Looking Back on the Path Traveled

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

June 13, 2025.

For a practitioner who has truly learned to "see through" and "let go," looking back at the path one has travelled should leave the heart completely unmoved. Even if the road behind you was filled with rugged terrain, deep valleys, and immense hardship, you must remain steadfast and calm. You should view your past as if you were watching a story that has nothing to do with you. By doing so, you can break free from the heavy weight of karma in this very life. You will no longer be influenced by the past, and this is the moment when you can truly begin to transform your karma.

The Unmoved Heart

When you observe the story of your past lives, you will see that the plot is filled with constant fluctuations. Life is a series of dramatic shifts:

• One moment there is peace and prosperity, and the next, the world is torn apart by war and chaos.
• You may have experienced deep, lingering attachments to family and loved ones, only to later find yourself wearing the robes of a monastic, dedicating your life to the Buddha’s gate.
• You may have been a man of great strength in one life, only to be born as a woman in the next.

Despite these dramatic changes in circumstances, roles, and identities, your heart must remain unmoved. You must understand that these are merely scenes in a play that has already concluded.

The Records of the Alaya Consciousness

My children, you must realise that all these experiences were once your own reality. Even though the eras have changed and the circumstances of your lives have shifted, everything you have ever experienced is stored within your Alaya consciousness. It contains every bit and piece of your history:

• The joys and sorrows you have felt.
• The "self," personal ego, and selfishness you have cultivated over countless lifetimes.
• Every subtle thought and intention that has ever crossed your mind.

Even those fleeting mental notes that you have not yet noticed yourself are recorded there. Whether or not these memories are brought to the surface, a true practitioner must recognise them as illusions. You must not allow them to influence your current state of mind.

Transforming Karma Through Letting Go

When you look back at the path you have travelled, if you still feel emotional or touched by the memories, it is a sign that you are still being influenced by the past. It means you are still a being bound by karma. If you find yourself in this state, you must immediately stop these feelings. Regardless of how others perceive you, the ability to remain "unmoved" is a sign of genuine progress in your practice.

You must learn to sacrifice your body and mind for the sake of all beings. When you do this, the karma associated with this physical form can be let go; this is what we call transforming karma. By dedicating your deep heart to serving the world, you can shed the impurities of the body. In doing so, you will eventually find a moment of clarity and purity.

The Single Path to Buddhahood

No matter what your past has been, what matters most is who you are right now. You must have faith in the Buddha, chant Namo Amituofo, and follow the Buddha’s guidance. You must chant one Buddha's name to the end, from the moment you first develop the resolve to practice until the very moment you attain Buddhahood. This is the most important task before you at this very moment.

Namo Amituofo.