Transcending the Four Emotions: Joy, Anger, Sorrow, and Happiness

The Illusory Nature of the World

This world is like a fleeting illusion, constantly shifting and changing. We are frequently tossed about by the waves of joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness. We often mistake these transient pleasures for the norm, yet our every thought and intention is constantly in motion. How many of us can truly find a moment of stillness? Whether it is day or night, throughout the twenty-four hours, our deluded thoughts fly about like scattered petals in the wind. We are always seeking to meet with other sentient beings, caught in the cycle of emotional attachment.

The Constant Flow of Thoughts

When will we finally allow our minds to rest? We must learn not to let external circumstances pull at our inner heart. When you hear the pure, resonant sound of Namo Amituofo, let each sacred syllable flow into the stream of the Dharma. This is the way to calm the turbulent waters of the mind. You must realise that true peace, meditative concentration, and happiness do not come from the outside world. They are not things you acquire; they are inherent qualities of your own true self.

Returning to the True Self

Your original nature is priceless and arises from within your own heart. It has always been there, free and at ease, constantly accompanying you. When you have no other thoughts but the single-minded focus on chanting Buddha's name, your practice will become smooth and unobstructed. This is what it means to be a person of the Western Pure Land living in the human world. By letting go of all other distractions and focusing entirely on the Buddha, you return to your true self and find the path to liberation.

These teachings were recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo