The Practice of Visualization: A Dialogue with Namo Amituofo
Teachings from Namo Amituofo
Recorded on July 27, 2017
On the twenty-seventh of July, 2017, a disciple approached Namo Amituofo with a sincere request for guidance. The disciple asked, "Namo Amituofo, to study the Buddha's path, one must learn the art of visualization. This is of great importance. I humbly request your compassionate teachings on this matter."
The Illusory Nature of All Phenomena
Namo Amituofo offered this profound discourse: Everything that you perceive with your physical is but an illusion. This applies to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, and it applies equally to the myriad phenomena of the universe. You must understand that these illusions are not fixed; they are constantly shifting, changing, and evolving. They possess no permanent essence, no eternal form, and no lasting purity. Yet, within this very illusion, there is a truth that must be realised. That which is truly real is your own original nature—your true self. It is pure, unstained, and contains all possibilities within it.
All images and forms are not singular or static; they change according to the environment and shift according to the intent of the mind. When you practise visualization, you must rely on your spirit and the compassionate power of the Buddha to connect with the suffering of all beings. Your visualization should be guided by this heart of , allowing your mind to transform and transcend the limitations of the material world.
The Boundless Scope of the Mind
Your visualization should have no limits. When your heart is aligned with the right path, you will understand how to direct your focus. Even within the realm of illusion, there is work to be done for the sake of the Buddha. You must act for the benefit of all beings, even those who are also part of this illusory existence. Because your mind-capacity is vast, you can fulfil the wishes of all beings, bringing them and helping them to leave suffering behind and find happiness. This is the collective vow of all who walk the path of the Buddha.
If there are other needs, or if beings are far from their own aspirations, know that your visualization has no boundaries. Within the assembly, the holy beings can manifest in various forms. When you interact with the fourfold assembly of disciples, understand that every encounter is significant. Treat every moment as if it were your only lifetime, for this is the way to cherish the present.
Seeing the Buddha in All Things
You may choose to let go of all delusions, and in that instant, the truth will manifest. This is the present moment, and it is real, not merely an illusion. When you connect with this truth through your heart, you are following the core of the practice. You are connecting with the spirit, rather than relying solely on the external image. In this state, every place is real, every moment is true, and every person you encounter is a Buddha.
Where are the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas? They are everywhere:
- They are in the blooming flowers and the swaying grass.They are in the drifting clouds and the vast, surging ocean.They are in the gentle smiles of those you meet.
There is no place where the Buddha is not present. When you reach this level of understanding, the distinctions of "you" and "me," right and wrong, true and false, beauty and ugliness, or high and low, all vanish. Where are the suffering beings? They are in your heart, they are among the crowd, and they are in every corner of existence. They are one with me. This truth cannot be fully grasped through mere words, language, or physical statues; it must be experienced and understood from within.
Transcending the Cycle of Rebirth
If you seek to manifest the Buddha again, you must realise that the external form is not the original face. All external appearances are merely manifestations. Therefore, it is said that there is nothing to be said, nothing to be done, and nothing to be practised, for one has never truly left their original position. When you return to the realm of illusion, you are still performing illusory actions, having illusory relationships, and experiencing illusory attachments. In the next life, these roles will change again.
Consider this: in the vast cycle of rebirth, one who is your father today may be your son in another life. One who is your child today may be your mother in the future. All beings are constantly changing roles. Who is truly who? What is truly real? Nothing is permanent; nothing is unchanging. Everything is in a state of constant flux. By pointing to this, you can see the illusion within the change.
The Path to
You may visualize anything—the large and the small, the long and the short, the thick and the thin. You may contemplate the past and the future, the soft and the hard, the angry and the joyful. If you remain unmoved by these, you will see that they are all outside of the true heart. Whether there is much or little, it is all one. When you let go of everything, you gain everything.
Whether your practice is simple or complex, it will arise according to your , change according to the beings you encounter, and transform according to the circumstances. While the external world may appear to be in motion, your inner heart remains as still as a mountain, in a state of perfect meditative concentration. You will have no attachments, no disturbances, and no worries. Every Dharma is as it is, every event is acceptable, every person is good, and every object is a treasure. Your true nature is within you, but you have been lost in confusion for countless eons. You have not yet received the good news of your own original face, but you are only waiting for the bright light of wisdom to sweep away the darkness. Once you see the truth, you can visualize anything without being bound by it, moving freely and at ease. The bright light is everywhere because you have seen the truth: the Buddha is none other than yourself. If you have not yet seen the truth, be cautious of your mental notes and thoughts. If you have already seen the truth, you may manage your practice as you wish.
Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
Namo Amituofo
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