Turning Inward: The Path to Awakening

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable Fa Hui.

During the third session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony held on 24 February 2024, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided profound guidance on the necessity of turning inward to achieve true purification.

The Trap of Consciousness

Before one has reached the state of an awakened being, the interaction between our senses and the world is fundamentally flawed. We rely on the Six Roots—the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind—to perceive the Six Dusts, which include sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touch, and phenomena. However, these perceptions are not direct; they are processed through the analytical filter of our consciousness.

This consciousness is heavily laden with discriminations and attachment. Because of this, every piece of information we receive is tainted by our past karma. It is no longer pure; it has become a manifestation of karmic force. When we rely on this consciousness to interpret our reality, we are merely reinforcing our own cycle of rebirth.

Discarding Consciousness and Using the Roots

To truly progress in our practice, we must learn to distinguish between what is beneficial and what is harmful. If the information received through the Six Roots is virtuous, we may accept it; if it is evil, we must let go of it immediately. However, the ultimate goal is to reach a state of purity where we no longer rely on the filter of consciousness at all.

Instead, we should directly utilise the six sense organs (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, mind) in their original, unconditioned state. This is what it means to discard consciousness and use the roots. By accessing our awareness directly, we move beyond the tainted perceptions of the past. This is the true manifestation of purification. By doing so, we give rise to all roots of goodness and achieve the fruit of Bodhi. This is the essential path toward Enlightenment and the way to become a Buddha.

Practical Purification in Daily Life

How do we apply this in our daily lives? We must be vigilant in our mental note and actions:

• Do not look for the faults of others: If you see someone else's shortcomings, your eyes have already allowed the Six Dusts to taint your heart. You must immediately turn away, raise the Buddha-name
• , and focus entirely on chanting Namo Amituofo.Do not listen to gossip or right and wrong: If you hear words of conflict or negativity, your ears have allowed this to disturb your inner peace. You must stop listening, distance yourself from the source, and immediately return your focus to the Buddha-name
• .Guard against sensory desire: Whether it is through sight, sound, smell, or touch, if you encounter the form of a man or woman and your heart is stirred, you have already broken your Precepts. You must stop this reaction immediately, distance yourself, and use the Buddha-name to purify your body and mind.

Turning Inward

The core of our practice is to stop seeking answers, validation, or pleasure in the external world. Everything we need is already within our true nature. When we stop looking outward and instead turn our focus inward, we cease the constant agitation of the mind. By keeping our focus on the Buddha-name and chanting Namo Amituofo with sincerity, we can maintain the purity of our Six Roots and ensure that we remain on the path of the Dharma. Do not look outward; look within.

Namo Amituofo