The Universal Principle and the Infinite Nature of Being

Teachings from Namo Amituofo: Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable Fa Hui.

On the fourteenth of July, 2024, during the first session, Namo Amituofo offered these profound teachings to all beings.

The Infinite Scale of Existence

Human beings often hold rigid concepts of what is large and what is small, or what is considered many and what is considered few. We rely on the conventional standards of this world, or perhaps our own subjective viewpoints, to make these distinctions. However, the universe is not limited by such human perceptions. It can be vast, yet it can also be minute.

According to the common standards of the world, we view the universe as a boundless space existing within the void—a vast, infinite expanse. We see the Earth as merely one celestial body within the Milky Way, a tiny part of the greater whole. The ten directions and the entire galaxy are contained within this universe, which houses countless stars and infinite forms of life. This is the current state of the universe as we perceive it.

Yet, we have discovered that the human body is equally vast. Within our own physical form, there exists an infinite space—a cosmos within a cosmos—housing countless spirits that are difficult to even calculate. Just as the stars populate the night sky, our bodies are home to a multitude of lives.

The Natural Law of the Universe

The Universal Principle is the standard that all beings must abide by, regardless of the size of the space they occupy. This principle is not something that has been formulated or dictated by any individual; rather, it is the natural order of existence. It simply is.

When you align your life with this principle, your path will be smooth and unobstructed. Conversely, if you act against it, your heart and actions will become skewed, and karma will inevitably arise. This Universal Principle is upheld by all beings together. By following it, we maintain the movement of the planets and the survival of all living beings.

For the human body, when we live in accordance with the Universal Principle, the life of our cells and the functions of our physical form can be maintained in a state of balance and health.

The Mirror of Our Mental Notes

The cause and effect (Karma) of good and evil and the six realms of rebirth are all part of this Universal Principle. They are not arbitrary rules imposed upon us; they are manifestations of our own mental notes. They form a way of life and an attitude that we carry with us.

Every being possesses a spirit. This spirit is neither born nor destroyed; it is eternal, and this is a fundamental aspect of the Universal Principle. All beings inherently possess a luminous true self-nature. Even if we have not yet reached the state of an awakened being, this nature has never increased nor decreased. This, too, is the Universal Principle.

Returning to the Luminous True Self-Nature

Our true self-nature is naturally endowed with infinite Wisdom (Prajna), virtue, and auspicious characteristics. It possesses the four immeasurable hearts of Compassion, Joy, and Selfless Giving. Our true self-nature is settled and unmoving, pure and unstained, and it is capable of self-mastery. It is cool, tranquil, and free, devoid of selfishness and the ego, existing entirely for the benefit of all beings.

The path of practice is simply the act of moving forward in accordance with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. It is the process of removing our stains and impurities so that we may finally rediscover our original, true self-nature. By doing so, we leave suffering behind and find true happiness.

Namo Amituofo.