The Illusory and the Real: A Discourse by Namo Amituofo

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

The Nature of Illusion and Reality

When we speak of the illusory and the real, we are distinguishing between the transient, shifting phenomena of this world and the eternal, unchanging nature of the truth. Beings often live their entire lives immersed in these illusions. Because they do not recognise the illusory nature of their experiences, they mistake them for reality, and consequently, they endure endless suffering. In this state of illusion, everything is constantly changing and unstable. The heart follows these illusions, turning with every external condition, and as a result, we are bound by the cycle of karmic conditions and the causes and effects that lead to birth, aging, sickness, and death.

In contrast, the realm of reality is truly authentic. Although it may appear to be empty or void, it actually encompasses all things and is boundless in its reach. If your heart remains constantly still, undisturbed by external conditions, you will find that you are no longer controlled by the environment. Instead, you gain the ability to transform the environment itself. When your heart is perpetually cool, calm, and at ease, your body will not be subject to the typical decay of birth, aging, sickness, death. Your spirit never dies, and you will be able to attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss with complete freedom.

Transcending the Six Realms

What exactly is illusory? The cycle of rebirth, the weight of karma, and the six realms of rebirth are all illusory. They change according to the karma we have created. We find ourselves in different spaces and different environments, but these spaces and environments manifest according to the state of our hearts. Because the cycle of rebirth, karma, and the six realms of rebirth are all manifestations of the mind, it follows that by transforming your heart, you can transform your environment.

People often believe that this physical body is real. This misconception arises because we have spent far too long wandering within the six realms of rebirth. We have mistaken the false for the true, and in doing so, we have forgotten our original, true self-nature. To achieve Awakening is to recognise this error and return to the source of our being.

The Function of the Six Roots

What is real? Your true self-nature is the only true reality. People interact with the world through the Six Sense Organs: eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind. When these Six Roots encounter the Six Dusts, they produce consciousness, but all of these processes are essentially illusory. The path of practice requires that you use your Six Roots within the Six Dusts without being led astray or pulled by the Six Consciousnesses. When you achieve this, the inherent capacity of your Six Roots can manifest and be put to use. This is the natural manifestation of your innate abilities. Awakening is the moment when these natural abilities are fully revealed, and the purpose of using these abilities is to save countless suffering beings.

The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss

The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss was established by Dharmakara Bhikshu to save all beings throughout the Ten Directions of the Dharma Realm. Through the realisation of his Forty-eight Great Vows, he attained Buddhahood and became known as Namo Amituofo. This world was built from the flow of Namo Amituofo's own true self-nature. Every being of the Western Land who enters this world is able to practise until they attain Buddhahood, finally seeing their own true face.

The Path of Diligent Practice

Once a practitioner clearly distinguishes between the illusory and the real, they can skilfully utilise the illusory environment and this temporary body to rediscover their true self-nature. This is the very essence of diligent practice. The Buddha’s teachings provide 84,000 Dharma gates to counteract the various afflictions and suffering that beings face. These gates are methods for using the illusory body within this illusory world to find the true self-nature. Although this bodhimanda may appear like the moon reflected in water—illusory and transient—your temporary body must practise within it, performing the Buddha's work even within this dream-like existence. When you are finally able to realise that all is an illusion and a dream, that is the moment you cast off impurity, see the truth, and return to your true self-nature.

Namo Amituofo