The Elevation of Spiritual Quality
Teachings from Namo Amituofo
Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe, January 4, 2025
The Eternal Nature of the Spirit
Namo Amituofo teaches us that all sentient beings are born through the convergence of various conditions. The spirit of a sentient being is none other than the . It is this spirit, the Alaya , that enters the womb to begin a new life. This spirit is the first to arrive at the moment of conception and the last to depart at the moment of death. It is truly birthless and deathless, existing without beginning and without end.
All the conditions we encounter in this life arise from the seeds stored within our Alaya consciousness. Every experience, every encounter, and every circumstance we face throughout our beginningless and endless journey is contained within this storehouse. The spirit and the heart exist together; however, because the spirit is bound by the laws of , it is forced to wander through the six realms of rebirth. It is dominated by these karmic forces and, in its ordinary state, lacks the ability to be truly autonomous.
Transcending the Cycle of Rebirth
Within the cycle of cause and effect, every person we meet and every situation we encounter involves sentient beings with whom we share a karmic connection. When a practitioner reaches , their spirit transforms consciousness into wisdom, allowing them to see their true nature. In this state of true nature, the distinction between self and others dissolves. We realise that all beings are one with us.
Those who were once our in the cycle of rebirth are no longer merely beings to whom we owe a debt. Instead, they transcend the cycle of rebirth and become one with us in the unity of the . The spirit of an awakened being merges with the Dharma Realm, becoming the . This Dharma Body can move freely and operate throughout the entire Dharma Realm. Because the spirit is no longer controlled by the cycle of cause and effect, it is no longer subject to the six realms of rebirth. It has attained true freedom.
The Stability of the Soul
The spirit is formless and colourless. Spiritual quality refers to the state in which the spirit exists, and our mental state is one of the primary indicators of this spiritual quality. A complete spirit is composed of the three hun souls and seven po souls. The stability of our spiritual state depends entirely on these components:
- If the three hun souls and seven po souls are able to reside stably within , the spirit manifests in a state of calm and equilibrium.
- If these souls cannot reside stably within the body, the spirit manifests in a state of restlessness, anxiety, and instability.
Therefore, if you wish to elevate your spiritual quality, the fundamental condition is to ensure that your three hun souls and seven po souls are complete and residing stably within your body.
Harmonising with the Inner World
The heart and the spirit exist within this physical form, and they can either grow together or hinder one another. This body of ours is formed by the convergence of countless conditions, which means that innumerable beings are contained within it. Many of these beings exist in the state of spirits, and they interact with our physical body through the laws of karma and cause and effect, seeking to collect debts, repay debts, repay kindness, or seek revenge for past grievances.
It is essential that you resolve these conflicts and learn to coexist peacefully with the beings residing within your body. Through the practice of , the spiritual quality of these beings can be purified and elevated alongside your own. Only when you have achieved this harmony can you truly elevate your own spiritual quality and make the possibility of Awakening a reality.
The Path of the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre
To achieve this, a practitioner must be willing to change their personality traits, generate Bodhicitta, and be fiercely diligent in their practice. This is the only way to purify and elevate your spiritual quality. The beings within your body are the primary objects of your salvation; they are the ones you must first save through Chao Du. Once you have saved yourself and reached Awakening, all the countless beings you encounter become the objects of your compassionate work.
The fourfold assembly of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre takes Awakening as its primary goal and as the essential process for saving others. We move forward by strictly following the teachings of Namo Amituofo, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and Practitioner Su. This is the wonderful method for elevating spiritual quality and achieving Awakening. All members of the fourfold assembly must uphold and follow these teachings with sincerity.
Namo Amituofo
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library