The Path to Awakening: Living in the Present Moment
Teachings from Namo Amituofo
Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe, on 19 January 2024
Teachings from Namo Amituofo, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
People in this world often live their lives trapped within the confines of memory and nostalgia. At any given moment, scenes from the past may suddenly surface in the mind. You might find yourself reviewing old photographs, watching video recordings, or listening to sounds that transport you back to a specific time and place. You see the people, the objects, and the actions of yesterday, and it feels as though those moments are unfolding right before your eyes, as if time itself has folded back upon itself.
The Labyrinth of Memory and Nostalgia
This experience of seeing objects and feeling emotions is a common way we express our longing for friends, family members, or even beloved pets who are no longer by our side. Although your rational mind knows that the departed are gone and that the past cannot be recreated, you may still find yourself deeply immersed in these memories. You know that these events have long since passed, yet you remain fixated on them, unable to let go.
However, when you attempt to withdraw from this state of reflection, you may find that you have already triggered a chain reaction within your own . By simply engaging in every thought and intention, you inadvertently:
- Awaken the residing within your body.Invite spiritual attachment from beings in the surrounding environment who share similar experiences or emotional resonance.Deepen your entanglement in the cycle of reincarnated existence and the heavy weight of .
The Fleeting Shadows of Causal Conditions
In truth, when you dwell on the past, you are no longer seeing things through your own clear, original nature. You have allowed the , views, and emotional baggage of your karmic creditors to cloud your judgment. You have become trapped in a cycle of karma that feels real, yet it is merely a projection of past Causal Conditions. How can this state of mind be considered the Truth? Yet, because we are constantly obscured by our own delusions, we believe these projections to be real.
In reality, both the past and the present are composed of a complex combination of Causal Conditions. It is only when these conditions align that a specific scene or situation can manifest. These conditions are subject to the law of arising and ceasing; they are not the ultimate reality. Once they have passed, they are gone forever. When you clearly understand this principle, you will no longer be deceived by these appearances, and you will protect your opportunity to rediscover your true nature.
to the Eternal Present
This is why living in the present moment is so profoundly important. The present is the only time you can truly grasp and master. Do not continue to lose yourself in the depths of the past. Every moment you spend dwelling on what has already gone is a moment lost—a moment where you have failed to move forward. Furthermore, by dwelling on the past, you invite endless karma and sentient beings to manifest before you, leading to further confusion and upside-down thinking.
When you are lost in these illusions, you become susceptible to the suffering of ageing and illness. You mistake the false for the true, allowing , anger, sorrow, and happiness to dictate your state of mind. Instead of focusing on the urgent task of purification, you are inadvertently creating more karma and adding to your burden, rather than dissolving it. Until you have reached the stage of an awakened being and have the power to transform your karma, dwelling on the past will remain a significant obstacle to your practice.
Living in the present offers you:
- A fresh opportunity for a new beginning in your practice.The genuine possibility to transform your karma.The vital chance to break through delusion and attain .
Namo Amituofo
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Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
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