Awakening and Knowing: The Path to True Nature

The Instant of Awakening

How many years of effort must one expend before one can truly reach Awakening? We often imagine that enlightenment is a distant peak, requiring lifetimes of arduous climbing. However, in truth, complete and total Awakening requires only a single, present moment. It is not a matter of time, but a matter of the heart.

My child, you ask about the nature of Awakening and how to walk the path of practice. You ask how one should cultivate the heart and how one should proceed toward this state of enlightenment. My answer is this: there is no movement required, for you are already there. You do not need to travel to find your true self.

The Stillness of the True Self

If you can look upon yourself right where you stand, how can you see the clarity within your own true self? To realise this, you must understand that the path is not about accumulation:

• It is not about seeing many things during your practice.It is not about having many desires or expectations while you practise.It is simply about seeing your own pure heart in the present moment.

When you reach a state where there is no self and no wandering thoughts, that is when you truly realise Awakening. How could there be any room for discursive thinking when you are in such a state?

Transcending the Dust of the World

The dust of the world is vast and heavy, making it difficult to perceive a state free from such defilements. We are often blinded by the external world, forgetting that the peace we seek is already within us. Your practice should be focused on knowing your heart and understanding this Awakening. Do not allow your heart to be deceived by the false appearances of birth and death. By letting go of these illusions, you return to the source.

Namo Amituofo.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Faxi.