The Path to Awakening Depends on Yourself
Words of Namo Amituofo
Recorded on March 9, 2024
Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe
March 9, 2024, First Session
The Solitary Journey of the Heart
My children, the journey of spiritual practice is a deeply personal undertaking. While Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, as well as your fellow practitioners, can provide guidance and support, they are merely external conditions. They can assist you, but they cannot walk the path in your stead. Ultimately, you are the primary cause of your own liberation. Everything depends on you.
Fierce and diligent practice must come from your own heart. To be casual or to relax your efforts is a great pity, especially for those of you at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre. You must understand that the responsibility for your progress rests entirely upon your own shoulders.
Echoes of in the Illusion
Whether you remain trapped in the cycle of the six realms of existence depends on you. You have wandered through the various paths of the six realms—both the evil and the good—countless times before. The joys and sorrows you have experienced are now merely echoes of the past. All that you perceive as is but a manifestation within an illusion.
When a spirit enters the hells, no one can take their place. Whether one was a powerful emperor or a common citizen, no one is exempt from the consequences of their actions. The suffering in those realms is absolute:
- The intense, piercing cries of agony.The unbearable pain that seems to have no end.The hopelessness of being trapped in the hells of uninterrupted suffering.
The Rare Opportunity of Human Existence
At this moment, you possess a human body. You must be vigilant and alert. Do not let a fleeting moment of greed or desire lead you astray. Do not be swayed by the sensations of or the cravings of the . To create the karma that leads to the hells for the sake of temporary pleasure is truly not worth the price.
The Inevitable Passage of Life and Death
The suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death is something you must face alone. No one can substitute for you in these experiences:
- Birth: The beginning of our karmic journey in this life.Aging: The gradual decline of our physical form.Sickness: The manifestation of past karmic debts.Death: The inevitable transition to the next stage of existence.
We come into this world alone, and we leave it alone. You must recognise the truth of this reality to seek true liberation.
The Radiant Light of Namo Amituofo
Your worries and pains are yours to bear, but you have the power to resolve this heat and suffering. If you chant Buddha's name, the Buddha will assist you. The power of the Buddha will merge with your own efforts, providing the strength you need to overcome your obstacles. Whether you remain stagnant or move forward step by step is entirely up to you. To break through delusion and attain , and to realise your true nature, is a task that only you can accomplish. The burden you carry is yours, and the relief you find when you let go is also yours to enjoy. Everything depends on you, not on others.
The Return to the Western Pure Land
Rebirth in the Western Pure Land depends on you. By embracing the supreme of the One Vehicle, you walk the path to Buddhahood. This is the path of the Buddha of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo.
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library