Move Forward, Do Not Retreat: Teachings from Namo Amituofo
Recorded and Transcribed by Venerable HaiZe
24 February 2024
Words of Namo Amituofo
Living in a world of constant change and human impermanence, within the Five Turbidities and Evil World, how to maintain one's own purity and Goodness, remaining untainted, is the most important matter. No matter how the external environment moves or changes, one's own heart must remain unmoved and unchanging. This requires the clear discernment of Wisdom (Prajna) and the skills of meditative concentration.
The Art of Remaining Untainted
Know what should not be done and refrain from it; know what should be done and act upon it. Do not dwell on the rights and wrongs, the black and white of the past. If your heart is pure, the land is pure; if your self is stained, the land is stained. Everything depends on how you manage this heart.
Move forward, do not retreat. Even when encountering fierce winds and heavy rain, there will always be a time when the rain passes and the sky clears. No matter how the external environment is, keep the heart unmoved. may move, but the heart must not. This is the supreme and profound Meditation (Concentration), for deep meditative concentration lies within.
Transforming Your Perspective
Look at the good, do not look at the bad; then situations will have a turning point. When the heart transforms, the environment transforms, and the person naturally transforms. If you look at the bad, seeing only the negative, you are merely adding frost to snow; everything is happening within an illusion. Why suffer by looking at the bad instead of the good, allowing the heart to be covered in layers of filth? It is truly not worth acting this way, yet this is what all beings do.
The Illusion of the Physical World
The body is false and ultimately empty; there is nothing one can take away. Yet, one still mistakes the false for the true. This is manifesting before one's eyes. When come to seek revenge, one lacks the power to transform karma, and suffering arises. This is why you must be more serious and diligent in your practice.
The Path to True
One must practise the perfection of Patience (Endurance). With , mind-capacity, and tolerance, the unmoved Meditation (Concentration) is found within. Although it is not easy, one must still proceed. Only by passing through this will there be a time of awakened being.
Namo Amituofo
More by Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
The Final Curtain Call of Chu Ke-liang
A candid reflection from the late Taiwanese entertainer Chu Ke-liang on his life, his career, the karmic weight of his influence, and his ultimate deliverance to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
The Soul's True Equality: A Conversation with Mahatma Gandhi
This is a record of an interview with Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life and his journey to the Pure Land.
A Reflection from the Western Pure Land
This is a record of an interview with Zhao Puchu, who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life in the 20th century. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa Hui, on April 18, 2026.
The Truth Behind My Rebirth: A Message from Liu Suqing
Liu Suqing, the elder sister of the renowned practitioner Liu Suyun, shares her harrowing journey through the spirit realms and her ultimate deliverance to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss through the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.
The Burden of a Historical Name
This is a record of an interview with Lin Biao, who sought Chao Du at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss. This account reflects upon his life approximately 54 years ago. Recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fa, on May 18, 2026.
The Poet’s Journey to the Western Pure Land
A reflection on the life, tragedy, and ultimate spiritual liberation of the ancient statesman Qu Yuan, who found peace through the teachings of Practitioner Su.
About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library