Everything is Mind-Only

The Foundation of Mahayana Practice

The principle that everything is mind-only serves as the fundamental concept for all who study and practise Mahayana Buddhism. One must put in the work within the heart and mind. By adjusting the mind to be upright and focused, the body and spirit will naturally align with righteous conduct. When the heart is at peace, it enters a state of meditative concentration.

The Three Learnings in One Practice

When the mind is settled, anchor it firmly in the practice of "arouse the Bodhi mind and single-mindedly recite Namo Amituofo." In this state of concentration, one will naturally uphold the Precepts without transgression. This is because the skill of Buddha-recitation has reached a level of maturity where one is no longer distracted by wandering thoughts. When one reaches this state of single-mindedness, one is simultaneously cultivating the Three Learnings of Precepts, Samadhi, and Wisdom.

The Duality of the Mind

Everything is mind-only. It is the mind that creates the six realms of existence, and it is the mind that manifests the four holy states. The mind is vast enough to encompass the vastness of the Dharma Realm, yet it is also capable of creating heavy negative karma, leading one into the suffering of the hell realms. Purification involves stilling the mental notes, which can halt the manifestation of karma.

Transforming Karma Through Stillness

To transform karma, one must first possess the skill of stopping the proliferation of thoughts. To have a mind where not a single thought arises is a state of profound meditative concentration. One can achieve this by ensuring that every thought is a Buddha-thought, keeping the Buddha-name flowing continuously, like a stream that never ceases, to enter into single-mindedness. Those who enter into single-mindedness are no longer pulled or swayed by external environments.

The Four Immeasurables

The Four Immeasurables: Loving-kindness, Compassion, Joy, Equanimity, are not merely concepts to be studied; they must be born from within the heart and manifested through actions. They represent the expansion of a practitioner's virtue and mind-capacity after undergoing deep purification. If one still clings to a sense of self or harbours selfish desires, it will be difficult to truly cultivate the Four Immeasurables: Loving-kindness, Compassion, Joy, Equanimity. The anxiety, restlessness, and agitation one feels in daily life stem from a lack of inner stability and a lack of a true spiritual refuge. Conversely, a heart that is stable and free from worry comes from walking the righteous path, ensuring that one's actions do not violate the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way.

Achieving the Fruit of Bodhi

The mind within this karmic body is born according to past actions. However, if one can transform the mind, the karma will follow suit and transform as well. When the heart is good, it naturally guides the body, speech, and behaviour toward goodness. One must strive to think good thoughts, see the good in others, perform good deeds, and speak good words. Only in this way can one "give rise to all roots of goodness and achieve the fruit of Bodhi." The state of no-self and the ability to follow conditions with ease both arise from the heart. Everything is mind-only; this is the ultimate truth of our existence.

Namo Amituofo

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe