The Heart of the Buddha: The Body, Heart, and Spirit at Night

Teachings from Namo Amituofo, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

People often live their lives caught in the cycle of every thought and intention. Throughout the day and night, 24/7, there is not a single moment of true rest. Even when you are asleep, your heart and spirit remain in a state of constant activity. While your physical body may appear to be still and resting, the internal systems of the body continue their most basic functions.

Because this internal activity of the heart and spirit is not expressed through the physical body, you cannot see it with your eyes. However, in reality, your heart and spirit are constantly shifting and changing. This is the typical situation for most people.

The Clarity of the Awakened

For those who have realised their true nature, the situation is entirely different. They are able to maintain a state of purification of the Body-Mind-Spirit 24/7. This is a state of profound stillness, peace, and meditative concentration—a state that is perfectly clear and pure.

As a practitioner, you should strive to maintain this awareness at all times. You must be able to perceive the subtle changes within your own Body-Mind-Spirit clearly. If you have not yet developed such advanced skills, you must rely on the Buddha-name to assist you in the process of purifying the body, heart, and spirit.

The Trap of Delusion

For ordinary people, the Body-Mind-Spirit is always in a state of restless activity. You are constantly plagued by delusion, discrimination, and attachment. You are living a life defined by the self and the cycle of karma. When you go to sleep at night, if you do not know how to manage your state, you remain vulnerable.

However, if you can adjust your state so that while your body rests, your heart and spirit remain anchored to the Buddha-name, you will find great protection. If the Buddha-name continues to flow within you, dense and uninterrupted, you will maintain your awareness even in sleep. This practice helps you avoid several dangerous states: falling into a state of deep, unconscious drowsiness; being unable to wake up, as if trapped in a heavy fog; or having your spirit and soul pulled into other spaces, leaving you feeling unstable and ungrounded.

The Influence of Karmic Creditors

If you have not truly learned to see through and let go of your attachments, your sleep will be restless. When you are vulnerable, your karmic creditors may manifest. They often appear by conjuring images of the people, things, or situations you are most attached to. By doing this, they lure your spirit and soul into other spaces. When your spirit is drawn away, it becomes scattered and incomplete. You lose your ability to focus, your mind becomes chaotic, and you easily fall into a state of dullness and confusion.

The Path to Awakening

In terms of your practice, if your Body-Mind-Spirit can be kept pure and clear, you will have the opportunity to reach Awakening. Therefore, once you understand the difference between the true and the false, the real and the illusory, you must practise with sincerity. You must truly learn to see through and let go. Only then will you be able to withstand the various tests that arise during the night. Only then will your practice move forward step by step, allowing you to attain the purification, the clarity, and the ultimate fruit of Awakening. Namo Amituofo.