The Interconnectedness of Time: This Moment and That Moment

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

November 24, 2023

The Eternal Flow of Cause and Effect

What we call "this time" is the present moment. "That time" refers to the infinite, distant past that precedes this very moment, or it can be as close as the immediate past. In the grand design of the universe, "that time" serves as the cause, while "this time" manifests as the fruit. The laws of karma and cause and effect are not restricted by time or space. They operate across this world and beyond, weaving through the entire universe and the Milky Way in a complex, interconnected web.

If you are able to practise with a truly pure heart, working diligently and steadily in this present moment, it is because you planted the seeds of good cause in the past. Your current dedication is the fruition of those past efforts.

Transcending the Cycle of Suffering

Sentient beings have long suffered from the weight of emotion. If you do not wish to endure this emotional suffering any longer, and if you desire to step off the path of being reincarnated through the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death, you must change your approach. In your practice, you must distance yourself from romantic entanglements. By using the Precepts as your guide, you can maintain the purity of your Body-Mind-Spirit.

Romantic entanglements and worldly attachments cloud the heart and spirit. By adhering to the Precepts, you create a protective boundary that keeps your practice focused. Maintaining a pure Body-Mind-Spirit is essential for long-term spiritual growth.

The Achievement of Awakening

You must put in the work to refine your skills. When you consistently apply yourself to your practice, you will eventually reach the state of an awakened being. This is the moment when you are truly equipped to save others and guide them toward liberation. The truth is absolute: good cause leads to good fruit, while a negative cause leads to evil consequences. You must be mindful and awake; if you continue to plant the seeds of a negative cause, when will the resulting suffering ever cease?

Beyond the Illusion of Time

In the highest sense, "that time" and "this time" are one and the same. There is no high or low, no before or after, and no distinction between the present and the past. To break through the limitations of space and time is to become an awakened being. Often, one may have been a talented scholar in a past life, only to find themselves destitute in this one; this is the reality of impermanence and the cycle of karma. You must know how to cherish your blessings and create new ones, for only then will you truly have good fortune. If you merely exhaust your blessings without creating more, you will inevitably face the consequences of suffering. Namo Amituofo.