The Wisdom of the Buddha: Distinguishing New and Old Karma
Teachings from Namo Amituofo, Recorded by Venerable HaiZe
October 25, 2024
The Radiance of the Awakened Heart
Those who realise their true nature and attain Buddhahood possess a heart filled with pure, unblemished light. Within them, there is no trace of defilement, and certainly no karmic force to speak of. In contrast, beings still trapped within the cycle of reincarnation carry the heavy burden of accumulated over countless lifetimes. This karma is so immense that it could rival the height of Mount Sumeru and exceed the depth of the vastest oceans. How, then, can a sentient being possibly endure such a crushing weight?
This is why all Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and the great patriarchs and venerable masters compassionately manifest in this world time and again. They come to teach the beings of the six realms of existence, especially those in the human world, how to navigate this difficult existence. They urge us to guard our Body, Speech, and Mind with vigilance, to practise silence and stillness to calm the restless thoughts, and to avoid actions that might stir the dormant seeds of past karma.
The Peril of Stirring the Dormant Past
If you fail to guard your heart and instead stir these dormant karmic forces, your will inevitably manifest. Whether they appear in human form, or as spirits from the ghost realm, their arrival brings only suffering. This manifests as the inevitable trials of life: the suffering of ageing, the suffering of illness, and the suffering of death. It is truly a tragedy when a body that possesses the potential to attain Buddhahood in this very lifetime is instead lost and consumed within the turbulent sea of karma.
The Compassionate Grace of the
Within the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, the deep and profound vows of Namo Amituofo shine brightly. Namo Amituofo understands that beings bound by karma find it nearly impossible to break free from its shackles on their own. Therefore, the Buddha allows those who sincerely vow to be reborn in the West to bring their old karma with them, enabling them to enter the Land where Sages and Ordinary Beings Dwell Together. This is the magnificent and unique grace of the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
The Crucial Distinction Between Old and New Karma
However, it is vital for all practitioners to understand a crucial distinction: the karma that one is permitted to carry to the Western Pure Land refers only to old karma, not new karma. Old karma refers to the karmic seeds created in past lives, or those created in this current life before one began to learn the and practise. New karma refers to the sins and transgressions committed even after one knows the importance of practice, keeping the , and avoiding the creation of further karma.
If a practitioner continues to create new karma while simultaneously chanting Namo Amituofo and seeking rebirth in the Pure Land, how can they expect to enter that sacred realm? If one knows the path of righteousness yet continues to commit transgressions, how can one hope to join the assembly of superior beings in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss?
Resonating with the Pure Heart of Namo Amituofo
Even if one chants the name of the Buddha, if the heart remains impure, how can it resonate with the pure heart of Namo Amituofo? Without this resonance, how can one expect the Buddha to manifest at the time of death to lead one into the Western Pure Land? This is the great challenge of the age of the Dharma’s decline, where material desires flow like a flood.
Many practitioners find it difficult to resist the intrusion of the : Greed, Anger, Ignorance, Arrogance, and Doubt. These poisons lead us to create further karma through the : wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep. By indulging in these, one not only fails to reach the Western Pure Land but instead creates the very karma that leads to the hells. This is the primary reason why, although there are many who chant, there are so few who are truly reborn in the West. Do not let your practice be in vain; turn your heart toward purity and chant Namo Amituofo all the way.
Namo Amituofo
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About the Author
Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre
Contributed to Pure Land Buddhism knowledge library