Knowing Your True Self

The Essence of the True Self

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

On the twenty-seventh of December, two thousand and twenty-four, during the noon offering, Namo Amituofo provided these teachings on the importance of self-realisation.

To know yourself, you must first recognise that the true self is your self-nature. This true self, or your self-nature, is filled with compassion, Wisdom (Prajna), joy, and the ability to let go. When you reside in this state, you can live a life of freedom and clarity.

The Illusion of the Physical Form

However, the physical body you inhabit is merely a temporary construct formed by the combination of multiple karmic conditions. It is a false self. This physical body, with its distinct personality, temper, and subjective views, is not who you truly are. Instead, it is a vessel accumulated through the weight of your karma. It is composed of the four elements—earth, water, fire, and wind—and is brought together by various causal conditions. Because it is transient and conditioned, we call it the false self. You must use this false body to engage in True Cultivation; only by practising through this physical form can you eventually rediscover your true self.

Your thoughts and feelings are not the true you. They are merely the results of causes sown in the past and present, manifesting now because the conditions have matured. Within these results, you continue to sow new causes, which will inevitably lead to further karmic consequences. As it is said: "Even after a hundred or a thousand kalpas, the karma you have created does not disappear. When the causal conditions meet, you will experience the results yourself."

The Universal Principle and the Path of Practice

This is the reality of the universe; the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way are in constant operation, never resting for even a single moment. Those who truly know themselves will not allow the emotions and Five Desires brought about by this false body to lead them into creating the sins of the hells. They will not be trapped by personal emotional suffering. Instead, they see the suffering of all beings and understand that the purpose of practice is to make the Ultimate Vow to save beings.

A practitioner who knows themselves is extremely cautious with every thought and intention. They understand that if a thought is Good, it is beneficial; if a thought is evil, it leads to suffering. Therefore, one must avoid creating the causes of suffering. Whether it is good karma or evil karma, both are still karma. Even good karma should be transcended by the purity of the true self.

The Supreme Grace of Namo Amituofo

The method for this purification is to chant one Buddha's name to the end. This is the most secure method, the way to avoid creating further karma. It is the supreme grace that Namo Amituofo has bestowed upon all beings. It is a magnificent gift from Namo Amituofo to help all beings rediscover their true self and original nature as quickly as possible.

Today, Namo Amituofo is residing here at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Every one of you has the precious opportunity to learn under the guidance of Namo Amituofo, to truly know yourself, and to return to the temple to rediscover your true self—your self-nature and Buddha-nature. You must engage in diligent practice and seize this opportunity with all your heart.

Namo Amituofo