Changing Your Personality from the Heart

Words of Namo Amituofo, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

On the twenty-second of August, 2025, during the noon offering, Namo Amituofo provided these essential teachings on the nature of true transformation.

The Root of True Transformation

To truly change your personality, you must go beyond superficial adjustments. You must strive to dissolve these traits entirely, and this process must begin from the heart. It is not enough to merely alter your outward behaviour; you must put in the work deep within your own mind. Many practitioners make the mistake of focusing only on their actions, yet they neglect the source of those actions—the heart itself.

You must realise that your personality traits cause significant harm and disruption to your practice at this very moment. When you allow your mind to dwell on negative thoughts, when you look at others with judgment, or when you speak words that are unkind, you are planting negative causes. When these conditions are ripe, you will inevitably face the karmic consequences. When this karma manifests, it acts as a heavy barrier, obstructing your progress on the path to awakening.

The Illusion of Change

It is one thing to see the problems within your personality, but it is another to be truly willing to change them from the heart. If you only speak of change or modify your external conduct without a sincere, inner commitment, your efforts will remain shallow. You may believe that you have changed, but in reality, the underlying personality traits remain dormant, waiting for the right moment to surface again.

Your personality manifests in every aspect of your daily life, in every move you make, and in your speech, your tone, and the way you interact with others. Only by changing from the heart can you truly remove impurities and attain purity. Life is limited and precious; therefore, you must be grounded and diligent, changing yourself step by step, day by day.

The Fastest Path to Awakening

How can one achieve this deep, internal change? You must lift up the Buddha-name and chant Namo Amituofo all the way. When you chant with complete sincerity, until not a single trace of your old personality remains, you have found the fastest method to transform yourself. This is the power of the Buddha-name—it acts as a mirror and a cleanser, dissolving the ego that keeps us trapped in the cycle of rebirth.

Cultivating the Virtues of the Heart

To support this transformation, you must cultivate specific virtues: remain humble and modest, recognising that there is always room to grow. Do not speak of the faults of others; instead, focus entirely on your own shortcomings. Practise contentment and gratitude. Understand that every meal you eat and every resource you use is a result of the generosity and support of others.

By thoroughly eliminating your personality traits, you will be able to stop the situations of drowsiness and mental fog that hinder your spiritual progress. You must truly break free from the Five Poisons—greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, and doubt—as well as the Five Desires: wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep.

This is the essential way to stop the causes that lead to the hells. When you do this, your original nature—filled with compassion, Wisdom, mind-capacity, and tolerance—will naturally manifest. These are the necessary qualities for any practitioner to advance. You must put in the work with diligent practice, for achieving success in your cultivation is the only way to save yourself and rescue infinite suffering beings.

Namo Amituofo