What Beings Seek: A Discourse from Namo Amituofo

During the 2019 Hong Kong Winter Dharma Assembly, we gathered to seek purification and the fulfilment of our spiritual vows. On the eighth day of this sacred Dharma assembly, Namo Amituofo offered a profound discourse regarding the nature of what beings seek in this world.

The Fickle Nature of the Human Heart

You may wonder why the Buddha does not always grant the requests you bring before Him. It is not that the Buddha is unaware of your needs; rather, the Buddha must consider how to respond to the ever-changing nature of your heart. The human heart is rarely in a state of meditative concentration. It is perpetually shifting, influenced by your intentions, your mental notes, and your deepest desires. Because your heart is in a state of constant flux, your personal wishes are often difficult to discern, even to yourself.

When you pray for a wish to be fulfilled, yet your request remains ungranted, it is often because your true intention has become obscured. What you believe you want is not always what you truly need. People of the world are constantly seeking, constantly asking, and constantly desiring. When you hold these thoughts in your heart or your intentions, the Buddha sees them clearly. However, He cannot grant them because the heart of a child is not yet rooted in reality; it is still caught in the web of empty illusions.

The Illusion of Worldly Pursuits

In the vast, boundless sea of this world, every spirit is trapped within the confines of space. Each of you is hindered by the barriers of your own making, leading you to misinterpret the nature of all things. Because you have not yet attained clarity, your heart and your mental notes remain unawakened. The things you believe in are naturally not based on reality; they are merely transient desires held for the sake of the self. These are nothing more than impractical delusions that keep you bound to the cycle of rebirth.

Awakening to the Buddha's Wisdom

If you wish to find the truth, you must learn to look toward the Buddha. When your heart truly gazes upon the Buddha, you will naturally come to know the Buddha, and you will begin to understand the path that the Buddha walks. You must learn to let go of the illusory objects of this world. Do not remain trapped in the cycle of worldly seeking. The Buddha is not unaware of what you seek, but He waits for you to awaken. You are like a child who must learn to see clearly, to leave behind the suffering of the world, and to find the true happiness that comes from Awakening. Namo Amituofo.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Faxi.