The Art of Bearing and Enduring

Words of Namo Amituofo:

My children, in your spiritual practice, you must be able to bear and endure any manifestation of karma that arises, whether it comes from within your own heart or from external circumstances. You must be prepared to face these tests and, through your practice, break through them.

The Crucible of Spiritual Practice

If your personality traits frequently appear when you are not paying attention, it is a clear sign that these traits have not yet been truly changed. It may also mean that the transformation has not been thorough enough, leaving you vulnerable to being triggered by the world around you. For instance, when you hear words that you find unpleasant, or when you perceive a look of disregard or indifference from others, your heart may be touched and begin to ripple with agitation. When this happens, it is a sign that you have not yet reached the state of being able to fully bear and endure.

The Synergy of Faith and Buddha's Blessings

In the Pure Land path, we rely on the dual support of our own self-effort and the Buddha's blessings. When karma manifests or when your personality traits surface, if you can bear and endure, your heart will remain calm and undisturbed. You will be able to face the situation directly and take responsibility for your own spiritual journey. This endurance is the ultimate expression of your faith in Namo Amituofo and your commitment to your own liberation.

Subduing the Self through Diligent Practice

When you raise your awareness and rely on the Buddha's blessings, you must strive to be diligent in your practice. This includes:

• Chanting the Buddha-name of Namo Amituofo to clear away old karma.
• Performing prostrations to humble the ego.
• Reciting the Sutras to align your heart with the wisdom of the Buddha.

You must actively engage in purification and work to change your personality traits. By chanting one Buddha's name to the end, and by immersing yourself in the sound of the Buddha-name, you can subdue these traits. When they can no longer manifest, you can then proceed to eliminate them entirely until there is no trace of the old personality left. This is what it means to truly bear and endure, and it is the mark of genuine progress in your practice.

The Mastery of Stillness and Non-Action

When you encounter changes in people, events, or circumstances, can you remain steady? If you can face both the internal changes of your own heart and the external conditions of the world with composure and stability, you have achieved a great deal. By dwelling in a state of pure, non-action, no-self, and selflessness, you act naturally and move forward with unwavering focus. This is the true meaning of bearing and enduring, and it is the sign that your practice has reached a state of maturity.

Namo Amituofo