Overcoming Fatigue in Your Spiritual Practice
A Dialogue Between Disciple Shi Faxi and Namo Amituofo
Recorded on August 28, 2017
On the twenty-eighth of August, 2017, the disciple Shi Faxi respectfully invited Namo Amituofo to provide teachings on a persistent struggle. The disciple asked why, despite receiving the Buddha's and maintaining a practice filled with energy, one still experiences profound fatigue and during the process of cultivation.
The Illusion of the Physical Body
Namo Amituofo provided this compassionate guidance: You experience fatigue because you still perceive your physical body as real, when in truth, it is empty and illusory. You have not yet fully realised this, and because of this lack of insight, you remain deeply attached to everything that concerns . You have not yet cultivated a true heart of giving, and at your core, you remain selfish. You do not yet think entirely for the sake of all suffering beings.
The depth of your heart is visible to the Buddha, and this truth does not come from external words. The vast universe can see everything—it distinguishes between false goodness and true Goodness without the slightest error. You must ask yourself: is your chanting for the sake of saving beings, or is it for the sake of your own body? The answer is clear and visible; it is difficult to hide the truth.
The Two-Power Gate
When you receive the Buddha's blessings, you are entering the Two-Power Gate, where your own efforts meet the infinite power of Namo Amituofo. However, if your heart lacks deep vows, your faith will be weak. You may wonder where these words come from; they arise solely from the heart. Can you truly let go of the self until your attachments are completely gone?
Drowsiness and fatigue are common challenges for those in practice. You should have the awareness to awaken to your own clear heart. This is not about looking outward; do not let the external world of dust and defilement stain your practice. Instead, awaken to your inner self, reflect upon your own mind, and constantly seal yourself off from impurity.
The Path of True Concentration
When your meditative concentration is stable, you will naturally feel at peace and will no longer be troubled by the faults of the world. This is the true way to practise the path—by focusing on your own inner cultivation. This path also includes the practice of . Compassion nurtures all things, and it recognises that all beings within your own body and throughout the universe are one and the same, without any distinction.
When you only see your true nature, you will find a state of eternal, tranquil peace. If you stop the wandering mind and reach a state of no-thought, why would you still need to perform ? Because you are helping to save the world, you are assisting in the practice of others, and you are helping all beings to be reborn in the of Ultimate Bliss. There, you will find a state of pure, constant .
Returning to the One Body
How can there be any separation? We are all of the same body. Your physical form is merely a temporary vessel, and it does not possess your original nature. When you are free from the states of this world, how can there be any news of fatigue? When you transcend the ordinary and the holy, you will clearly see through the dust of this world.
There is not a single connection that is not part of the Causal Conditions. Like a long, flowing river, we are all one family. If it were a joyous celebration in your own home, would you feel tired? If your heart were filled with true joy, how could your body feel weak? The fatigue you feel is simply because you are still making discriminations and calculating the business of the Buddha. You are still too concerned with your own body and your own need for sleep.
You are still trying to resolve your karmic debts while remaining attached to your own . You forget your past mistakes and you forget your current thoughts. You rely on your own ego, so how can you ever reach the truth? You present your practice to the Buddha, but your inner state remains unchanged. How can you find the truth when the days and months pass by, and you remain the same? If you continue this way, your body will only grow weaker. Follow the flow of the sun and moon, and understand that your form changes with time. As a disciple of the Buddha, you must believe in the words spoken by your Father, Namo Amituofo.
Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Faxi.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
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