The Heart of the Buddha: Learning and Practice

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe

9 December 2023

Namo Amituofo’s discourse:

The Interwoven Threads of Cause and Effect

Learning is an essential condition for survival in this world. It is a complex process that involves many interconnected factors, forming a continuous chain of cause and effect. These factors include your innate aptitude, your capacity to absorb new information, your ability to memorise, your personal interests, the speed at which you learn, your attitude toward the subject matter, and your overall responsiveness. Each of these elements is a seed planted in the past, manifesting as the results you experience today.

My dear children, you must understand that the essence of the Buddha’s teachings lies in your ability to seize the moment. Before you reach the state of an awakened being, your Body-Mind-Spirit is still governed by the laws of karma. The busier your life becomes, the more you require the profound skill of meditative concentration to maintain your inner balance.

The Serene Art of Living in the Present

To seize the moment is to master the art of being able to pick things up and put them down with ease. In other words, you must be fully present and diligent when you are engaged in a task, and once the task is complete, you must let it go entirely. This is a form of meditative concentration. Why is this so?

For the practitioner, it means using your focus, your keen awareness, your meditative concentration, and your Six Roots simultaneously in the present moment. Once the action is finished, you release it because it has already passed. If you need to address the matter again later, you simply pick it up once more. This prevents the accumulation of unnecessary mental burdens.

Harmonising Daily Duties with Diligent Practice

You all have the same twenty-four hours in a day. To make the most of your time, you must learn to live as if one day were two. Even when you are occupied with worldly duties and the necessity of learning new skills, you must treat these challenges as opportunities for education. When your workload increases while your time remains constant, it is even more vital that you seize the moment.

• Always keep the Buddha-name in your heart.
• Do not let your mind wander to other matters, especially those that drain your time and spirit.
• Recognise that your current environment is a place where you must face necessary lessons.
• See the truth of reality clearly, even amidst the limitations of your physical strength and time.

During your fixed daily practice—whether you are performing prostrations, walking while chanting Buddha's name, or reciting the Sutras—you must strive to be diligent in every moment. Work hard to overcome being drowsy and enter into the vastness of space.

Learning as a Compassionate Bridge for All Beings

This learning is not for the sake of worldly gain; it is to help you remain here to assist more beings in encountering the Buddha’s teachings. By improving your communication and understanding, you enhance your ability to save and lead beings to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Those who have achieved success in their meditative concentration are the most effective learners, as they do not allow the process of learning to create problems or attachments.

You must cultivate a spirit of mutual assistance within your team, allowing yourself and your fellow practitioners to grow together. Those who are particularly skilled in a certain area should use this time to share their knowledge and guide others. When you have the opportunity to speak or present, do so clearly and loudly. By doing this, you help your fellow students understand the material, which in turn helps them navigate these days of practice. For many, this is the most effective way to learn.

Walking the Path of Harmony and Selflessness

While you learn, you must not become attached to the process. Do not allow feelings of gain or loss, competitiveness, or comparison to take root in your heart. Instead, you should let go of your ego and stubborn "self". Embrace one another with acceptance and tolerance. Everyone is working toward a common goal; therefore, you must support each other’s growth as you walk this path of learning and practice together. By doing so, you follow the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. Namo Amituofo.