Recognising the True Self

The Practice of Meditation in Motion

The external environment is constantly in flux, yet the practitioner must remain unmoved. This is what we call meditation in motion, a fundamental skill of meditative concentration that every practitioner must cultivate. You must all strengthen this aspect of your practice and refuse to be swayed by the shifting tides of the external world. Namo Amituofo, Practitioner Su, and our ancestral masters have repeatedly emphasised this in the Buddha's Explanation of the Meaning, in our lectures, and in their daily guidance. You must understand the profound importance of this teaching and never disregard it.

If you lack this meditative concentration, the moment a challenging situation arises, you will suffer. You will find yourself teetering on the edge, unable to withstand the test, and ultimately collapsing in a way that is truly tragic. To possess the power of meditation in motion, you must focus on the principle of no-self. This is the very essence of your practice.

The Illusion of the Ego

When you achieve the state of no-self, you become unshakeable. When you are free from the ego, you are no longer disturbed by emotions. When you are free from attachment to feelings, you are no longer bound by suffering. When you are free from deluded thoughts, you attain purity. The self can refer to this physical body, or it can refer to the five aggregates: Feelings, Perceptions, Mental Formations, and Consciousness.

Having a strong sense of I is the greatest obstacle to your practice. You must let go of this ego to allow your spirit to manifest its greatest potential. The self that has not yet reached Awakening is a false self. It is constantly changing, a transient form within the cycle of rebirth. Depending on your karma, this self can take many forms: a human being, an animal or beast, a bird or a wild creature, or any of the beings within the six realms of existence.

The Root of Suffering

People in this world treat the body and the five aggregates as if they were real. They are trapped by a constant stream of ego-driven thoughts: I feel, I receive, this is mine, I want, I think, I feel this way, I like this, I dislike this, I desire this, I do not want this, and so on. These various manifestations of the ego create delusion, discrimination, and attachment. This is the root of all suffering. It is within this cycle of using the body that all karmic conditions and their resulting effects are generated, and it is through this ego that we taste the bitter fruits of our karma.

This self is merely the protagonist in a world of illusions. It is inherently a phantom, lacking any fixed nature, and is subject to the law of impermanence. Within the cycle of rebirth, it changes constantly according to different karmic retributions. Because you cling to this self, your karmic creditors are able to find you. These karmic creditors and attached spirits act upon your body, interfering with your spirit, causing various karmic illnesses, and even leading to death.

The Path to the Eternal Self

If you let go of this self and find your true self, you can change your destiny. When your karma is cleared, your karmic creditors can no longer find you. They will cease to exist as a threat, or even if they remain within your body, they will be unable to cause harm. They may even be transformed and attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. The cycle of karma will no longer occur, replaced instead by the vow to save the world. Chao Du and the teaching of the Dharma are among the most effective methods to achieve this.

Letting go of the self does not mean discarding the body. Rather, it means refusing to be attached to it. You must see through the illusion of this body and let go of the false feelings of sensation, suffering, and desire. If you grasp this self too tightly, it is like strangling your own throat; you will suffer, unable to breathe, and will be forced to seek help. If that help is not found, you may lose your life, only to enter the cycle of rebirth once more, taking on a new face and a new self, and repeating the same mistakes. This is why the cycle of rebirth has no end.

The Precious Opportunity of the Human Body

The true self is the spirit that has transformed from a state of delusion to a state of Awakening. It is the self within your Buddha-nature—the self that is eternal, joyful, and pure. You must understand these truths about what is real and what is false in your practice. If you do not, you will mistake the false for the real, cling to it tightly, and walk down many wrong paths. You will waste this precious lifetime in which you have encountered the Buddha’s teachings, which is truly not worth it.

Although the body is an illusion, you need both the body and the spirit to practise and save beings in this world. You must have the ability to protect your physical form well, without being controlled by it. You cannot allow the body's sensations, thoughts, behaviours, and consciousness to hinder the growth of your spirit. You must allow your spirit to find its sensitive awareness and true nature during its growth. This requires Wisdom to implement, ensuring that within your limited lifespan, you protect your spirit and find your true self. This is a vital aspect of your practice.

The Conclusion of the Self

In summary, we can draw a clear conclusion: The worldly self includes the spirit controlled by karma, lost in the cycle of rebirth, and the body that acts out karmic retribution, manifesting in various physical forms or defects. The self within your true nature is the spirit that is not controlled by karma or rebirth. It is awakened, luminous, and transparent, without a single trace of impurity. It is the spirit of emptiness and light. The Buddha-light of your true nature arises from this.

Those who are called awakened beings in this world are those whose true nature acts through the body of karmic retribution, manifesting in the world. Why do we say that having a human body is so precious? It is because you must rely on this body to practise and elevate your spirit to find your true self. After you realise your true nature and attain Buddhahood, you can then use this body to lecture on the Dharma, save beings, and perform Chao Du for all beings in the vastness of the Dharma Realm, the six realms, and the ten directions. Only then can you truly transcend life and death and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Magnificent Opportunity at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

Therefore, when lectures and Chao Du ceremonies are led by those who have realised their true nature, the beings being taught and saved include all sentient beings throughout the vastness of the Dharma Realm. The methods used for teaching and Chao Du will vary according to the time, place, person, karmic conditions, and environment. It is only because of karmic affinities from the past and present, and because of your vows, that you can meet and receive the benefits of the Dharma offered by those who have realised their true nature. This is truly magnificent and difficult to encounter in millions of years. This magnificent and rare opportunity can now be found at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia.

Because Practitioner Su, who has realised his true nature, is at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, the teaching master of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, Namo Amituofo, truly abides here. Many inconceivable events occur in this place because Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su work in perfect harmony. When lectures are given or Chao Du is performed, countless celestial beings, beings from the vastness of the Dharma Realm, the Milky Way, and spirits and beings from the Demon Realm who have been transformed and saved by Practitioner Su, are all listening to the Dharma or receiving Chao Du to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Because Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su are present at the temple, the site is protected by all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and the Dragon and Heaven Dharma Protectors. Therefore, whether it is a lecture or a Chao Du ceremony, all participants can receive the magnificent and rare true benefits of the Dharma.

You should now understand how precious it is to be at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, receiving the teachings of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su. With the Buddha's teachings, how could you not realise your true nature? However, you must listen and follow these teachings earnestly. Everyone should seize this opportunity—difficult to encounter in millions of years—to realise your true nature and attain Buddhahood. Whether you are a Venerable or a lay practitioner, you must practise diligently so as not to waste the Buddha's appearance in this world and His teachings. For those who have encountered this message, are you willing to join the ranks of those at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre who are realising their true nature and saving beings to be reborn in the Western Pure Land? If you are willing, please contact the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre in Australia. Namo Amituofo.

This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.