Stillness in Motion: The Heart of the Buddha

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

On the third of February, 2024, during the noon offering, Namo Amituofo provided these Words of Namo Amituofo regarding the nature of the heart.

The Essence of Unmoved Stillness

What is meant by the term 'Stillness in Motion'? It is the state of having an unmoved heart. When your heart remains unmoved, you do not allow external phenomena to enter your consciousness, and therefore, you remain untouched by the stains of the world. This is the true meaning of being in the world but not of it.

My dear children, I ask you to reflect deeply upon your daily lives. When you encounter a situation that is not to your liking, or when you hear words that grate against your ears, do you find yourself becoming agitated? Does your heart flare up with anger, and does your face reveal your inner turmoil? If you answer that you do, then you must understand that you still have much work to do before you can truly enter the state of Stillness in Motion.

However, if you can answer that you do not, then you are ready to walk among the crowd. It is precisely within the service of others that you can learn the skills required to maintain this stillness. You must learn to handle the various conditions of life without allowing your heart to be moved by them.

Like a Lotus in the Mud

Think of the lotus flower. It grows from the mud, yet it remains perfectly pure and unstained. You must strive to be the same. Even when you are surrounded by the impurities of the world, you must not allow yourself to be tainted by them. You must learn to remain in the midst of these conditions without being turned by them; instead, you must be the one who turns the conditions.

This skill is cultivated through the practice of compassion and the application of Wisdom (Prajna). It is achieved through the foundation of Precepts (Discipline), Concentration and Wisdom. By practising in this way, you will naturally purify your own intentions.

Consider this: when someone points out your faults directly, or when you are met with rude words or disrespectful actions, what is your immediate reaction? Do you feel displeasure rising within you? Does your expression darken with anger? Or, are you able to remain as still as a mountain, completely unaffected by their behaviour? If you can remain calm, you will be able to continue smiling and proceed with your work or your next task without a moment's hesitation.

The Trap of the Ego

If you react with anger, you have allowed your heart to be moved. You have permitted the situation to enter your consciousness, and you have created the seeds of karmic stain. How, then, can you claim to have achieved Stillness in Motion? If you react with the latter—with an unmoved heart—then you possess the true skill of Stillness in Motion. You do not enter the consciousness, and you do not become stained.

Furthermore, consider how you react to praise or public recognition. Does your heart swell with joy, or does a sense of arrogance begin to take root? If you feel these things, you have once again allowed your heart to be moved. You have entered the realm of consciousness, and you have become stained by the karmic consequences of pride. How can you have Stillness in Motion if your heart is dancing with the ego?

Instead, if you are praised, you should be able to lift the corners of your mouth in a gentle smile and say softly, 'Namo Amituofo, this is the Buddha's blessings.' Your heart remains unmoved because you understand that all phenomena are illusory. They appear and then vanish in an instant. In this state of an unmoved heart, you can continue to move forward with your practice.

Transcending the Illusory World

Do you find yourself becoming sentimental when you reminisce, or when you see certain sights or hear certain sounds? If your heart is stirred and experiences ups and downs, you are once again allowing your heart to be moved. You are entering the consciousness and creating karma. How can you have Stillness in Motion in such a state?

If you can recognise that all these things are illusory—that they arise and cease based on Causal Conditions—then you will understand that there is nothing to be grasped within these phenomena. In such moments, you should use the chanting of the Buddha-name of Namo Amituofo to replace the movement of your heart. Use this pure thought to prevent the manifestation of stained karma. Alternatively, you may observe everything with an unmoved heart. Your eyes see, but your consciousness does not cling; you see without seeing, and you do not see while seeing. Everything becomes natural.

In this state of natural, unmoved heart and emotion, you can remain in silence or interact with others with perfect clarity. For those who have faith in the Buddha, your practice of chanting Namo Amituofo allows the Buddha's blessings to merge with your own efforts. When you know that the environment is illusory and understand the nature of Causal Conditions, you will see the truth within the illusion. In doing so, you will elevate the quality of your spirit, and you will continue to elevate it even further while in the midst of motion.

Stillness in Motion is a skill that every practitioner can attain through active and persistent chanting of Namo Amituofo. By maintaining a continuous, unbroken stream of the Buddha-name, you will eliminate your stains. This will assist you in the achievement of the three studies: upholding the Precepts (Discipline), attaining Concentration, and developing Wisdom. Stillness in Motion will naturally manifest. Everything will exist in its natural state. Keep your feet firmly on the ground, and simply continue your practice.

Namo Amituofo.