Letting Go, My Children

Teachings from Namo Amituofo, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe on the tenth of February, 2024.

The Path to True Liberation

Letting go is the essential process for any practitioner who sincerely seeks to reach Awakening. It is a path of discernment: you must recognise what needs to be let go and have the courage to release what must be released. To truly progress, you must learn to relinquish your attachment to the dualistic nature of the world. This means letting go of your judgements of right and wrong, and your perceptions of what is good or bad. When you stop clinging to these polarities, you begin to clear the path toward your true self.

Releasing the Heavy Burden of the Self

The most difficult task for a practitioner is to let go of the concept of the self. You must release everything that you identify as yours, for these attachments are the roots of your suffering. Consider the weight of what you carry:

• Your physical form:
• The body is a temporary vessel, not your eternal essence.Your ego and views:
• The rigid structures of your opinions, your self-importance, and your personal perspectives.Your desires and emotions:
• The attachments to your feelings, your thoughts, your personal history, and your specific preferences.Your worldly identity:
• Your name, your social status, your academic achievements, and the pride you take in the 'self,' personal ego, and selfishness.Your worldly connections: The deep-seated attachments to your home, your family, and your loved ones.

For so long, you have lived entirely within the confines of your own world. You have been unable to step outside of this narrow, self-centred existence. This is precisely why your karmic creditors are always able to find you. Because you are constantly living within the boundaries of your own ego, you remain visible and vulnerable to the debts of your past.

The Illusion of the Temporary Life

If you can learn to let go of the self, you have already taken the most significant step toward success in your practice. Letting go is a return to your natural, original state. Remember that you came into this world with nothing, and you will leave this world with nothing. Your name is merely a temporary label, and your body is a temporary vehicle. These are tools suited only for this single lifetime; they hold no permanence and cannot accompany you into the future. Before you reach Awakening, you cannot control your own cycle of rebirth, and you cannot know where your future path will lead.

Transcending Karma Through No-Self

Reflect upon your past. The sins you have committed and the karmic creditors you have harmed over countless lifetimes are immeasurable and boundless. They are too numerous to count. However, if you can truly embody the state of no-self and release your ego, you will find a profound protection. If you are truly selfless, your karmic creditors will no longer be able to find you. When there is no 'self' to target, there is no one to collect debts from, and your past karma will cease to manifest as obstacles in your life.

You must cherish this present moment. Practise diligently and do not delay, for time is fleeting. Strive to transform your karma and see their true nature as soon as possible. Namo Amituofo.