Walking the Path in the World

Teachings from Namo Amituofo, recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

The act of saving the world and rescuing sentient beings involves two parties: the one who saves and the one who is saved. In this Five Turbidities and Evil World, where material desires flow like a relentless river, people are constantly stained by the Five Desires and the Six Dusts. Their hearts are restless and filled with anxiety. They seek support, yet they are terrified of being hurt or betrayed. Consequently, they build walls of self-protection and find it incredibly difficult to place their trust in others.

Navigating the Turbid World

People often rely solely on their own limited perspectives. They are hesitant to believe in the guidance of true spiritual friends, or the wisdom offered by Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. They reject the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, or the kind words offered to them. When a practitioner encounters such resistance, they must act according to karmic affinity. If there is a connection, we save them; if there is no connection, we must know when to step away. This is to prevent the other person from creating further negative karma through their Body, Speech, and Mind.

The Strength of the Practitioner

We live in a world defined by the suffering of birth, aging, sickness, and death. In such a vast and difficult environment, the Body-Mind-Spirit of an individual is often unstable. One cannot easily master one's own destiny, and the heart remains without peace. Therefore, those who wish to save others must first possess the ability to remain undisturbed by this environment. One must ensure that they are not influenced by the very beings they intend to help.

This requires a practitioner to have a firm foundation in Faith, Vows, and Practice. One must be diligent in purification and possess a clear understanding of the truth of reality. Without this inner strength, a practitioner will not only fail to help beings escape their karma, but they will also risk falling back into the cycle of rebirth themselves.

Compassion and Wisdom in Action

A practitioner walking in this world must operate with a perfect balance of compassion and wisdom. This dual practice is essential for success. A practitioner must possess the ability to use skillful means to:

• Help beings leave suffering behind and find true happiness.
• Resolve the deep-seated suffering that plagues sentient beings.
• Fulfill the wishes of sentient beings in accordance with the Dharma.
• Provide guidance through both personal example and verbal teaching.
• Deliver lectures to educate the world and sentient beings through the Buddha’s teachings.

The Path to Awakening

If you are fortunate enough to encounter a Buddha, a Bodhisattva, or a true spiritual friend, you should follow them and learn with a sincere heart. Practise diligently to remove defilements and attain purity. Focus on purifying your Body-Mind-Spirit, and you will eventually attain the state of an awakened being. Namo Amituofo.