Words of the Buddha's Heart: Overcoming the Self

The Path of Inward Reflection

The path of practice requires you to look inward to rediscover your true self. You must cultivate the habit of constant self-reflection. Do not look to the external world for answers, for the truth resides within you. You must examine your body, your mind, and your spirit with sincerity and diligence.

Looking Within the Physical Form

When you look within your physical body, you will find the manifestation of your karma. This body, composed of the four elements—earth, water, fire, and wind—is a vessel formed by the Causal Conditions of your parents and your own past actions. It carries the weight of countless, immeasurable causes and effects from lifetimes past.

To progress on this path, you must address the following:

• Resolve the grievances: You must actively work to dissolve the resentment and the desire for revenge held by the beings who have come to seek balance for past harms.
• Overcome the pain: You must learn to endure the suffering and physical pain that arise when your karma manifests.
• Understand the illusion: You must realise that while this body is temporary and illusory, you have willingly accepted it to undergo this process of purification.

You must bring forth a sincere and honest heart to repent for your past actions. Change your ways in this very moment. Raise your awareness and truly transform your latent habits or bad character traits. My dear children, are you able to achieve this?

The Landscape of the Mind

When you look within your mind, you will find the traces of all your past thoughts, both good and evil. You will see that you have travelled through many realms, leaving behind a trail of actions:

• Negative actions: You have engaged in killing, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying, flowery speech, harsh words, and divisive speech. You have been driven by greed, anger, and ignorance, and you have been consumed by the pursuit of wealth, fame, sensory pleasure, food, and sleep.
• Virtuous actions: Conversely, you have also practised the Six Perfections—Generosity, Discipline, Patience, Diligence, Meditation, and Wisdom—and you have performed many good deeds.

In the past, you have chanted the name of Namo Amituofo and practised diligently, even reaching the point of being ready for rebirth in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Yet, because you made the vow to descend into this world to save beings, you remain caught in the cycle of rebirth within the six realms of existence. Can you now overcome your latent habits or bad character traits? Can you stop creating new negative karma and avoid forming further evil connections? Will you practise diligently, accumulate merit and virtue, and cultivate both blessings and wisdom? Can you dissolve your karma, remove your obstacles, and refine your heart? My dear children, are you able to achieve this?

Restoring the Spirit to Wholeness

When you look within your spirit, you may find the presence of drowsiness or the tendency to drift into other spaces. This often causes your soul to leave your body, leading to a lack of autonomy, a scattered mind, an inability to concentrate, and feelings of anxiety and unease.

My compassion is boundless. I am here to protect you and help you invite your soul back into your body. This will allow your spirit to concentrate, alleviate the drowsiness, and prevent you from drifting into other spaces. It will help you regain a complete spirit and a stable mind. My dear children, are you able to protect your own spirit? Can you overcome the tendency toward drowsiness and the drifting of your soul? Can you truly change your ways and overcome the manifestation of your bad character traits? Can you see through the illusions of this world, let go of your attachments, and focus entirely on the Buddha's path? Are you able to achieve this?

A Final Exhortation

I hope that you will continue to look inward and reflect upon yourselves. Do not seek answers outside, for doing so will only invite interference and hinder your practice. May you realise your true nature at an early date. Together with Namo Amituofo, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, and Practitioner Su, you shall save endless suffering beings and return to the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Namo Amituofo