Teachings from , recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
On the twenty-seventh of July, 2025, during the first session, Namo Amituofo offered these words of guidance regarding the nature of our spiritual journey.
The Urgency of Our Spiritual Journey
When it comes to your practice, you must understand the weight of your actions. If you are engaged in what is right—in deeds that benefit all beings and work to save them from their suffering—you must persist. Even if you must personally bear the burdens of others to help them leave suffering behind and find true happiness, you should proceed directly and without hesitation. Do not pause.
Consider the nature of your existence: life slips away drop by drop, and time passes second by second. The days you have available for your practice are shrinking with every passing moment. Within this limited span of time, there is an urgent, pressing need for deep purification. Purification is not an optional step; it is a fundamental process that every practitioner must undergo. Therefore, you must continue your purification without interruption. You must remain active and persistent in your practice, never allowing yourself to falter.
The Dangers of a Stagnant Heart
Once you allow yourself to become slack, the manifestation of will inevitably follow. When your practice stops, it does not merely stand still; it regresses. You lose the vital momentum required to move forward. Gradually, your heart may grow cold, and the seeds of ego—the sense of 'I' and 'mine'—will begin to take root once more.
If this happens, you will find yourself in a difficult position. You will require the intervention of Namo Amituofo, the guidance and reminders from your teachers, and the compassionate work of Practitioner Su in inviting spirits for . Only through these processes can you regain your footing, but by then, your spirit has already suffered unnecessary harm. This is why it is essential to maintain your focus and avoid the trap of complacency.
The Unbroken Thread of the Buddha-Name
You must chant the Buddha-name directly and continuously. Do not pause. Let each recitation follow the next without a single break. Achieving a state of one-piece concentration—where the Buddha-name flows through your mind like an unbroken stream—is a fundamental skill. It is an essential capability for anyone walking the path.
The very essence of the Pure Land school is contained within the sacred name of Namo Amituofo. Chanting the Buddha-name is the primary method through which a practitioner can refine their skills and deepen their diligent practice in the present moment. It is your anchor in the storm of samsara.
The Infinite of the Forty-eight Great Vows
Regardless of how many aeons pass, or how many worlds rise and fall through the cycles of formation, existence, destruction, and emptiness, the connection between you and the Buddha remains absolute. You and all beings are one. As long as the suffering of beings remains, the footsteps of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in their work to save them will never cease.
The Forty-eight Great Vows of Namo Amituofo are the manifestation of this eternal commitment. These vows exist to save countless suffering beings, to lead them into the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, and to ensure they leave behind all suffering to find ultimate happiness. This is the path to liberation from the cycle of rebirth and the grand vow to achieve Buddhahood in a single lifetime. This work is eternal, and it will never pause.
