The Pure Lotus: A Dialogue with Namo Amituofo
Teachings from Namo Amituofo
Recorded on July 28, 2017
On the twenty-eighth of July, 2017, the disciple Shi Faxi respectfully invited Namo Amituofo to provide teachings. We are deeply grateful for the boundless of the Buddha.
The Lotus as a Mirror of the Soul
Namo Amituofo offers this teaching: The lotus does not display itself with arrogance, yet it remains inherently pure and clean. It grows from the murky, stagnant mud, yet it is never stained by the filth that surrounds it. Its stem grows straight and tall, and its flower blooms with brilliant radiance. Those who behold such a sight feel a natural arise within their hearts, and they cannot help but gaze upon it with admiration.
The conditions of life are often peculiar. When we encounter a person who truly loves the lotus, we see that the lotus itself is a symbol of purity amidst the mud. It is much like the path of our spiritual practice. We find ourselves walking through a path covered in the mire of the world. We are often covered in this mud, and it is difficult to cleanse ourselves completely.
Trapped in the Mud of Samsara
The world of the Saha realm is like a vast, deep mud pit. We enter into it, and there are many different types of beings trapped within. It is incredibly difficult to escape because we have spent so long drinking the mud of this world. We have become accustomed to this inferior state of existence. We have lived in this state for so long that we have lost the ability to distinguish between the path to the heavens and the path to the hells.
In the hearts of humanity, the Buddha is no longer seen. People rely only on their own states of mind and speak according to their own selfish intentions. Look at the state of our streets and cities, the endless struggles within families, the tangled webs of emotional entanglements, and the insatiable greed for worldly things. Because of this, we fail to see the Truth. We find it difficult to maintain a sincere heart. The root cause is , which generates this impurity.
The Roots of Suffering
The wicked states of the world are all created by the stains within our own hearts. How does this state of mind arise? Originally, our nature is entirely pure. Why, then, does it become stained? Why is there no sign of purity? It is because of the dust of the world. There is nothing in this world that is worth clinging to. Attachment is what causes all our troubles. When we are filled with infinite attachments, our hearts are always missing something. We are rarely satisfied, and we rarely feel gratitude. Our hearts can never find peace because we are driven by the desire to satisfy our endless cravings.
The Path to True Purity
How can one find peace? You must learn to let go of desires. You must see that this body is merely a temporary vessel, and you must learn to let go of the life of this current body. When you have no attachment to the state of the self, your heart will become cool, calm, and at ease. When your heart is full of everything, you are fundamentally complete. Naturally, your conditions will be fulfilled. The world is empty and illusory. Time and conditions pass by, and they never wait for anyone.
Day after day passes in vain. When will you finally awaken? When will you realise the truth? You will walk through this entire life, and in the end, you will not be able to take a single thing with you. Only your spirit will remain. You must grasp this opportunity and listen to my counseling. You must build up your and your wisdom. With Faith, Vows, and practice united as one, you must never retreat or falter.
Embodying the Middle Way
This is the true practice. Your heart must be sincere and real. It must be as empty as the void, yet it must be distinct from the ego. You should be like the pure lotus. You should be like the stem of the lotus: hollow inside and straight outside. This is the Middle Way, which never wavers. From the lotus, we bear witness to the lotus. In the West, we are transformed by the lotus. I use the lotus as a metaphor today, hoping that you will understand the meaning of true purity.
This message was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Faxi.
Namo Amituofo
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Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
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