The Solitary Journey: Arriving Alone and Departing Alone

The Fundamental Truth of Existence

Words of Namo Amituofo, recorded by Venerable HaiZe on July 29, 2022. Namo Amituofo offers this profound teaching on the nature of our journey through existence: "Born alone, die alone; go alone, come alone. One must bear the consequences of one's own joy and suffering; there is no one who can take your place."

This single statement pierces through the veil of life's illusions. All that you pursue, all that you possess, and all that you hold dear will vanish the moment death arrives. When that final hour comes, you are left as a solitary individual to face the reality of your own existence. You must ask yourself: Is this suffering or is this joy? Is this the cycle of reincarnation or is this the Western Pure Land? In that moment, there is no one to accompany you, and there is no one who can stand in your place to bear your burdens.

The Illusion of Worldly Life

This truth remains constant across all time and space. Whether on Earth, in the vastness of the void, or anywhere within the Milky Way, every living being faces this same reality. During your time in this world, you may experience many things:

• The glory of wealth and high status.The hardship of poverty and helplessness.The fleeting nature of worldly success.

These experiences are merely the manifestation of the laws of karma and cause and effect. They are illusory and temporary, yet people do not realise this. We treat this play as if it were real, becoming deeply entangled in our emotions. We experience joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness, enduring the bitter and the sweet of life. Even those who understand the truth often find it difficult to detach themselves. They remain deeply mired in the drama, continuing to mistake the play for reality, and thus, they continue to suffer within the cycle of reincarnation.

The Solitude of the Spirit

After death, only your solitary spirit remains to face everything that lies before it. Wherever you go, you go alone, and you return alone. You are the sole creator of your own causes, and you are the only one who will receive the resulting fruits. Given this, one must reflect deeply: what is the true purpose of this human life?

You should use compassion to face every person, object, and event you encounter. Understand that everyone you meet is someone with whom you have had a past connection. You must strive to help them leave suffering behind and find happiness. Do not continue to walk the path of suffering; instead, use your Wisdom (Prajna) to treat all things with clarity. Do not be driven by your emotions, for in the end, everything will result in nothingness, leaving you only with a body full of scars. Even if you meet these same people in a future life, the roles may be reversed, and the cycle of harm will continue. Why suffer such a fate when the truth is so clear?

The Path to Liberation

My children, obtaining a human body is not easy. From the moment you enter your mother's womb, you are already immersed in the forces of karma. Do you truly wish to return again to endure the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, death? You must resolve to break free from this cycle. Therefore, the most important task is to learn the Dharma and engage in diligent practice.

When you understand these truths, you must strive to seek the Dharma with diligence. By becoming an awakened being, you will achieve liberation from the cycle of birth and death. Only then will you have the power to save yourself and to help all the beings you encounter to leave suffering behind and be reborn in the Western Pure Land. Namo Amituofo.