Essentials of Practice: Wisdom from Namo Amituofo
Teachings from Namo Amituofo
Recorded on December 9, 2023
Teachings from Namo Amituofo: Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
The Necessity of Diligence in Busy Times
The busier your life becomes, the more you must remember to hold onto the Buddha-name. You must chant Namo Amituofo even more diligently than you do during quieter times. Never forget that the Buddha’s power of blessing is meant to be integrated with your own efforts. Your daily practice—chanting Namo Amituofo, performing prostrations, and reciting the Sutras—is the most vital time for you to receive this sacred support.
Your vow-mind is what generates the power of your vows, and this is of the utmost importance. It is only when you, as my children, possess the sincere vow-mind and the strength to practise diligently on your own that the Buddha’s power can truly assist you in your purification. Once you have undergone this purification, your physical and mental strength will be restored, allowing you to handle the various duties and tasks at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre with ease and clarity.
Clearing the Path of Obstacles
When you are chanting, bowing, or reciting, the Buddha can emit light to lead your , attached spirits, and even demon crowds into the Buddha-light. This process is essential for helping you dissolve your and remove the obstacles that hinder your progress. Listening to the Sutras and participating in assemblies are also excellent opportunities for purification, for resolving conflicts with other beings, and for receiving the Buddha’s .
However, I have observed that many of you, once you sit down, allow your body and mind to become too relaxed. In this state of laxity, you become easily controlled or influenced by other beings. It becomes difficult for you to maintain your own autonomy, and you may fall into a state of or drift into other spaces. When this happens, it is very difficult for you to receive the Buddha’s blessings or to accumulate the merits and virtues of your practice. You must be aware of these situations. Where it is possible to help, Practitioner Su and I will always do our utmost to assist you.
From Self-Interest to Universal
Within the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, and according to the laws of karma and cause and effect, you must elevate your practice. You must move from merely having a good heart, good vows, and good actions to cultivating a pure heart, pure vows, and pure actions. This means that your heart must never forget the Buddha; you must take faith in the Buddha as your foundation, and in every situation, you must act for the sake of all beings rather than for yourself.
When you perform any task, you must ask yourself: am I doing this for my own benefit, or am I doing this for the sake of all beings and the operation of the temple? When you speak, are you speaking for yourself, or are you speaking for the sake of all beings and the Dharma? When you think, are you thinking for yourself, or are you thinking for the sake of all beings and the temple? The karmic consequences, the degree of purification, the strength of your vows, and the merits and virtues gained from these two different motivations are vastly different.
Letting Go of the Ego
I urge you all to have faith in the Buddha and to have faith in yourselves. Do not act for personal gain or for your own sake. Instead, align your heart, your vows, and your actions with the Buddha. Please, believe in the Buddha! Believe in Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and believe in Practitioner Su. It is necessary for the fourfold assembly of disciples to let go of ego-attachment and personal views. You must release your personal habits, your selfishness, and your concerns regarding personal gain or loss.
You must also let go of the expressions, tones, or attitudes that others have shown you in the past, which may have caused you unhappiness or hurt. Do not hold onto a mindset of just getting by. You must learn to be considerate and tolerant of one another, complementing each other’s shortcomings so that tasks can be completed perfectly. We must work together to help beings leave suffering behind and find happiness, and to ensure the temple can continue to operate, helping and leading more beings to learn the Dharma, chant Namo Amituofo, and achieve rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
A Unified Team for Salvation
Let us strive together to achieve the goal of and the spreading of the Dharma. Each of you must use your unique strengths for the sake of the temple and for the sake of all beings, not for yourselves. With Practitioner Su and I working together to protect and guide you, let us make the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre a strong, unified team dedicated to saving the world and rescuing beings. Through your daily practice, you will achieve purification, elevate the quality of your spiritual life, and realise your true nature sooner. Namo Amituofo.
More by Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
The Final Curtain Call of Chu Ke-liang
A candid reflection from the late Taiwanese entertainer Chu Ke-liang on his life, his career, the karmic weight of his influence, and his ultimate deliverance to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
The Soul's True Equality: A Conversation with Mahatma Gandhi
This is a record of an interview with Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his journey to the Pure Land.
A Reflection from the Western Pure Land
This is a record of an interview with Zhao Puchu, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life in the 20th century. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Hui, on April 18, 2026.
The Truth Behind My Rebirth: A Message from Liu Suqing
Liu Suqing, the elder sister of the renowned practitioner Liu Suyun, shares her harrowing journey through the spirit realms and her ultimate deliverance to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss through the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
The Burden of a Historical Name
This is a record of an interview with Lin Biao, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life approximately 54 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on May 18, 2026.
The Poet’s Journey to the Western Pure Land
A reflection on the life, tragedy, and ultimate spiritual liberation of the ancient statesman Qu Yuan, who found peace through the teachings of Practitioner Su.
About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library