Overcoming Drowsiness on the Path to Awakening

The Subtle Trap of Drowsiness

The five roots that bind us to the hell realms are difficult to sever, yet you must strive to cut them off and ensure you are not contaminated by them. When you fall into a state of drowsiness, you have already lost your awareness. Upon waking, you may feel exhausted or find yourself entangled by spirits. This state is often a manifestation of your past karma or a sign that you have lost your focus on the Buddha-name. Therefore, you must be vigilant and hold the name of Namo Amituofo firmly in your heart.

Do not cling to your past knowledge or your preconceived notions of what is true. Once an event has passed, let it go; do not allow it to linger in your mind. If there is nothing, then there is nothing; if there is something, then there is something. Distinguish right from wrong clearly, without any confusion. Keep your heart constantly pure and clear. If you do not overthink, your head will remain light. If you do not worry excessively, your heart will remain calm. Do not attempt to calculate the future; simply follow the laws of karma and the conditions as they arise. Do not hold onto the past. See through it, let it go, and walk freely. Furthermore, always follow the righteous path. Whether you are dealing with people, affairs, or wealth, be upright and bright, and you will naturally awaken. Live only in the present moment; do not let your mind jump around.

The Testimony of the Sleep God

I am known to many as the Sleep God, and my name is Ma Zhaotou. It is truly a great honour to have this rare opportunity to come here and be interviewed. I have long admired the reputation of this Buddha-land, and through the grace of Namo Amituofo, countless spirits have obtained deliverance here. I have observed that the fourfold assembly of disciples here still struggles with the problem of drowsiness, and I wish to see if I can offer some assistance.

You may wonder how I came to be known as the Sleep God. I do not belong to any specific heavenly realm. I have observed that many practitioners are willing to sacrifice their great vow of rebirth in the Western Pure Land simply because they cannot overcome drowsiness. This is a great tragedy. You must train yourself diligently, for drowsiness is not worth losing your chance at liberation.

The Hidden Dangers of the Drowsy State

Why is it that so many people, not just recently but consistently, fall into such deep states of drowsiness? It is not without reason. This is not merely a matter of needing sleep; it is a terrifying spiritual phenomenon. When you are drowsy, your spirit is in a state of turbulence and instability. In such a state, it is common for spirits to attach themselves to your body. When you are fully awake and alert, you might be able to resist, but when you are drowsy, you are vulnerable. Spirits can enter and leave your body with ease.

Should you simply follow your desire to lie down and sleep when you feel drowsy? No. You should first perform prostrations to the Buddha to remove the external influences. If you truly cannot overcome it, a short rest is appropriate, as the physical body is not suited for excessive fatigue. However, as Practitioner Su has often advised, do not rest for too long. Have you ever noticed that when you are drowsy, if you do something to refresh yourself or change your activity, you instantly become clear-headed? This shows the importance of choosing the right Dharma method. You must pull yourself out of the space you occupy when you are drowsy, for that space is different from the one others inhabit. If you do not wake up and pull yourself away, your body will no longer be under your control; you will become like a helpless lamb waiting to be slaughtered.

Breaking Free from the Cycle of Dullness

Everyone has experienced this space of drowsiness. Within it, you will find the greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance, and doubt that you have been unable to break. You will find your deepest attachments to wealth, sex, fame, food, and sleep. Who among the fourfold assembly has not entered this space? Practitioner Su has compassionately retrieved many spirits who were lost in this state. If you are outside of this temple, it is not so easy to be called back, for the space of drowsiness has no boundaries. The things you love most—the people, the food, the wealth—will appear to lure you. When you are deeply fascinated by these visions, you lose the ability to judge or resist, and you cannot awaken. When you finally wake up, minutes or even hours have passed. Breaking through this is not easy, but you must do it. Following your drowsiness is a personality trait, and if you do not change it, you cannot realise your true nature.

The Rare Blessing of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre

Hahaha, the message has been transmitted to you. The space has opened up, and this is truly a wonderful thing! While it is a positive development, it is also a situation that requires a genuine breakthrough. You may not fully realise that the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre was not established easily. It required the accumulation of immense virtue and blessings, as well as the power of great vows, to evoke a response from the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. Furthermore, the one responding now is Namo Amituofo, who has never before appeared in the world in this manner. Your blessings are truly immense, and you must cherish them well.

