Heaven and Earth as One: A Dialogue with Namo Amituofo
Teachings from Namo Amituofo as Recorded by Venerable HaiZe
A Discourse on the Nature of Awakening and Delusion
The Thin Veil Between and Delusion
On 2 September 2017, a disciple approached Namo Amituofo with a question: "Namo Amituofo, it seems that the difference between a Buddha and a demon is but a single thought. I humbly request your compassionate teachings on this matter."
Namo Amituofo offered these teachings: A Buddha is one of Great Awakening. Sentient beings are those who are lost in the cycle of rebirth, while demons are those who are deeply submerged in that very confusion. A Buddha possesses Great Wisdom, whereas sentient beings are those who are dim and unaware, and demons are those who are deeply obscured by ignorance. A Buddha embodies Great , while sentient beings are those who are dim-witted, and demons are those who are completely lost in the darkness of delusion. A Buddha shines with Great Wisdom, while sentient beings are those who are foolish, and demons are those who are trapped in the depths of stupidity.
The Universal Harmony of Heaven and Earth
In the ultimate reality, there is no distinction between you and me. We are naturally one, and it is precisely this oneness that defines our existence. Heaven and Earth are one; they are natural, they are the same, and they are exactly what they are meant to be. Demons have their time, just as there are times of unity and times of separation. When Heaven and Earth are in harmony, all things are peaceful, the seasons follow their natural course, and all phenomena are renewed.
Even when demons are transformed, the power behind that change remains the same. All paths return to the same source, for everything shares the same original nature. What is this one nature? It is your true self. Where does this true self come from? It has been there from the very beginning, innate and complete.
Returning to the Innate True Nature
Nothing is missing from this original nature. Even the demon can return to this state of truth if they are willing to be direct and sincere. If you can simply be as you are, you will return to your original source. If sentient beings lack a master—that is, if they lack the guidance of their true self—they will have no purpose. You must look directly at the truth and never allow yourself to be led astray by wrong views.
Non-action is the correct way. Do not strive to act out of ego, for such actions only create disturbance. Non-action is the path to purity. What are sentient beings? They are you and me. There is no high or low; equality is the most important principle. If you have previously made discriminations, if you have acted as if you were the sun or the moon, thinking yourself great, you have failed to understand the weight of your own actions.
The Boundless Capacity of the Buddha-Heart
Ignorance leads to suffering, and this is a truth that occurs in the moment. When people are aware of this, they are no longer ignorant. You may wonder, what is the harm in having things? The harm lies only in what the heart creates. Whatever the heart does, if it is done with attachment, it becomes a burden. It is not that you must possess nothing, but rather that you should not let anything be missing from your heart. The Buddha-heart is empty, yet it contains all things. It has no specific direction, for it is everywhere.
If you calculate gains and losses, you are rebelling against the path and going against the Truth. If you act without the , there is no limit to the suffering you may cause. This is the way of the demon. Simply do not follow such impulses. If you act arbitrarily, you will only hurt yourself and others. After you change your ways, you will find a heart that is free. There will be nothing that can be damaged, and nothing that can be wounded.
The Path of Natural Stillness
This is the correct way. Do not let the mistakes of the past continue to arise, for it is difficult to find clarity when you are burdened by a hundred faults at once. If you continue to create faults without end, how can you be diligent? Ensure that in the present moment, you do not repeat the same errors. You must clearly understand that only by being as you are can you avoid the same mistakes and move toward the future.
You cannot protect yourself from the consequences of your actions, but you can choose how you act. If you act naturally, that is the way it should be. My heart is hurried, yet my intention is clear. To be without a self is to act in accordance with the Truth. Where is the heart? Where does the heart exist? It is in the present moment, and it is in the future. What happens after? Simply do not act out of ego. When the time comes, it will be so. This is the natural state of non-action. When you observe in this way, you encompass all phenomena. You embrace all that exists, and there is never a moment when you are not in the right place.
Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe, as a message from the Buddha.
Namo Amituofo
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