Understanding the Heart: Teachings from Namo Amituofo

The Veils of Worldly Suffering

The suffering that beings experience in this world is rooted in the world itself. Namo Amituofo understands all that occurs within this realm, for the Buddha sees through the veils of existence. You may ask: what truly constitutes the affairs of this world? In truth, the heart—the mind and its attachments—is the source of all that we perceive. Namo Amituofo understands the heart in all its states, and the Buddha also understands the state of no-heart. Between the heart and the state of no-heart lies the distinction between purity and the dust of defilement.

The Luminous Clarity of No-Heart

When one reaches the state of no-heart, the mind becomes transparent and clear, like a calm, undisturbed pool of water. Conversely, when the heart is filled with attachments, it becomes stained and chaotic. Such a heart is always subject to illusion and destruction; it has never truly grasped the eternal truth. To live a life of genuine meaning, you must understand the necessity of heart-understanding. Within the state of no-heart, you are better able to perceive the light of your original nature. You have come from this state of no-heart, and you must return to it.

Awakening to the Eternal Truth

You should know what the state of no-heart requires of you. You must understand its principles, for the rules of existence are found in the righteous interpretation of the Dharma. If you can clearly perceive the suffering of the heart, then the heart should no longer suffer. If you do not allow yourself to suffer, you must seek this heart-understanding. As you learn the Buddha’s teachings, you will realise the importance of clearing the dust from your heart. When the heart rests in the place of awakening, you can clearly see the nature of your own suffering. Awakening means not entering into the cycle of suffering, for suffering is merely a product of your own attachments—a thing that, in its ultimate reality, does not exist at all. By chanting Namo Amituofo, you align yourself with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, leaving the illusions of the world behind to find true, lasting happiness. Namo Amituofo.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Faxi.