Dialogue with Namo Amituofo on the Nature of the Self
Teachings from Namo Amituofo
Recorded on September 17, 2017
The Path of
On the seventeenth of September, 2017, the disciple Shi Faxi respectfully requested that Namo Amituofo provide teachings to guide our practice. Namo Amituofo graciously offered this discourse on the nature of , revealing the profound path to liberation.
When you truly realise the principle of no-self, your become clear, and the manifests in its purest form. What is the appearance of no-self? It is the most excellent and magnificent state of being. When your heart is free from the ego, the Dharma naturally flows through you like a clear spring. When you remove the self from your world, you align yourself with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. Conversely, when you cling to the illusion of the self, the Buddha’s teachings wither within you.
The Dangers of the Ego
The Buddha’s teachings are profound and mysterious, yet when the ego increases, these teachings are obscured. If you follow external paths while holding onto a sense of self, you are not truly practising the Dharma. The fruits of the Tathagata’s achievements are only accessible when you have moved beyond the self. If you seek to see the self, you will only destroy the fruits of your practice.
Why is it that in this world, the presence of the ego leads to destruction? It is because the ego is driven by false desires. When you have too many thoughts of 'I', you stray from the Dharma. When you have too many intentions of 'I', you are merely pursuing private emotions. If you constantly think of yourself, you will find it difficult to see the Truth clearly. You must understand that the ego is not your true nature; it is merely a form of madness that leads you astray.
Transcending Duality
If you only speak of no-self while your heart remains attached to the ego, how can you control your wild emotions? The world is filled with confusion, where Goodness and evil are often inverted. When you are caught between these two, you cannot transform your practice. However, when you transcend the boundaries of Goodness and evil, you reach a state where they merge into the pure, selfless nature of the Buddha.
- Release your intentions: Let go of personal desires so that the Dharma can manifest in your daily life.
- Practise with purity: When you act, do so with a heart that is purely aligned with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.
- Remove obstacles: Recognise that the only true obstacle to your progress is your own ego.
When your actions are unhindered by the self, you maintain a pure discipline. This is the foundation of a noble life. Follow the path of the wise, and do not look back with longing at the attachments you have left behind.
The of the True Nature
You must be vigilant against the ego. When you see it, recognise it for what it is, and let it go. When you realise that your life is empty of a permanent self, you will no longer cling to these attachments. The cycle of rebirth in this world is like a lock for which you have lost the key. For countless eons, you have been unable to find the Truth because you have been searching for it through the lens of the ego.
When you finally see that the 'self' is merely a shifting illusion, you will understand that the world of emotions is not where you belong. When you let go of the self, everything becomes a field for the Dharma to grow. The Buddha’s teachings are meant for all beings to learn. The most magnificent and important event in your life is the realisation of no-self. It is here that your practice is truly completed.
The Failure of Intellectualism
Many practitioners search for the Truth by travelling far and wide, yet they fail to see that the Truth is already within them. They may fill their minds with the words of the sutras, yet they lack the essence of the Dharma. Many great teachers in this world are less grounded than the common person because they know the theory but do not know how to empty the heart. They know the Truth, but they do not know how to transform their lives through it.
If you use your intellect to violate the Truth, or if you follow the only to break them, it is because you have not truly understood the nature of no-self. When you release the ego, you will find that there is no place where the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way do not exist. Do not let your knowledge become an obstacle to your wisdom. The most beautiful thing in this world is a heart that has realised the state of no-self. May you find this purity within yourself, for it is the only way to manifest the light of the Buddha. This discourse was recorded by the disciple Shi Faxi, who served as the chief writer for these Words of Namo Amituofo.
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