The Boundless Vastness of the True Self

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

During the third session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony held on the eighth of December, 2024, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered these profound insights into the nature of the heart and mind.

The Universe Within

The heavens and the earth are contained within my heart. The entire universe resides within my heart, and the vast, swirling galaxies are held within my heart. My heart is truly boundless and limitless; it possesses the capacity to encompass all things in existence. It is free, unhindered, and moves with perfect ease. It is capable of coming and going without restriction, possessing the power to master itself and the wisdom to know when to advance and when to retreat.

This heart can contain things as small as dust or as numerous as the sands of the Ganges, yet it can also expand to fill the heavens and the earth. It can soar through the vastness of the Dharma Realm or descend into the deepest reaches of the ocean. This is the true nature of our existence.

Distinguishing the True Self from the False

This 'I' of which I speak is the true self, the Buddha-nature. It is the authentic reality of who we are. It is not the false self that arises and perishes due to Causal Conditions, nor is it the self that is trapped within the six realms of existence, unable to take charge of its own destiny. Instead, this is the true self that is:

• Eternal: It is never destroyed or lost.
• Joyful: It exists in a state of constant, unconditioned happiness.
• True: It is the essence of our being.
• Pure: It is untainted by the defilements of the world.

This is the self that has achieved Awakening, the self that walks the same path as all the Buddhas of the past, present, and future.

The Compassionate Mission

One might ask, what is the purpose of this true self? Why does it exist? Its sole purpose is to save countless suffering beings. This includes even the demonic beings who have caused so much harm. Have you ever heard of a Dharma Body entering the vastness of the Dharma Realm specifically to deliver demonic beings? It is a rare and profound act of compassion. Today, we see the physical body suffering under the attacks of these demons, yet the goal remains the same: to Chao Du these beings into the Western Dharma-Nature Land so that they may finally be saved.

The Transformation of the Mind

My heart is infinite, yet the heart of ordinary people is often quite different. The mind of ordinary people is a constant stream of:

• Delusions: A failure to see reality as it truly is.
• Discriminations: The tendency to divide the world into 'self' and 'other,' 'good' and 'bad.'
• Attachment: The clinging to things that are inherently impermanent.

A mind that is constantly fluctuating, even in the most subtle ways, will inevitably attract and resonate with the beings of the six realms. A mind that is stained by worldly desires is impure. However, the path to a pure heart is the process of removing defilements and attaining purity. Through the process of Awakening, one cultivates a heart that is purely good and purely clean. The heart of those who have realised their true nature is transparent and flawless; it is a heart that is truly 'no-mind,' free from the grasping of the ego.

The Buddha-Heart

The Buddha-heart is one that has merged completely with the heavens, the earth, the Dharma Realm, and the vastness of the Dharma Realm. My dear children, I originally have no mind of my own. It is only for the sake of saving beings that I manifest a heart. This heart is manifested entirely for the sake of others; this is what we call the Buddha-heart.

Namo Amituofo