Letting Go and Advancing: The Path to Awakening

The Eternal Journey of the Spirit

The life of the spirit is without beginning and without end. Throughout this vast expanse of time, we have been trapped in the cycle of reincarnation, driven by the weight of our own karma. Like actors changing costumes, we have donned the various forms of different beings, wandering endlessly through the six realms of existence. Sometimes we take on a human body, and at other times, we fall into the realm of animals, manifesting as insects, birds, or other creatures that crawl and fly. This cycle continues without rest, tethered to the consequences of our past actions.

The Art of True Cultivation

If you are fortunate enough to have attained a human body in this life, you must understand the importance of True Cultivation. To progress, you must learn to let go of the self and the rigid personality that you have clung to for so long. You must actively discard the various afflictions that cloud your mind, specifically:

• Delusions, discriminations, and attachments: The fundamental barriers that prevent us from seeing the truth.
• The Five Poisons: Greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt.
• The Five Desires: Wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep.
• The Five Aggregates: Feelings, Perceptions, Mental Formations, Consciousness, and physical form that constitute our perceived identity.

By letting go of these, you begin to remove the defilements that have accumulated over countless lifetimes. This is how you elevate your spirit and overcome the obstacles caused by your afflictions.

Transforming Karma Through Practice

For immeasurable eons, our sense of self and our personality—accompanied by these poisons, desires, and aggregates—have led us to commit boundless sins. However, if you can resolve to let go of these burdens in this very life, you will be able to escape the suffering of the Three Evil Realms. This is the moment when you truly begin to stop the accumulation of negative karma, transform your existing karma, and make genuine progress in your practice.

The Power of Constant Chanting

How can one achieve such a profound release? It is through the practice of chanting Namo Amituofo 24/7. By chanting the Buddha-name all the way to the end, you allow the light of the Buddha to dissolve these deep-seated habits. As you continue to let go and advance, your mind will become increasingly pure and filled with goodness. In this state of clarity, you will finally be able to see your true nature.

Namo Amituofo

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