The Wisdom of Bending Down
Words of Namo Amituofo
Recorded by Venerable HaiZe on 12 February 2023
My dear children,
Throughout your accumulated lifetimes, you have grown accustomed to holding your spines perfectly straight. You have built a fortress around yourselves, believing that your posture must remain unassailable and that you must never be disregarded by others. Even when this rigid stance causes you great pain and injury, you continue to endure the suffering, refusing to yield or soften your position.
The Grace of Humility
Have you ever considered trying to bend your spine? The more flexible you become, the lower you can bow. Learning to bend down is a profound shift in your spiritual posture. It allows you to be humble and modest, creating the space necessary to receive the kind words and wise counseling of others. When you bow, you open your heart to gratitude. You learn to be especially grateful for Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju and Practitioner Su, who work tirelessly, day and night, looking after all of you with boundless .
When you stop holding your spine straight—when you stop prioritising the defence of your own dignity or the protection of your ego—you cease to create negative causes that inevitably lead to evil consequences. You may feel that by standing your ground, you have won a momentary victory or defended your pride. In reality, you have deeply damaged your own character and virtue.
Lessons from the Natural World
I invite you to bend down and draw closer to the earthly creatures and all things in existence. Listen intently to the voices of the natural world. Everything around you is so close, and you are, in truth, an inseparable part of this great nature. There is so much within the natural world that you can learn from:
- The tenacious life force of the small flowers and grasses that grow in the wild.
- The contentment and freedom found in the songs of insects and the calls of birds.
- The selfless, all-encompassing nature of the earth itself.
While these elements of nature offer beautiful lessons, they cannot, by themselves, help you rediscover your true self; they can only follow the natural flow of existence. It is up to you, my children, to discover, study, and realise these truths for yourselves. When you do, your life will be transformed in ways you cannot yet imagine.
Namo Amituofo
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library