Calming the Heart: The Path to Inner Stillness

Words of Namo Amituofo, recorded by Venerable HaiZe.

August 28, 2022

When you are burdened by worldly matters, do you find your mind spinning in endless circles? You may ruminate over a single issue, unable to find a solution or a way out. How many of us have felt trapped in this cycle of mental agitation, unable to see the path forward?

The Power of the Buddha-Name

When you find yourself in such a state, the first step is to calm your heart. You must immediately raise the Buddha-name. If you can firmly hold onto the six-character name of Namo Amituofo, and if this Buddha-name is strong enough to subdue your current state of mind, then you must continue chanting. Do not stop.

Purifying the Heart

By calming your heart, you allow the water of the Dharma to flow through you. This Dharma water serves to:

• Purify your heart of its accumulated impurities.Wash away the stains of greed, anger, and ignorance.Restore the clarity and sound judgment that you have temporarily lost.

If you allow your heart to remain tainted, you will lose your ability to discern the truth. Consequently, you may fall under the control of your karma, your karmic creditors, or even attached spirits, leaving you unable to act with true autonomy.

The Necessity of Stillness

No matter what situation you encounter, you must be vigilant. As soon as you perceive your heart beginning to fluctuate, you must immediately raise the Buddha-name to calm yourself. Do not allow your heart to drift along with external circumstances. You must understand that for a practitioner, the ability to maintain a state of no-thought—to keep the heart from moving—is an essential skill.

Ending Suffering Through Stillness

Once your heart moves, the spirits residing within your body also move. This often leads to spiritual attachment, where external entities interfere with your peace. If these spirits are stirred, it is because they are suffering. Therefore, calming your heart and stopping its fluctuations is the most effective way to:

• End the cycle of suffering.Maintain the purification of your body, heart, and spirit.Receive the constant blessings of the Buddha.

You must make good use of this method. Never forget to hold firmly to the Buddha-name, for the Buddha's power is always present within it to support you.

Namo Amituofo