Words of , recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
Dignity refers to the state of being beautiful and majestic, while purity signifies a state entirely free from defilement. Together, dignity and purity represent the supreme good fruit of one's spiritual practice.
The Fruit of Diligent Practice
We currently reside within the Five Turbidities and Evil World. This realm is filled with suffering and impurity, presenting constant challenges to those who seek the path of . Within this environment, we are surrounded by the Five Turbidities: the corruption of the era, the prevalence of wrong views, the overwhelming presence of afflictions, the suffering inherent in the lives of sentient beings, and the pain associated with birth, aging, sickness, and death.
Living amidst these conditions, surrounded by the negative created by others and the inevitable sufferings of birth, aging, sickness, and death, it is truly difficult to maintain a pure heart. However, if you can overcome and break through these trials, you create a profound opportunity for progress in your practice. It is precisely this difficulty that makes the possibility of realising one's true nature and attain Buddhahood within a single lifetime so precious. This is the unique nature of practice in a turbid world; it is challenging, yet it is also the very reason why one can attain Buddhahood so rapidly.
Appearance Arises from the Mind
There is a fundamental truth in the Buddha’s gate: appearance arises from the mind. If your heart is pure, your appearance will naturally be pure and luminous. Conversely, if your heart is stained by attachments, it becomes difficult for a pure appearance to manifest. The appearance one displays is not merely a physical trait; it is the visible result of one's internal practice. It serves as a method for receiving beings. This is why the Buddha’s gate teaches that it takes hundreds of kalpas to cultivate auspicious characteristics. Your appearance is a significant test of your practice, as one is often hindered by the distractions and attachments that arise from concerns over physical beauty or perceived flaws.
The Compassionate Vows of Namo Amituofo
Namo Amituofo, in His infinite wisdom, has observed all the Buddha lands and clearly perceived the struggles of beings in this world. Because He understood that beings are often trapped by their physical forms and the suffering of their environment, He made His great vows while practising as . He vowed to establish a Pure Buddha Land that is infinitely dignified and pure. He vowed that all who are reborn in His land would possess the same golden, radiant body as Namo Amituofo, adorned with the thirty-two auspicious characteristics of a great being. This is the achievement of Namo Amituofo’s own nature and vow power, which He shares with all beings who enter the of Ultimate Bliss.
A Legacy of
In truth, because all beings inherently possess the true self and Buddha-nature, they are capable of achieving such a dignified and pure Buddha land. By aligning your heart with the vow power of Namo Amituofo, you can share in this magnificent accomplishment. Namo Amituofo wishes only that all beings throughout the vastness of the Realm will arouse the Bodhi mind and single-mindedly recite Namo Amituofo. By doing so, you can enter the Western Pure Land and share in the fruits of His vow power.
Once you have attained Buddhahood in the Western Pure Land, you too will be able to establish a Buddha land based on your own true self, just as Namo Amituofo has done. You will then be able to save immeasurable and boundless beings. The beings in your future Buddha land will, in turn, arouse the Bodhi mind and single-mindedly recite Namo Amituofo to attain their own Buddhahood. In this way, the teachings are passed down through generations, ensuring that the holy name of Namo Amituofo is spread throughout the vastness of the Dharma Realm, saving infinite suffering beings.
