Unlocking the True Self: Teachings on Karmic Imprisonment

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

During the first session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony held on the 15th of March, 2025, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered these compassionate teachings to all practitioners.

The Prison of the Body

When you feel restless, anxious, and unable to focus your mind, or when you find yourself filled with stubborn resistance and defiance, you must pause to reflect. As we age, we often find that our bodies are plagued by illness and pain, leaving us feeling as though we have lost all control. You may ask yourself: where has my true self gone? Why does it feel so distant?

The reality is that your true self is not the one currently in charge of your life. Instead, it has been locked away within the confines of your own body. This imprisonment is the direct result of your past personality, your subjective attachments, and the manifestation of your karma. When your karmic creditors appear, they do not come alone; they are often accompanied by attached spirits who share in this karmic debt. Because your true self is unable to withstand the overwhelming weight of this collective karma, it becomes trapped and imprisoned, losing the ability to master its own destiny.

The Anatomy of Karmic Entrapment

You are currently confined within a space from which you cannot escape on your own. Only the immense power of the Buddha can reach into this darkness to save you. Only through the Buddha's grace can this space be opened, allowing your true self to finally emerge. It is important to understand that your heart, your eyes, and your lower body are all places where your true self can become locked. Wherever you have created negative karma in the past, that is precisely where your true self is now imprisoned.

• The Heart: If your past thoughts and intentions were biased, evil, or incorrect, your true self becomes locked within your heart. This manifests as emotional distress, persistent illness, or a sense of deep discomfort.
• The Eyes: If you were once sharp-tongued or judgmental, constantly looking for faults in others rather than seeing the good, your true self becomes locked within your eyes or heart. This leads to a state of dullness, drowsiness, and a heavy, clouded mind.
• The Head: If you spent your past lives calculating, plotting, or actively obstructing the spreading of the Dharma, your true self becomes locked within your head. This results in mental decline, confusion, and slow reactions.
• The Lower Body: If you were driven by lust or engaged in improper sexual conduct, your true self becomes locked within the lower body. This is often the root cause of the ailments and physical decay associated with ageing.

The Path of Discipline and Liberation

These truths may seem difficult to comprehend, yet they are the reality of our existence. We must be extremely cautious in our speech and conduct. This is especially true for those of us who have chosen the path of the Sangha Jewel. To be a monk or nun is to possess great blessings, and to practise within the Fragrant Light community is a magnificent opportunity to realise one's true nature and attain Buddhahood.

However, if you are aware of these transgressions and continue to commit them, you are merely adding sin upon sin. How then could one hope to avoid the retribution of the hells? The only way to ensure your safety and progress is to hold firmly to the Precepts. By maintaining strict Discipline, you protect your true self from further entrapment and ensure that you remain on the right path. Let us all strive to be mindful, to purify our hearts and actions, and to rely entirely on the compassionate guidance of Namo Amituofo.

Namo Amituofo