon the Buddha and receive His infinite grace. This is the path to true transformation, the path to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo.
