The Realisation of Vows

Words of Namo Amituofo, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable Fa Hui.

To see one's vows come to fruition is the deepest aspiration of every practitioner. However, one must understand that a vow is not merely a thought held in the heart; it is a seed that requires the soil of action to grow. The primary task for any practitioner is to engage in diligent practice. You must plant your vows within your heart, but you must also bring them to completion through your actions. Therefore, where there is a vow, there must be corresponding practice. Only then will there come a time when your vows are fully realised.

The Synergy of Vow and Action

If you encounter obstacles in your practice that make it difficult to move forward, you must find a way to break through them. Only by overcoming these barriers can your vows reach their ultimate fruition. The scale of your breakthrough determines the impact of your practice:

• Small-scale breakthroughs: These influence only yourself and a small number of people around you.
• Large-scale breakthroughs: These have a profound impact, reaching many beings, extending to the four holy realms and the six realms of existence, and even permeating the entire Dharma Realm.

Namo Amituofo’s Forty-eight Great Vows are the perfect example of this. Over five kalpas, every single vow was brought to fruition, and through this, the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss was constructed.

The Power of Self and Buddha

The process of realising your vows requires the application of great strength and being fiercely diligent. You must be brave enough to face all conditions that arise, including the interference of demons and the manifestation of karma. You must remain firm and unyielding, maintaining your confidence and ensuring that your vow-heart continues to move forward without retreat. You must harbour no desire to turn back; this is the power of the self. Only when this self-power is fully manifest can the Buddha-power be received, ultimately leading to the realisation of your vows.

The Compassionate Foundation

If you wish for your Pure Land vows to be realised, you must first cultivate the heart to save beings. This is the essential prerequisite. This heart is the heart of great compassion. It must be present at the forefront of your journey, serving as the guide that leads all your vows into action. This is because the original vows of Namo Amituofo arose from a heart of great compassion. Therefore, when your vows are in sync with the Buddha-heart, and your self-power is manifest, the Buddha-power will surely support you.

The Vitality of Chanting

In your daily practice, please remember to hold fast to the six-character name of Namo Amituofo. Chanting the Buddha's name is the key to connecting with the Buddha’s heart and staying in sync with Namo Amituofo. Consider the difference between two paths:

• Without the name: If you forget to hold the sacred name of Namo Amituofo while walking the path of liberation from the cycle of being reincarnated, it is like walking barefoot on a road covered in sharp, jagged stones. Not only will you bleed profusely, but you may even collapse, unable to rise again.
• With the name: If you hold the sacred name of Namo Amituofo while walking the path of liberation, it is like sitting on the back of a great bird while travelling over that same rocky road, flying swiftly toward your destination.

Given these two conditions, which path would you, as a Pure Land practitioner, choose to follow? You must have faith in the Buddha, faith in yourself, and engage in diligent practice. Hold the name of the Buddha without interruption, moving straight ahead. By doing so, you will realise your vows, attain the awakened state, and achieve the Buddha's path. In this way, you will save yourself and save beings, helping them leave suffering behind and find rebirth in the Western Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo