Achieving yourself is not a pursuit of worldly status or personal gain. In the context of the Buddha's teachings, achievement refers to the full manifestation of wisdom through the cultivation of the Three Learnings of , Samadhi, and Wisdom. It is the process of perfecting the Six Perfections, thereby completing the Buddha's path. When you engage in this practice, you are not merely improving your current life; you are uncovering the vast, luminous potential of your original nature.
The most direct and effective method for this is to chant one Buddha's name to the end. In every single recitation of the Buddha's name, you are simultaneously practising the Precepts, Samadhi, and Wisdom, as well as the Six Perfections. This is the shortcut, the skillful means that opens up the dimensions of space and leads directly to .
The Compassionate Vow of the
A Bodhisattva is defined by their fierce diligence. Their goal is to attain Buddhahood, not for their own sake, but as the ultimate means to save all beings. When you help others reach liberation, you are, in that very moment, achieving your own spiritual success. Consider the example of , who made the Forty-eight Great Vows. When those vows were fulfilled and the of Ultimate Bliss was established, that was the very moment Dharmakara Bhikshu attained Buddhahood and became .
Achieving yourself is, at its heart, an act of profound . You must recognise that you are also one of the suffering beings, waiting to be rescued from the cycle of rebirth. By working diligently on your own practice, you are preparing the capacity to save both yourself and countless other beings, helping everyone leave suffering behind and find true happiness. It is because you understand the suffering of all beings that you are motivated to achieve yourself.
The Stillness of Wisdom
Only by achieving yourself can you possess the capability to save boundless suffering sentient beings. In the midst of this work, you must have the strength to guide others to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is the wisdom of the path. When the Three Learnings of Precepts, Samadhi, and Wisdom are fully manifest, it is a sign that your discipline and meditative concentration have reached a state of maturity.
When your Precepts, Samadhi, and Wisdom are aligned, you will no longer be swayed or confused by external circumstances. You will have the power to resolve the suffering of others. This is the moment of self-salvation and the salvation of all beings. You must attain a state of meditative concentration where you remain unmoved, for this is how you truly achieve yourself.
The Liberation of Letting Go
The external environment is a reflection of your internal state. Only when your internal state is stable do you have the opportunity to teach and save other beings. If you have not achieved yourself, your internal state remains unstable. If you allow your internal state to be swayed by the external environment, it is a sign that your practice is not yet effective and that you are regressing. Achieving yourself is the practice of seeing through and letting go.
If you can truly let go of your false body and your attachment to , you will be able to thoroughly let go of the entire world of body and mind. You will then be able to dedicate your deep, sincere heart to the service of all beings across the universe. When you dedicate your heart to the entire universe, you reach the ultimate state where your boundless heart and the boundless universe merge into one. This is the process of Awakening and the path to Buddhahood. It is the moment when the of the Buddha is revealed.
