The Call to Return Home

The Original State of Stillness

Teachings from Namo Amituofo, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

On the twenty-fourth day of August, two thousand and twenty-four, during the noon offering, Namo Amituofo shared these profound words regarding our journey back to the source.

Everything in this universe ultimately returns to its original state. In the beginning, there is truly nothing to be concerned about. The heart is naturally calm, clear, and undisturbed. However, because of the ripples of our own emotions and thoughts, we become stained and agitated. This internal turbulence disturbs the perfect, mirror-like stillness of our original nature.

Consider the tree that shakes when the wind blows. This movement is a natural phenomenon, yet it represents the heart being stirred by external conditions. Think of a sky that is originally clear and bright, without a single cloud. When dark clouds suddenly appear, they interact with the environment to create storms and tempests. Yet, even the most violent storm must eventually pass, and the sky will always return to its natural, tranquil state. So too must our hearts return to that original, unclouded clarity.

The Wandering Child of the Western Land

We are all children of the Western Pure Land, and we were always meant to return there. However, we have become lost, mesmerised by the illusions of the external world. We have wandered far away, drifting through the vastness of space and time, and in our travels, we have forgotten the way home.

We have forgotten the very reason we left our home in the first place: our vow to save all suffering beings who have a karmic affinity with us. Because we have forgotten this initial intention, we have become deeply stained by the Five Turbidities and Evil World. We have been trapped in the six realms of rebirth, turning endlessly in the cycle of samsara, enduring countless hardships, sorrows, and the bitterness of life.

Sometimes, we walk the path toward the Western Land together, yet we create divisions between ourselves and others. We are all members of the same family, yet we act as if we are strangers, separated by our own attachments and perceptions.

The Sanctuary of Hsiang Kuang

Today, Namo Amituofo is present at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, actively leading beings from the ten directions back to the light. Here, those who suffer can find relief, and those who face insurmountable difficulties can find the path to liberation.

If you are a child of the Western Land, now is the time to enter the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Let us work together to save all beings and return, as one, to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

The Path to True Liberation

You may ask: In this human world filled with suffering, how can we truly leave it all behind? You must realise that suffering is an illusion. It arises when conditions come together, and it vanishes when those conditions disperse. Do not cling to the phenomena you see before you. Instead, follow the conditions as they arise, walk with all beings, and return to a pure heart. When your heart is pure, you will see the world with a pure vision.

• The Wisdom of Detachment: To be able to sever the threads of emotional attachment is the mark of true wisdom.
• The Power of Concentration: When you cut through these emotions and keep your heart unmoved, you attain meditative concentration. This concentrated heart is the heart of liberation.
• The Trap of the Ordinary: If you cut through emotions but your heart remains agitated, you are still operating with an ordinary, worldly heart. This ordinary heart is the heart that keeps you bound to the cycle of rebirth.

You must let go of this ordinary heart and enter the state of liberation. When your heart is pure and unmoved, you return to your original nature. The practice of chanting Buddha's name is the method to purify your heart. Do not add more karmic weight to your life; instead, let everything return to the Western Pure Land. Namo Amituofo is waiting to lead you back to the Land of the Golden Lotus.

Namo Amituofo