Like Flowing Water: The Impermanence of Life and the Path to Liberation

Teachings from Namo Amituofo, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

The Fleeting River of Time

Time flows like a river, moving steadily forward and never returning to its source. Our physical bodies pass through the years just as the water flows swiftly away. When we look back at the past, it is like a breeze that has blown through the trees; we cannot trace where it has gone, and it leaves no permanent mark behind. All that we have accumulated over countless lifetimes—our joys, our sorrows, and our attachments—has flowed into the storehouse of our consciousness, waiting for the conditions to manifest.

The Twelve Lights of Salvation

In this present era, Namo Amituofo has manifested upon the Earth to ensure that all sentient beings may receive salvation. Through the compassionate efforts of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su, the work of Chao Du is performed, and the Twelve Lights shine throughout the Dharma Realm. The spirits and the demon crowds, once lost in the currents of their own karma, are now guided into the Dharma-Nature Land. Just as water flows into the sea, these countless beings are saved, and even the most stubborn spirits surrender to the light of the Buddha, finding their way into the pure embrace of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Flow of Thought and Karma

Our thoughts and mental processes are also like a river, flowing continuously without our conscious awareness. We often fail to notice the direction in which our minds are drifting. Consider the consequences of this flow:

• Evil thoughts: These attract negative karma, which invites our karmic creditors to seek revenge.
• Attached spirits: When attached spirits and demon crowds enter our bodies, they bring a heavy burden, leading to the onset of old age, sickness, and suffering.
• Good thoughts: Conversely, when we cultivate good thoughts, we attract good karma, which brings forth blessings, prosperity, and a life of ease.

Purifying the Mind through Chanting

The Western Pure Land is the ultimate realm of purity and goodness. When you chant Namo Amituofo, you must do so with a focused and continuous mind. This practice is like using pure water to wash away the dust and grime of your worldly attachments. As you chant, your personality and temperamental habits are gradually eliminated. By washing away the filth of the heart, your inner light is revealed. Through the constant practice of chanting Namo Amituofo, you will be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Priority of Awakening

Attaining the state of an awakened being is the most important task of your life. By achieving this, you are able to save yourself and, in turn, save other beings, bringing them the coolness of liberation. You will then be able to travel freely between this world and the Western Pure Land, fulfilling your vow to assist all beings in leaving suffering behind to find true happiness.

Namo Amituofo