The Steadfast Vow: Words of Namo Amituofo

Words of Namo Amituofo. Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

December 22, 2024, First Session.

The Compass of the Soul

In your spiritual practice, you must establish a firm vow. A vow serves as your guide, providing clear direction for your actions. When your actions are supported by a powerful, unwavering vow, you will find that your aspirations will eventually be fulfilled. Without a vow, your practice lacks a destination; with a vow, your practice gains the strength to overcome any obstacle.

The Example of Namo Amituofo

When Namo Amituofo was in his causal stage as a Bodhisattva, he received the support and blessings of Lokesvararaja Buddha. Under this guidance, he established the Forty-eight Great Vows. Because he remained steadfast and never retreated from these vows, each one was successfully realised. Through this dedication, he built the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and attained Buddhahood as Namo Amituofo.

The Path of the Pure Land Practitioner

For those who follow the Mahayana path of the Pure Land, your Great Vow is threefold: to recite the name of Namo Amituofo and attain rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss; to recite the name of Namo Amituofo, realise your true nature, and attain Buddhahood; and to save countless suffering beings by guiding them toward the light of the Dharma.

Your ultimate goal in seeking rebirth and attaining Buddhahood is to gain the capacity to deliver all sentient beings from suffering. This aspiration is perfectly in sync with the practice of arousing the Bodhi mind and single-mindedly reciting Namo Amituofo.

The Power of Small Vows

As you progress on your journey, you may find that your vows evolve according to your environment, your mental state, and the changing conditions of your life. It is wise to make smaller, incremental vows that serve as the foundation for your Great Vow. These smaller commitments are essential for your growth: changing personality traits, overcoming being drowsy, nurturing compassion, and maintaining diligent practice.

You must achieve these smaller goals step by step. Only by fulfilling these individual vows can you save yourself and eventually achieve the Great Vow of realising your true nature and delivering all beings.

The Urgency of This Lifetime

The process of practice is simply the process of moving forward, step by step, guided by the power of your vows. If you remain steadfast and never retreat, you will surely have the opportunity to see your vows come to fruition. Every single vow you make can be achieved within this limited lifetime if you are diligent, persistent, and cherish every passing second.

If you fail to achieve your vows before the end of this life, you will have to start again in your next life within the human world. You would need to make new vows and work with renewed diligence, and by then, who knows how many lifetimes or eons may have passed? Therefore, you must seize the opportunity to practise diligently at Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre.

You will inevitably face various challenges: the tests of the Buddha, which examine the sincerity of your faith; the tests of demons, which arise from your own attachments and past karma; and the tests of sentient beings, which are difficulties encountered through your interactions with others. You must face these challenges with courage and break through them. Only then will you reach the moment of realising your true nature and fulfilling your Great Vow.

Namo Amituofo