Understanding the Nature of Drowsiness

Drowsiness is quite different from the experiences of the outside world. If it were the same, would you not be practising in the same way as everyone else? However, even though I say this, do not become complacent. You must repent and reflect on why your fellow practitioners are not drowsy while you are. Let me list a few reasons so that you may understand:

• The opening of space: The space has opened up, and there are no longer any obstacles to your progress.
• The process of purification: You are truly engaged in the work of purification. With the blessings of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, your spiritual obstacles manifest in advance.
• The revelation of filth: Layer upon layer of obstacles and accumulated filth are being revealed. Everyone knows about the cycle of rebirth that has continued since time immemorial.
• The nature of the physical body: This physical body hides filth and dirt. Who can truly practise and remove these one by one? Only the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre has achieved this.

This is why the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas provide their blessings. This is the meaning behind the teaching: 'Compassionate manifestation. Teaching through one's own body. Manifesting here, only then can one be saved.' This is done to settle the hearts of the fourfold assembly.

The Path of Purification and Karmic Resolution

So many beings wish to seek balance for their past grievances. It is already a case of 'heavy karma, light retribution.' They are striking under the name of the saviour of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Even if these beings hold hatred, they must retreat three steps first. What kind of virtue and blessings is this? To suffer a little is truly something to be grateful for and to repent for. You must counsel these beings not to have attachments, not to be human again, and to go to the Western Land quickly. Do not just care about your own physical suffering.

Do you know how much effort and arrangement the Dharma realm of emptiness, the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, the ancestral masters, and the great Bodhisattva Su have made for the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre and for Namo Amituofo to come to the world? They have resolved so many karmic creditors and even extended the life and blessings of so many people. You must truly be grateful in your heart. If you are still unsatisfied, still selfish, and even fail to reach the Western Land, it would be a disaster. How can you repay the kindness of the invisible help from the void?

A Call to Compassion and Spiritual Success

You can only achieve spiritual success. Everyone wants you to achieve spiritual success and save the world. This world and the space of emptiness are sick. Seeing hope here, everyone rushes to provide blessings. Furthermore, because all the great virtuous ones have practised before, some are even Buddhas or Bodhisattvas manifesting in the world, only to be polluted by the cycle of rebirth and entangled by karmic retribution. Everyone is helping you to achieve spiritual success and to become an awakened being. Remember, you must save the world, you must save people. If you are selfish and retreat, you cannot repay all of this. Perhaps no one has spoken so seriously before, but it is all true.

Do you know how vast the void is? It is watching everything here. When you lose this layer of protection, have your karmic creditors left? Are they not waiting on the side? Bodhisattva Su often says, 'You still dare to be selfish? You are truly brave!' You are truly very brave. Think about it carefully. After all, it is the path you chose to walk. I have said too much, but there are many in the void who, like me, cannot bear to watch. You can visit and see for yourselves. Everyone knows it clearly. It is only that some great virtuous ones are still lost and obsessed, which is a pity. It is difficult to encounter in millions of years. You must truly practise, find your true self, and save all beings.

The Urgent Need to Reach the Western Land

When drowsiness manifests, it may be that spiritual obstacles have manifested again, or it may be a reminder that you have not let go of your personality or attachments, or it may be a test of your compassion. All kinds of tests are possible. As long as you break through, as long as you let go, it may also be an obstacle to your practice. Repenting and self-reflection will suffice. Everything is to help you grow and achieve spiritual success. Practise well, act well. Namo Amituofo.

Peizhen: Gratitude to you, Bodhisattva of beings, for your compassionate sharing and help. I have benefited greatly. It is truly terrifying that one cannot be the master of one's own life. Even sleeping, which seems ordinary, has mysteries within it. How can one be a human! I hope the establishment of the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre can tell everyone the truth about space. You must go to the Western Land and not come back to be a human. Who knows what else will happen? Being at the mercy of others is too terrifying. You must chant the Buddha's name, chant Namo Amituofo. You do not need to die to chant the Buddha's name. The vast power of Namo Amituofo.