Teachings from , recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe. Those who truly perceive the profound suffering of all beings will naturally be moved to achieve their own liberation, not for personal gain, but to save others. When you possess this clear vision, you will no longer be led astray by the heavy weight of your past , the persistent demands of your , the influence of attached spirits, or even the interference of demon crowds.
By maintaining this focus, you can exert your full effort without pause. You will hasten your own success, ensuring that you can save not only yourself but also the countless beings within your own body who are trapped in the six realms of existence, helping them leave suffering behind and find rebirth in the .
The Danger of Stagnation
If you allow yourself to be pulled by the forces of karma, karmic creditors, attached spirits, or demon crowds, your practice will inevitably falter. You will find yourself moving forward and then retreating, often with more retreat than progress. This causes your precious time and life to slip away in a state of constant internal struggle.
Consider the gravity of this situation: if your breath stops and you have yet to complete your spiritual achievements, the countless beings within you who rely on your practice remain unrescued. No matter how much time passes, when you encounter these beings again in future lives, you will still be bound by the same relationship of karmic creditors. They will remain those who seek revenge and repay grievances, while you will remain the one who must repay the debt and offer kindness.
The Mechanics of Spiritual
To break free from these cycles, you must engage in diligent practice by chanting Namo Amituofo and working to change personality traits. This is the only way to transform karma and ensure you are no longer led astray. When you are no longer led astray, you will no longer fall into states of drowsiness or be pulled into illusoryspaces of .
When you enter these spaces and manifest signs of drowsiness, it is because the part of you that has entered this state is consuming your own spiritual energy. Your heart is being pulled by the environment, and your mind is following the external conditions. Your spirit is being drawn into these spaces by other beings. Because the energy consumed by your spirit while active in these spaces is drawn directly from your physical body, the more you fall into this drowsy state, the more you need to exert great effort to break out of it. Sometimes, a loud sound from the outside world is required to snap you back to reality; otherwise, it is very difficult to escape these situations on your own.
The Shield of the Buddha-Name
When you are able to maintain meditative concentration, you will not be led astray by the negative emotion, depression, or anger of others. You will not allow yourself to be pulled into their states of negativity, depression, or emotional volatility. When you are chanting Namo Amituofo, every single recitation is the Buddha himself. You are protected from being led astray by external conditions because every Buddha-name you chant contains the Buddha's and the immense energy of the Buddha-name itself.
By practising non-greed, you will not be led astray by the five roots of wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep, which would otherwise pull you into the suffering of the hells. You must also refuse to be led astray by worldly emotion or the demands of your own body. If you are led by the , , , and Consciousness, you will continue to revolve endlessly within the six realms of existence.
Returning to the True Self
The fourfold assembly must understand that all the conditions mentioned above are illusory. You must diligently practise the Three Learnings of , Samadhi, and Wisdom to ensure you are not led astray by these illusory environments. The fourfold assembly must act with wisdom, striving to return to your true self as soon as possible. Your true self is the only reality, and it is the only thing capable of shattering these illusory traps.
The fourfold assembly must understand this clearly!
