The Buddha's Vow: Awakening to the True Self
Words of Namo Amituofo, recorded by Venerable HaiZe
Noon Offering, March 1, 2024
Teachings from Namo Amituofo, recorded by Venerable HaiZe during the noon offering on March 1, 2024.
The Illusion of the Physical Form
The Buddha’s Vow is simple yet profound: that every being may leave suffering behind, never to be trapped within the cycle of misery again. Too often, however, beings remain caught within the cycle of suffering, unable to find their way out. The sensations we experience through this physical body are illusions, not the ultimate truth, yet most beings remain unaware of this reality. Because they mistake the illusion for reality, their suffering seems endless, and they find it impossible to reach the end of their karmic journey.
I invite all beings to see clearly: what is real, and what is false? This physical body is an illusion; it is not your true self. We must use this temporary, false form to engage in True Cultivation, so that we may eventually see our true nature. Your true self is the only reality; it is not false. When the necessary Causal Conditions arise, this body is formed; when those conditions are exhausted, this body perishes. Everything is governed by the laws of and cause and effect.
Your true self, however, is naturally present. It is inherent in all beings; it is not found outside of you, but within. It is the eternal essence that remains when the illusion of fades away.
The Root Causes of
My wish for the fourfold assembly of disciples is that you may all awaken. To do so, you must first address the state of drowsiness during your practice. If you wish to improve, you must engage in deep self-reflection. Ask yourself:
- Have you truly changed your difficult personality and temper?Are you still violating the ?Have you truly learned to see through the illusions of the world and let go of your attachments?
If your personality and temper remain unchanged, you will inevitably fall into a state of drowsiness. If you continue to violate the rules of conduct, you will be unable to avoid this state. If you fail to change your ways and continue to commit the same errors, you will certainly be drawn into other dimensions of existence. If you have not learned to let go, and your heart remains burdened by attachments, you will surely succumb to drowsiness, and you will soon find yourself encountering the spirits of other dimensions.
The Necessity of Diligent Practice
I counsel all who have entered the path of practice: reaching the state of an awakened being is not something that can be achieved effortlessly. If you do not engage in purification but continue to accumulate impurities, your body and spirit will inevitably suffer. If you do not engage in repenting and changing your ways, you are merely wasting your days and continuing to create karma.
You must uphold the Precepts. Do not violate them, for doing so harms your body and spirit. If you have committed an error, you must change your ways immediately. To know you have erred and yet continue to commit the same act is to compound your transgressions. How can you hope to avoid the evil consequences if you do not change your ways? Do not disregard the severity of these karmic results. It is not merely a matter of being drowsy or entering other dimensions; the retribution of the hells will eventually manifest.
Every action you take in your daily life is recorded, and the laws of karma and cause and effect are at work in every detail. Be cautious in your speech and conduct; do not be careless. You must see the truth of cause and effect clearly. Change your ways immediately and do not repeat your mistakes; to awaken is to be transformed entirely.
A Call to the Demon Crowds
To the demon crowds: you must cease your actions. To cast spells to attack the body of another is to create evil. Surrender is the highest strategy; to do so is the path of wisdom. Stop your evil deeds, turn away from your demonic nature, and reveal your inherent Buddha-nature. Now is the time to be transformed.
Namo Amituofo
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