The Path of Forgetting the Self

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

On the twenty-second of June, 2025, during the noon offering, Namo Amituofo offered these teachings:

The Necessity of Letting Go

To forget the self is the essential process of spiritual achievement. Entering the state of no-self is the fundamental condition for Awakening. For the vast majority of beings, life is defined by the existence of the self; they live entirely for the sake of this 'I'.

This 'I' is a complex construct that encompasses your physical form, your feelings, your perceptions, your mental formations, and your consciousness. People spend their entire lives caught within these five aggregates. Because the heart fluctuates according to external conditions, every thought and intention you generate enters your consciousness and becomes karma. This allows past karmic seeds to manifest, while simultaneously creating new ones. Consequently, you will inevitably face the fruits of this karma in the future.

The Cycle of Suffering

This persistent attachment to the self causes the spirit to endure the consequences of its own actions. These consequences include the immense suffering found within the six realms of rebirth, such as the torments of the hells. As the heart follows the spirit through successive reincarnations, it becomes layered with thick defilements. These layers cover your true self, preventing you from seeing your original, pure face. Because you cannot see this true nature, you are unable to access the inherent qualities and capabilities that belong to it, and thus you cannot truly benefit other beings.

The Trap of the Five Poisons

If you allow yourself to be led by the 'self'—the ego that is deeply entangled in karma—you will inevitably create sins rooted in Greed, Anger, Ignorance, Arrogance, and Doubt. You will also be driven by the five desires: wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep. These actions will make the opportunity to practise no-self and witness your original nature seem infinitely distant, like a horizon that never draws near.

The Value of True Practice

What is the true value of existing in this world? For a practitioner, it lies in whether you can remove defilements and attain purity, reach the state of no-self, and achieve Awakening. Furthermore, it is about passing this process and these experiences on to those who come after you. By doing so, you provide future generations with the opportunity to learn how to forget the self, attain no-self, and reach Awakening through your guidance.

This entire process is undertaken to perfect oneself and to save countless suffering beings. This is the essential understanding that every practitioner of the Great Vehicle must hold in their heart.

Namo Amituofo