Do Not Cling to Bodily Sensations

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

12 July 2026

Amitabha Buddha's discourse:

Bodily sensations are the feelings that the body experiences in response to external people, events, objects, environments, or internal physical changes.

People often suffer because of these sensations, tossing and turning in restlessness and unease,

in reality, these sensations are illusory, not true, and change in an instant.

To cling tightly to a sensation that passes in an instant,

is like trying to scoop up the moon from the water; you cannot grasp it, and you fall into the water instead,

only to realise that it was merely an illusion,

while the moon in the sky looks down, laughing at people's delusion.

Or it is like chasing a dream within a dream; even if the dream within a dream is fulfilled, upon waking, there is nothing left.

Since it was originally an illusion, how can it be real?

Do not cling to bodily sensations.

This body is originally non-existent; it is formed by the combination of the four elements. Where then do bodily sensations come from?

They come from karma.

Therefore, if you cling to bodily sensations and feelings, you are clinging to karma.

When karma manifests, people often unconsciously deepen and intensify it,

making the resulting retribution even more painful,

trapped in the vortex of karma,

causing people to be unable to extricate themselves, following the vortex back into the cycle of the six realms of existence.

By being able to chant Buddha's name and raise your awareness,

knowing that bodily sensations are false, and being able to stop them in time when they arise,

being able to let go of sensations, remain undisturbed, and not be led by them,

is the method for those who 'change personality traits' to detach from karma.

By repeatedly transforming the heart, changing personality traits, and engaging in diligent practice and chanting Buddha's name,

and receiving the Buddha's blessings, one can stop the manifestation of karma and eventually transform it.

This is the process of stopping and transforming karma.

Do not cling to bodily sensations; this is the fundamental skill of practice.

Namo Amituofo