On the morning of May 22, 2017, the disciple Shi Faxi respectfully invited to provide guidance. Practitioner Su wished to ask about the nature of the human body, which appears to contain immeasurable and boundless spaces, and is infinitely layered. During her morning walking meditation, Practitioner Su contemplated how all the earth returns to the of Ultimate Bliss. She humbly requested that Namo Amituofo offer His compassionate teachings on this matter.
Namo Amituofo began by explaining that the physical body is crafted from worldly dust; it is inherently illusory. When it returns to the earth, it reveals its true nature, which is empty and unified with all things. All Tathagatas are, in their essence, beyond the concept of existence, just as all beings are, in their original nature, beyond the cycle of birth and death.
The infinitely layered nature of space that you perceive is merely a reflection of your current mental state. As you awaken to the truth, you return to your original nature in equal measure. There is not a single thread of falsehood in this; all is reality. Yet, how does one distinguish between what is real and what is illusory? The answer lies within your own heart. When you act from your true heart, you perceive reality as it is; however, when you act from a deluded mind, you create endless discriminations and attachments.
The Dissolution of the Four Elements
Consider the composition of your physical form. It is built upon the four elements: water, fire, earth, and wind. Each of these is essential; if even one were missing, could not exist. Contemplate what happens when the elements separate. As water, fire, earth, and wind drift apart one by one, where does the body go? It ceases to exist.
Once this physical form is gone, the spirit scatters in four directions. The space you once occupied vanishes, and only the spirit- remains. It drifts like a boat upon the ocean, without a home, without a fixed place to reside. It simply follows the currents of your thoughts. In such a state, where is the autonomy of ? The spirit is filled with hidden karmic seeds, yet who is truly aware of this? Most people remain in total ignorance.
The Wandering Spirit and the Power of the Buddha-name
Furthermore, consider your family members and loved ones. You are bound to them by invisible threads of emotion. When the spirit departs, these threads pull in different directions. How can you remain together? In truth, there is no such thing as a permanent bond; it is all merely a product of your thoughts. All the myriad things in the universe are created by the consciousness.
What, then, is the one thing that is truly real? It is the sacred six-character name: Namo Amituofo. When you chant this name, you open the infinite space of the universe. It is the light that breaks through your confusion and pierces the heavy darkness of your obstacles. Yet, very few people truly understand the immense benefits of chanting the Buddha-name.
Breaking Through the Darkness of Ignorance
Since time immemorial, you have been transmigrating through the cycle of rebirth. Your body has become a vessel for complex karmic seeds. Having a body becomes an obstacle, yet without a body, you are left to drift aimlessly. You are caught in a cycle where you and your seek revenge upon one another, all because you are selfishly attached to your own ego. In your ignorance, you do not realise that this attachment to the self is the very source of your suffering.
The laws of and cause and effect govern your transmigration. Everything you experience arises from these causes. If you do not understand this, you will continue to create more suffering through your own ignorance. Every action is stored within the body, and not a single cause or effect is ever lost. Good causes lead to good results, and negative causes lead to negative results. This is the truth of the space you inhabit. Do not let your own actions become the obstacles that block your path to liberation.
The performed each morning is a manifestation of this reality. It is a profound and convenient method to help all beings. Continue your practice diligently, and you will surely find the path to purity.
