The Unwavering Vow of the Buddha

Teachings from Namo Amituofo, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

On the twelfth of April, two thousand and twenty-four, during the noon offering.

The Eternal Vow of Namo Amituofo

Even if you find yourself dwelling in the midst of all manner of suffering, such a vow shall never retreat. This profound verse is found within the Infinite Life Sutra. It is the very vow that Namo Amituofo made when He was still in the causal stage, practising as Dharmakara Bhikshu on the Bodhisattva path to attain Buddhahood.

Today, this vow has become reality. The Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss has been established for ten kalpas, and countless beings have already been led there by the Buddha's compassionate light.

Aligning Your Heart with the Buddha

When you firmly believe in this vow, your heart becomes in sync with the vow of Namo Amituofo. You then become one of those who receive the Buddha's blessings and are led into the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. We must ask ourselves: what is our own vow?

In the Mahayana tradition, which encompasses the Bodhisattva path and the Buddha path, one must naturally progress through the causal stage of practice. One must make vows and then verify them through actual practice. Only then is there an opportunity to realise one's true nature and attain Buddhahood.

The Path of Selfless Devotion

For a vow to be truly effective, it must be grounded in the following qualities:

• Selfless:
• It must be entirely free from the ego's narrow demands.Without a sense of self:
• It must transcend the small, limited identity that keeps us trapped in samsara.For the benefit of all beings: It must be dedicated to the liberation of all suffering beings.

This vow must not violate the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way. Once you have verified this through your practice, your vow-power will be fulfilled, which is the attainment of Buddhahood.

The Two-Power Method of the Pure Land

The Pure Land path is the One Vehicle Buddhism, the most direct and rapid path to Buddhahood. It is a Two-Power method:

• Self-power:
• Your own sincere practice and effort in chanting Namo Amituofo.Buddha's power: The infinite blessings and support of Namo Amituofo.

In the process of making a vow and putting it into action, your self-power arises, and only then can you receive the blessings of Namo Amituofo. As long as you, the practitioner, ensure that such a vow never retreats, Namo Amituofo will continuously assist you until this vow leads to the attainment of Buddhahood, restoring your spirit to its original, true state.

Awakening and the Cycle of Compassion

A vow that can help one attain Buddhahood is truly a Great Vow. If this Great Vow is spread through the teaching of the Dharma, and those with karmic affinity are led to practise according to it, then the practitioner will receive the Buddha's blessings.

Even if you are in the midst of suffering, if your vow remains steadfast, you will walk straight ahead until you realise your true nature and attain Buddhahood. You will then be able to help future practitioners attain Buddhahood as well. This is the path of the Buddha: to awaken oneself, to awaken others, and to perfect the practice of awakening.

Namo Amituofo