The Heart of the Buddha: Purifying Desires to Reach Stillness
Teachings from Namo Amituofo
Recorded on February 2, 2025
Words of Namo Amituofo: Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
The Trap of Unchecked Desire
When you harbour desires, you are making demands of the world. This creates movement within your heart. If you do not know how to be content, or if you fail to stop when you have enough, you will inevitably fall into the trap of greed. This greed leads to the creation of negative , which can pull you down into the suffering of the hells. How many can truly realise that every thought and intention is a seed planted in the soil of their own future?
The of the World
In this world, we are constantly faced with the basic cravings of . These are known as the five desires: wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep. These desires originate within the heart. Beings strive to satisfy their Body-Mind-Spirit, yet these needs are often driven by past karma. If you have desires and attachments during your practice, every thought and intention will become an obstacle to your progress.
The Path to Stillness and Liberation
To advance in your practice, you must reduce your desires to the absolute minimum. This is the state of having a clear heart and few desires, eventually leading to a life of no desires. When you can follow the conditions of life as they arise and remain at peace in any situation, you are making genuine progress. This state of being helps your spirit and all beings remain undisturbed by the fluctuations of the world.
Desires can arise from within the body, or they can be triggered by external people, events, or environments that cause your heart to ripple with longing. This is why a pure and tranquil environment for your practice is so essential. Your practice is meant to help you break free from the shackles of karma so that you may become an awakened being and find true liberation.
Turning Inward
Because desires are often focused on satisfying the physical body and the ego, you must learn to minimise these needs while you reside in this world. You should strive to reduce the influence of external factors on your body. By turning your Six Roots inward and keeping your heart still and unmoved, you effectively reduce the demands of the body to their lowest point. This leads to a life of reduced desires, and ultimately, a life of no desires at all.
Namo Amituofo
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Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library