The Wisdom of Thoughts and No-Thought

Words of Namo Amituofo, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

On this day, the twenty-fifth of May, two thousand and twenty-five, we reflect upon the nature of the mind and the essence of our practice.

The Turbulent Waves of the Ordinary Mind

For those who have not yet realised their true nature, the mind is constantly in motion. When you have thoughts, your heart is stirred. Within these thoughts, there is always a sense of self and a sense of selfishness. If these thoughts enter your consciousness, they solidify into karma. In this state, good karma and negative karma become intricately intertwined, and you find yourself caught in the cycle of suffering and happiness, reaping the fruits of your own actions.

The Stillness of the Awakened Heart

In contrast, those who have realised their true nature dwell in a state of no-thought. Their hearts remain unmoved. Even when thoughts arise, their hearts are not swayed by them. This state of no-thought is not the same as being unconscious or lacking awareness. Rather, it is a state where thoughts are no longer driven by the storehouse consciousness or karmic forces. When an awakened being acts to save the world and help beings, they perceive the suffering of others clearly. They use skillful means, tailored to each person’s potential, to help them leave suffering behind and find happiness.

Even if, in the process of saving beings, various thoughts, actions, or discriminations appear to manifest, they are all performed for the sake of others. These actions arise from a heart of no-self, within a state of stillness that remains forever unmoved. It is the manifestation of the myriad Dharmas, all flowing from a place of pure compassion.

Bound by the Chains of Karma

For ordinary people, thoughts arise in accordance with their karma. Every single thought becomes a part of that karmic accumulation, leading to further cycles of cause and effect (Karma) of good and evil. If you have not yet transformed your karma, you remain an ordinary person bound by the laws of karma and cause and effect. You are still pulled by your karmic creditors, and you continue to suffer the pains of aging, sickness, and death. You remain trapped within the six realms of existence, finding it difficult to escape the cycle of rebirth.

The Compassionate Vow of Namo Amituofo

Fortunately, we have the support of the vow of Namo Amituofo. If an ordinary person burdened by karma begins to practise, and with a single heart, chants the name of Namo Amituofo, they can be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss while still carrying karma. This is the unique grace of the Pure Land path. It provides an opportunity for those burdened by karma to stop creating negative causes and turn toward Goodness.

The Eternal Path to the Western Pure Land

Through the practice of Faith, Vows, and Practice, you can place your trust in the Buddha. You make the vow to chant Namo Amituofo and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. By remaining active and persistent in your practice, you walk steadily toward the West. When you have thoughts, let them be pure thoughts. Let every thought be the name of Namo Amituofo. Chant until you reach the state where you are chanting, yet there is no thought of chanting; where there is no-thought, yet the chanting continues. There is no past, there is no future; there is only the present moment. You must chant one Buddha's name to the end, from the initial aspiration to Buddhahood.

Namo Amituofo