Dialogue with Namo Amituofo: Leaving Suffering and Gaining Happiness

The Infinite Radiance of the Dharma Body

On the thirteenth of July, 2017, the disciple approached the Buddha with a humble heart, requesting compassionate teachings. Namo Amituofo responded with a discourse that illuminates the very essence of existence.

The Dharma Body is pure, bright, and clear. It is vast, majestic, and without end. How could there be any sense of separation or attachment within it? It permeates the entire Dharma Realm, uniting all things into one singular, harmonious whole. In this state, there is no object, no event, and no emotion, yet it encompasses the myriad forms of the universe. To speak of one is to speak of none; to speak of two is to fall into duality, which is not the Truth. It contains all that exists, yet it is the singular source. The original nature of the heart is, by its very essence, infinite.

The Manifestation of the Three Bodies

We must ask ourselves: how do we save those who have not yet been saved? How do we form connections with those who have not yet been reached? Where does the Reward Body of the Buddha reside? It manifests right here, in this very moment. Our physical form, born from our mother’s womb, is equipped with the six roots—the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind. Through our own intentions, we can refine and transform this vessel.

We must carve out our own heart and aspirations. The six realms of existence are vastly different, and while external conditions may fluctuate, these changes often bind us to the cycle of suffering. We may transform into a thousand different forms—in the hells, as hungry ghosts, as animals, as humans, as heavenly beings, or as asuras. These are the echoes of our past lives. Through the gathering of Causal Conditions, by accumulating merit and virtue, we can change our karmic destiny. This is the purpose of this physical form.

The Compassionate Response to Beings

What is the Transformation Body? It is the Buddha’s response to the diverse capacities of all beings. Depending on what a being perceives, the Buddha may manifest in any form: as the face of a Buddha to inspire devotion, as a familiar person to offer comfort and guidance, or as an animal or a bird in flight to reach those who cannot yet understand human speech. The Buddha enters the six realms of existence and the ten directions of the Dharma Realm, constantly observing what beings need. Through teaching and guidance, the ultimate goal is always to help them leave suffering behind and find happiness, ensuring they do not fall back into the cycle of pain.

The Truth of Samsara and the Path to Purity

Everything is subject to change, and we must follow the flow of Causal Conditions. The three bodies of the Buddha are one. When one reaches the state of an awakened being, the original face is revealed, whether in form or formless. All spirits possess this potential; the three bodies are one and the same. Why do the Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and patriarchs and venerable masters retain their forms? It is because beings are attached to appearances. By following these appearances, the heart finds a place to rest and a path to practise.

Consider the historical Shakyamuni Buddha. He manifested his Transformation Body to suit the needs of this Saha world, while his Reward Body resides in his own Buddha-land, which is crystalline and pure. The Dharma Body has no form, yet it exists everywhere. In the Dharma realm of emptiness, you and I are one. There is nothing to be troubled by; we must simply continue to save beings and manifest as needed. There are no obstacles; we must move forward directly.

Breaking Free from the Sea of Karma

In the human world, life has its length, and all beings are subject to the consequences of their past actions. This is what we call the karmic body. Consider the animals and livestock that are slaughtered for food; this is the reality of the world, where beings consume one another in a cycle of retribution. If we meet again in another life, we may find ourselves in the same cycle of being eaten or eating others. This is the truth, playing out day after day, year after year, through countless calamity cycles. It is a cycle of blood and flesh, repeated over and over. How can we ever become pure?

Purity is difficult to attain. To attain it, one must hold fast to the practice. To hold fast, one must be constant. Only after achieving constancy can one develop the power of meditative concentration. This power can break through the illusion of impermanence. Only then can one escape the sea of karma, leave behind the suffering of birth and death, and finally reach the other shore. This is the ultimate destination: the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, a world that merges with this world and all others, extending into the infinite.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo