The Heart of Joy: Teachings from Namo Amituofo
Words from the Buddha's Heart, Recorded by Venerable HaiZe
September 29, 2023
Namo Amituofo’s discourse, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
On this day, September 29, 2023, Namo Amituofo offers us this profound guidance on the nature of a joyful heart.
The Path of Sincere Repentance
To maintain a heart that is constantly filled with , you must learn to hold two things in your mind at all times: the practice of sincere repenting and the embrace of deep gratitude.
Repenting is the foundation of your spiritual progress. You must reflect upon the negative you have accumulated throughout your countless past lives. Consider the weight of these actions: the of greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, and doubt; the of wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep; and the five grave violations of killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, and intoxication. Because of these actions, you have caused endless suffering for other beings. Yet, despite this history, you have been fortunate enough to obtain a human body in this life. You have encountered the Buddha’s teachings, you have learned the path, and most importantly, you have met Namo Amituofo. You now have the rare opportunity to chant Buddha's name to save yourself, to save beings, and to save your , guiding them all to rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. This is an opportunity that is difficult to encounter in millions of years. When you realise this, your heart will naturally overflow with infinite gratitude.
The Radiance of True Gratitude
What is true gratitude? It is the ability to genuinely perceive the selfless, unconditional dedication of others—the Buddha or , the patriarchs and venerable masters, and your true spiritual friend—who give of themselves to you and to all beings without ever asking for anything in return. They work tirelessly to help you reduce your suffering, to protect you from harm, and to guide you toward growth and achievement. When you truly feel this, a sincere and heartfelt sense of thanks will arise from within you. You will see how much your life has changed since you encountered these teachings. This transformation naturally gives rise to a heart of gratitude and a joyful spirit.
The Flowering of Joy
In the context of your practice, this joy is often experienced as Dharma joy. When you reach a moment of deep insight, when you truly understand the essence of the teachings, a natural, radiant joy will arise from the depths of your heart. This is the fruit of your contemplation and your connection to the Truth. When a true spiritual friend witnesses the transformation in others—seeing them change the "self," personal ego, and selfishness, and make steady spiritual progress—they too feel a profound sense of joy and are filled with the bliss of the Dharma. This is the beauty of the path: as you learn, you share, and as you share, your spiritual progress is guaranteed to grow.
The Ultimate Purpose of Our Practice
You must be grateful to the Buddha or Bodhisattva, the patriarchs and venerable masters, and all the true spiritual friends who have offered you their endless and guidance. Take what you have learned and the changes you have made, and spread them to others according to their capacity and affinity. However, the most important task of all is to remain diligent in your practice, for the ultimate goal of learning the Buddha’s teachings is to realise one's true nature and attain Buddhahood. This is the purpose of learning the Buddha’s teachings.
Once you have transformed your karma and reached the state of an awakened being, you will naturally be able to offer yourself to all beings with a joyful heart, acting selflessly and without seeking reward. You will dedicate your life to save beings, helping them leave suffering behind, and guiding them toward rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. You will do your utmost to ensure the transmission of the Pure Land teachings continues. When your practice is successful, when you are able to provide lectures, and when you have truly transformed your karma to realise one's true nature and attain Buddhahood, you will naturally be filled with gratitude and will live in a state of constant, joyful peace. Namo Amituofo.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library