Teachings from Namo Amituofo
Do Not Cling to Bodily Sensations
Interview with Gu Fangzhou (Chinese Virologist)
No Longer Distinguishing Right from Wrong
Interview with Li Yining (The Theoretical Founder of China's Shareholding System Reform)
Interview with Li Wenrui (Expert in Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Master of National Medicine)
Recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe
January 5, 2024
Namo Amituofo’s discourse:
My children, you know that you must change your personality traits to progress on the path of cultivation. However, do you truly understand which aspects of your character require transformation? While you may be aware of your more obvious, coarse personality traits, the subtle, hidden aspects often remain unknown to you.
It is precisely these subtle, deep-seated personality traits that often become the primary obstacles in your practice. Because you have not yet fully transformed these hidden tendencies, you remain vulnerable to various spiritual challenges. These unresolved traits are the reasons why:
You may find it difficult to perceive exactly which personality traits need to be changed. Even when you are aware of a specific flaw, you may find it incredibly hard to alter it. This difficulty arises because these personality traits have been with you for many lifetimes, spanning countless eons. They have become so deeply ingrained that they have effectively fused with your very being.
In this state, you might say that your personality is synonymous with your self. You believe that where there is a me, there must be a personality. If you were to remove the personality, you fear that would cease to exist. Because of this deep attachment to the ego, you struggle to identify which parts of your character are truly yours and which are merely conditioned habits that hinder your liberation.
When you look at yourself, what do you see? Beyond the obvious differences that distinguish you from others—such as your height, weight, gender, age, appearance, voice, facial expressions, or the clothes you wear—how do you behave when you are interacting with others? Are you gentle and courteous, or are you aggressive and rude? Do you have a tendency toward anger?
These are what we call coarse personality traits. Both you and those around you can clearly observe them. You can often see how these traits cause harm in your relationships with others. By observing the pain caused by these interactions, you can reflect upon whether you possess similar tendencies within your own heart.
It is a common human failing to easily point out or identify the faults and personality flaws of others, while finding it incredibly difficult to see one's own shortcomings. This is the classic state of being lost in the situation, where the onlooker sees clearly, but the person involved remains blind to the truth. You must learn to use the mirror of your interactions with others to examine your own mind.
The guidance provided by your teachers and Practitioner Su is intended to help you see what you cannot see yourself. When they offer advice or point out your mistakes, they are highlighting the very personality traits that you must change. Do not take these observations lightly. When you know what needs to be changed, you must act upon it immediately. Only by knowing and changing can your practice truly advance. Namo Amituofo.
A candid reflection from the spirit of Elizabeth Taylor, who shares her journey from the blinding lights of Hollywood to the serene, transformative teachings of the Buddha in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Michael Jackson shares his journey from the pressures of global fame to the peace of the Western Pure Land, revealing the truth behind his life and his ultimate deliverance.
Helen Keller, the renowned deaf-blind philanthropist, shares her journey from the darkness of the ghost realm to the light of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, guided by the compassion of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su.
Albert Einstein, once considered the most brilliant mind in human history, reflects on his life, the nature of 'science' versus the Truth of the Dharma, and his existence in the Western Pure Land.
Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States, reflects on his life, his political career, and his profound journey from the depths of hell to the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss through the compassion of Namo Amituofo and Practitioner Su.
This is a record of an interview with Kim Il Sung, the founder and former leader of North Korea, who sought deliverance 32 years ago. He now resides in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library