The Heart of Repentance: Words of Namo Amituofo
Teachings from Namo Amituofo
Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe
The Burden of Past
On the seventh of April, 2024, during the noon offering, Namo Amituofo provided these essential teachings on the nature of repenting. We must repent for the countless negative karma committed in our past. We must reflect deeply upon the actions of our Body, Speech, and Mind, acknowledging the times we failed to restrain our thoughts and allowed our mouths to speak without care. Even if we have now transformed our lives and turned over a new leaf, the seeds of negative karma we planted in the past remain. When the conditions mature, these karmic results will manifest, and we will have to endure the suffering that follows. If we cannot endure this temporary suffering with patience, and if we fail to transform our current state with , we will only create more negative causes, leading to further suffering. This cycle of rebirth is endless; how long must we allow it to continue?
The and
We must repent for the harm we have caused to immeasurable and boundless beings throughout our accumulated lifetimes. We have been driven by the Five Poisons and the Five Desires, which have clouded our true nature. You must strive to cut off these attachments immediately:
- The Five Poisons:
- Greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt.The Five Desires: Wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep.
If you do not change your personality, or if you find it difficult to do so, you will continue to attract countless beings who are suffering. Their suffering becomes your suffering, both in body and mind. You must change your ways without delay. You must also repent for the times you failed to listen to the counseling of Practitioner Su, for in your selfishness, you sought to protect yourself, yet in doing so, you only caused yourself further harm. You must learn to let go of your private interests and your attachment to the physical body. Sincerely request that Namo Amituofo use this body of yours, so that your Body-Mind-Spirit may follow the Buddha in the work of saving all beings.
The Ten Evils and the Cycle of Samsara
We must repent for the three karmic paths of Body, Speech, and Mind, which have led us to commit the Ten Evils and create immeasurable sin. These include:
- Killing:
- Taking the life of any sentient being.Stealing:
- Taking what is not given.Adultery:
- Engaging in sexual misconduct.Lying:
- Speaking untruths.Flowery Speech:
- Using seductive or frivolous language.Harsh Speech:
- Using abusive or cruel words.Double-tongued Speech:
- Creating discord between others.Greed, Anger, and Ignorance: The fundamental roots of our confusion.
The moment a thought arises in your heart, karma is created. You must be cautious and refrain from creating further negative karma. Instead, stop these wandering thoughts and quickly return to chanting Namo Amituofo. By chanting the name of the Buddha in every moment, you will receive the Buddha’s blessing, which will help you resolve your disasters and obstacles.
The Illusion of Emotional Attachment
We must repent for our attachment to romance and lust. These attachments cause the emotional karma of our past lives to manifest, and even the slightest thought of them brings suffering. You must be cautious regarding how your Six Roots perceive and react to the world. These illusory environments vanish in the blink of an eye, yet the negative causes you have created remain, leaving your Body-Mind-Spirit in a state of deep unrest. You must cut these ties completely. Do not look, do not feel, and do not allow these thoughts to enter your . By chanting Namo Amituofo and diligently performing prostrations, you will find the strength to overcome these obstacles.
The Path to
We must repent for the times we have fallen into a state of being drowsy and allowed our minds to be preoccupied with worldly affairs. When we are not mindful, our and demon crowds can easily attach themselves to us, causing us to lose control of our own bodies and minds, and even leading to the separation of our spirit from our physical form. You must let go of your body, break your attachments, and abandon your selfishness. Only through the practice of chanting Namo Amituofo and receiving the Buddha’s blessing, combined with the diligent practice of the Three Learnings of , Samadhi, and Wisdom, can you find true liberation. It is not too late; you can begin this transformation right now.
Namo Amituofo
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library