Teachings from , recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
On the second of August, 2024, during the midday offering, Namo Amituofo provided the following discourse:
The Mind as the Origin of Suffering
Beings suffer, but where does this suffering truly come from? It arises entirely from the mind. Every form of suffering is born from our own thoughts. If there is a sense of suffering within your heart, then both your body and your spirit will inevitably experience that pain. Before one reaches the state of attaining , the physical body is subject to the laws of impermanence. Because of this, we are bound to experience the various forms of suffering that define our existence in this world:
The pain of aging, as our physical strength fades.
The agony of sickness, as our bodies fail us.
The ultimate fear of death, which marks the end of our current life.
The Perspective of an Awakened Being
After one attains Awakening, the situation changes significantly. When a practitioner works to save other beings, they may take on the suffering of those they help. However, because they have attained Awakening, their heart clearly understands that this suffering is merely an illusion. They know it is temporary, a manifestation of Causal Conditions that arise and cease. They understand that there will eventually be an end to this suffering. Therefore, their heart remains in a state of meditative concentration. Even if their body suffers, their heart does not. This is the state of a practitioner who has achieved spiritual success in their Body-Mind-Spirit purification.
The Trap of the Cycle of Reincarnation
allows the heart to endure. By understanding the laws of and cause and effect, one perceives the suffering of all beings without allowing negative emotions—such as anger, resentment, or hatred—to arise. When the heart is stable, it does not suffer, and the spirit remains at peace. However, for the average person, life is a constant struggle. Regardless of how busy or exhausted you may be, if you do not understand the truth of reality, you will continue to act in ways that create negative karma. If you do not follow the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, your actions will lead to further suffering. Once the physical body passes away, the spirit must still face the consequences of its actions according to the laws of karma and cause and effect.
The Path to True Liberation
If you perform evil deeds, you will suffer the consequences, which is truly a sorrowful fate. If you perform good deeds and follow the and the ten virtues, you may be reborn into the Celestial Realm. Yet, even there, once your celestial lifespan is exhausted, you will inevitably fall back into the cycle of reincarnation. This, too, is a form of suffering. My children, you must broaden your vision and open your mind-capacity. You must accept the Buddha’s teachings to see the reality of the world clearly. At Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre, Namo Amituofo is truly present. You must seize the opportunity while you still have breath to engage in True Cultivation. You must practise diligent practice and chant the Buddha-name of Namo Amituofo all the way, with absolute sincerity and focus. By doing so, you will attain Awakening, leave the cycle of reincarnation behind in this very life, and be able to freely travel to and from the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, never to suffer again. You must be proactive. You must be willing to let go of worldly attachments to gain the fullness of Awakening. By letting go of the worldly, you gain the eternal, which is truly abundant. This is how you leave suffering behind and enter the of the Western Pure Land.
