The Stillness and Peace of the Heart
Words of Namo Amituofo
Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe on February 10, 2024
The Source of All Phenomena
The heart can give rise to all phenomena, and all phenomena arise from the heart. This is because beings often carry doubts that are difficult to end and confusion that is hard to resolve; therefore, there must be to counteract these states. If the Dharma arises from your true self, it is a good Dharma that should be utilised well. By applying it, you can resolve all doubts, and your heart will find both peace and stillness. Conversely, if the Dharma arises from confusion, it is an evil Dharma that must not be used. Engaging in such paths only leads to the creation of evil and the suffering of its fruits, leaving the heart restless and unsettled.
The Fluidity of the Awakened Heart
For those who have realised their true nature, the Dharma that manifests is not fixed. It is a good Dharma that changes according to the moment. Because we exist within the state of impermanence, we must also learn to flow with this impermanence. Only by doing so can we guide ourselves from wrong paths back onto the righteous path. The heart has the capacity to contain all things; it can unfold the scenes of reincarnation one after another, yet it can also remain empty, revealing the true self.
The Journey of the Spirit
This heart can become a Buddha, or it can become a demon. Since time immemorial, this spirit has travelled through many realms. Beyond the human world, it has visited all of the six realms of existence, including the Demon Realm. It has been a part of the high mountains and the vast oceans, and it has experienced life as earthly creatures, from those that fly to those that crawl. We have simply forgotten these past lives. Now, when we look from the perspective that all beings possess an equal Buddha-nature, we realise that all beings are one. It is only because of our confusion that we appear as the myriad things of this world.
The Qualities of a Peaceful Heart
When the heart is still, there are no waves of agitation. When the heart is at peace, there is no fear or anxiety. We can identify those who possess this stillness and peace by their qualities:
- Those who possess and wisdom are naturally still and at peace.Those who have attained tremendous and have no worries in their hearts are still and at peace.Those who chant the Buddha's name and are filled with Dharma are still and at peace.Those who have achieved success in their meditative concentration are still and at peace.Those who have realised their true nature are still and at peace.Those who maintain a single-minded focus rather than a scattered heart are still and at peace.Those who are dedicated and do not allow their attention to wander are still and at peace.Those who are sincere and free from falsehood are still and at peace.
Returning to the Western Land
Realising one's true nature is most accessible within the human world. Those who have realised their true nature understand the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, and they remain constantly in a state of stillness and peace. For the beings of the of Ultimate Bliss, this stillness and peace is their original, natural state. May you also find this peace within your own heart as you walk the path of Namo Amituofo.
Namo Amituofo
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library