Achieving True Self-Mastery

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

During the Thrice Yearning Ceremony held on April 5, 2024, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided profound guidance on the nature of self-mastery. He explained that the stability of our body, mind, and spirit is the essential foundation for achieving true autonomy in our lives.

The Foundation of True Self-Mastery

Your mind acts as the commander of your body and spirit. When the mind is stable and clear, it leads the body and spirit toward a state of self-mastery and genuine joy. Conversely, when the mind is clouded by confusion, it leads the body and spirit into the cycle of aging, sickness, and suffering, making it impossible to take charge of one's own destiny.

Before one has realised their true nature, they are constantly pulled by the forces of karmic retribution, making it difficult for the body, mind, and spirit to function with independence. Yet, if you can cultivate a heart of no-self and selflessness, you can transcend this suffering. Achieving self-mastery is not a distant, unreachable goal; it is a state that becomes accessible when you align yourself with the Truth.

The Path of No-Self and Compassion

What does it truly mean to be selfless? It is a process of diminishing the ego. The smaller your sense of self becomes, the more you are able to perceive the suffering of all beings. As your ego shrinks, your capacity to help others expands naturally.

When your heart is filled only with the needs of other beings, every action you take is performed for their benefit. In this state, you naturally forget the ego and enter the realm of no-self. When you are truly selfless, you act with directness and without hesitation, no longer obstructed by the physical sensations or desires of the body.

Faith and the Courage to Let Go

Faith in the Buddha is the cornerstone of this transformation. Under the condition of absolute, unwavering faith in Namo Amituofo, you must engage in diligent practice. Through this, you will certainly receive the Buddha’s blessings, which provide the strength needed to overcome internal obstacles.

Furthermore, one must learn to let go of the body. This physical form is the source of many problems—the vessel for birth, aging, sickness, and death, and the instrument through which we seek to satisfy our endless desires. Because we are so attached to this body, we find it difficult to achieve self-mastery. Therefore, letting go of attachment to the body is a necessary process for anyone who wishes to realise their true nature.

The Radiance of an Awakened Being

To be selfless means to completely let go of the past and live entirely in the present moment. To be without thought means to be free from the influence of wandering mental projections and sensory perceptions, allowing one to see their true nature clearly. Those who have attained self-mastery and realised their true nature possess distinct qualities:

• Auspicious Characteristics:
• Their countenances are serene, and their conduct is filled with virtue.Natural Joy:
• They radiate a joyful, natural smile that stems from the depths of their heart, and they are filled with Dharma joy.Compassion and Wisdom:
• Their compassion manifests naturally, and their inherent wisdom is fully revealed.Vast Mind-Capacity: Their ability to embrace and include all things is complete.

Like the Buddha, their primary vow is to save themselves and the beings within our bodies. From there, they extend this compassion to save infinite beings, helping them leave suffering behind and find rebirth in the Western Pure Land. This is the heart, the vow, and the practice of those who have realised their true nature.

Namo Amituofo