Conversations with Namo Amituofo: Guiding the Lost

The Preciousness of the Morning

On the morning of May 10, 2017, at 4:32 AM, the practitioner Shi Faxi respectfully invited Namo Amituofo to provide guidance. The practitioner asked whether Namo Amituofo wished to address the spirits currently residing within the bodies of the fourfold assembly of disciples, or if there was a specific teaching to be shared for the benefit of all. Namo Amituofo, in His infinite compassion, offered the following discourse.

The success of one's day is determined in the early hours of the morning. The atmosphere at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre during these dawn hours is beyond description, for each day brings new transformations and new opportunities for growth. The void of space is vast, and often, the needs of suffering beings are so urgent that they arrive in overwhelming numbers, leaving one feeling dazed. There are countless, immeasurable suffering beings who have been trapped in the cycle of rebirth since time immemorial. They are buried within the various dimensions of space, unable to find an exit, drifting through the middle realms without a path to follow.

The Power of the Buddha-Name

These spirits wait only for a karmically connected being to speak the golden words of the Buddha. It is truly difficult for them to depart from these dimensions on their own; it requires the immense power of the Buddha-name to invite them out. The Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre possesses a tremendous blessing, for it is capable of performing such magnificent and rare acts of deliverance—a feat that has been unseen from ancient times until the present day. You must cherish this connection. Do not be like a fish in a drying pond, which only realises the value of water when it is almost gone. If you lose this opportunity, the consequences will be immeasurable.

The suffering within the cycle of rebirth is endless. Only through diligent practice can one hope to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss; otherwise, one merely passes time in vain. Human life is a difficult journey, much like a play directed and scripted by our own past actions. We pass through fleeting moments of joy and sorrow, like flowers in the wind or the moon reflected in water. Whether one is rich or poor, noble or humble, all are equally lost within the Five Desires and the Six Dusts. The elements of earth, water, fire, and wind combine to form the shell of the physical body.

The Illusion of the Physical Body

Because we do not know our true nature, we mistake this shell for our true self. We cling to this delusion, and as a result, we sink deeper into the six realms of existence, mistaking the false for the real. When we treat this false play as reality, we are only disturbed by suffering. Most people in this world live this way, caught up in the affairs of their families and their daily lives. They believe their home is everything, unaware that beyond their immediate surroundings, the vastness of space is entirely different. They forget that the physical body is merely a temporary garment. When we are buried within these dimensions of space, our thoughts manifest into various forms, and we drift according to our attachments. Where do we end up? Do we truly know? People often say that the matter of life and death is the most important thing. It is indeed a grave matter, but if one does not understand the truth of it, how can one recognise the danger?

The True Nature Beyond Death

People in this world are infatuated with worldly emotion, believing that their companions of a few decades will be with them forever. They make vows to stay together until their hair turns white, promising never to part. Yet, in truth, they are rarely the same; their roles and appearances change through life and death. They remain trapped because they are attached to the past. The physical body is like a set of clothes; only when you take it off do you see your true nature. The true nature has no birth and no death, whereas the clothing of the physical body is always subject to decay. While the body can obscure the light of the spirit, it can also be used to assist in one's spiritual cultivation. The body is woven from a thousand threads of emotion, and if you are attached to it, you will only harm your spirit. The void permeates the ten directions, and everywhere there are immeasurable dimensions of space, each containing its own reality, existing independently for immeasurable eons.

The Mission of the Buddha's Disciples

Because of our attachments and desires, we are drawn into these realms, and our thoughts determine where we go. The layers of space are like illusions before our eyes; as soon as the mind lets go of attachment, one can see them clearly. There are immeasurable billions of such spaces, each created by the individual thoughts of sentient beings. If you think of the east, you see it; if you think of the southwest, you go there. Everything is a reflection of one's own mind. You must understand that space is something that must be broken through. Spirits must be helped to awaken and depart quickly. Practitioners of the Dharma must not let themselves be trapped by these illusions. If you wish to sever this obstacle, the only method is to help others understand the nature of these spaces and help them let go of their attachments. The world currently lacks this knowledge.

I hope you will spread these teachings so that the dust may be cleared from the minds of others. You must rely on the Great Dharma to help others, rely on the propagation of the truth to assist in this mission, and continue to carry this work forward. The temple is growing, and you must have a firm and courageous heart. Do not delay in guiding those who come to you. With a sincere and respectful mind, lead the lost, and with right view and right thought, guide them onto the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. Continue to work diligently. Namo Amituofo.