Facing Yourself: The Path to True Awakening

Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.

On the fourteenth of August, 2021, Namo Amituofo provided these essential teachings on the importance of self-reflection and the holistic nature of our existence.

The Interconnectedness of Body, Mind, and Spirit

You must learn to face your own body, heart, and spirit. While these three aspects of your being exist as distinct entities, they are fundamentally interdependent. They constantly influence one another, and there are many profound mysteries operating within their interactions. When you begin to understand how these elements function together, you gain the key to true transformation.

Transforming Karma through Diligent Practice

For the practitioner, the path to returning to your true self lies in diligent practice. By maintaining a consistent and unwavering effort, you can transform your karma. This is the most effective way to resolve the issues caused by the manifestation of karma and the interference of karmic creditors who come to seek balance for past grievances. When you succeed in this, your Body-Mind-Spirit will flow smoothly, free from all obstructions. This is the essential method for total restoration.

Harmonising the Physical Body

You must learn to listen to the messages your body sends you. When you can clearly understand its needs, you can harmonise and purify it. By doing so, you allow the body to remain healthy, free from illness, and protected from the premature effects of aging. Your physical form is a vessel for your practice; treat it with the care and clarity it deserves.

Cultivating a Still and Pure Heart

Facing your heart is equally vital. You must strive to keep it calm, pure, stable, and free from ripples. When you encounter emotional fluctuations or internal disturbances, you must be skilful at transformation. Use your practice to select the right Dharma, focus your meditative concentration, and steady your heart. This will help you maintain a state of profound stillness, where no external or internal turbulence can shake your resolve.

Protecting the Spirit

Finally, you must face your spirit and soul with absolute sincerity. Maintain upright thoughts and a righteous heart. Do not allow bad intentions or selfish desires to take root, as these will only cloud your spirit. By keeping your intentions pure, you allow your spirit to rest in peace, free from anxiety, transgression, or the danger of becoming scattered. In this world, the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death, along with the complexities of the Body-Mind-Spirit, are understood perfectly only by the Buddha. No one else possesses such a thorough and clear insight into these truths.

The Path to Buddhahood

Therefore, you must commit yourself to the purification of the Six Roots and the protection of your heart and spirit. Do not allow them to become stained or polluted by the dust of the world. By learning from the Buddha, listening to the Buddha, following the Buddha, and acting as the Buddha does, you will eventually attain the ultimate goal: to become a Buddha.

Namo Amituofo