Forgetting the Self to Enter No-Self

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

On the 14th of February, 2025, during the first session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided these essential teachings on the path of practice.

The Art of Total Immersion

When you are wholeheartedly devoted to a task, you often lose track of time. You become so absorbed in your work that you forget the passage of hours and minutes. In this state of deep concentration, you forget the self. You move beyond the boundaries of your own ego, and eventually, you reach a state where the very concept of a separate self ceases to exist. This is what we mean by forgetting the self.

When you are fully present and wholehearted in your actions, the task at hand is performed with the highest level of perfection. In this world, the causes and consequences of all events are governed by karmic conditions and the causes and effects. Everything we experience is a manifestation of our past actions and the karmic energy we have accumulated over countless lifetimes.

Transcending the Cycle of Karma

If you are a practitioner seeking to transform your karma and break free from the heavy chains of karmic power, you must understand a fundamental truth: your vow must be greater than your karma. You cannot simply wish for liberation; you must make your vow the guiding light of your life. You must engage in diligent practice to bring that vow into reality.

However, this vow must not be for your own benefit. It must not be driven by selfish desires or personal gain. Throughout our accumulated lifetimes, it is precisely because we have clung to the idea of a self that we have created boundless negative karma and tasted the bitter fruits of suffering. If your vows are made for your own sake, you are merely creating more karma, and it will be impossible to transform your karma.

The Vow as a Compass for the Soul

When you align your vows with the Buddha’s teachings, your actions become a service to all beings. You act for the sake of the vast multitude of sentient beings and all spirits who are still wandering in the cycle of rebirth. When you are fully immersed in the implementation of such a vow, you will find that you are constantly moving toward a state of selflessness.

In this state of total focus, you will often find yourself letting go of the self, forgetting the self, and entering the realm of no-self. Because you are no longer acting for the sake of your own ego, this vow becomes a powerful tool that assists your practice and provides you with the precious opportunity to transform your karma!

Saving Others is Saving Yourself

Compassion, Joy, and Selfless Giving are the foundation of the path. Those who possess great compassion, great wisdom, and a vast, inclusive heart will see the suffering of all beings and feel a natural urge to join the ranks of those who work to save beings and help them leave suffering behind.

When you forget the self and enter the state of no-self in your service to others, you have, in truth, already saved yourself. This is the mark of one who is truly committed to saving beings with a sincere heart. If you encounter obstacles or difficulties arising from your own mind or circumstances and choose to retreat, you are, in reality, throwing away your own opportunity for salvation.

The fourfold assembly must understand this clearly.

Namo Amituofo