Breaking the Shackles of Emotion

The Web of Causal Conditions

It is said that if emotion were not heavy, one would not fall into the worldly realm. This is the true portrait of all sentient beings currently residing in this world. Whether we consider ourselves to be beings of emotion or beings of spirit, our fundamental nature is that of a spiritual being. Since this is the case, we must understand the nature of our relationships with one another:

• Parents and children:
• These bonds are formed through deep Causal Conditions.Spouses and friends:
• These connections are not accidental but are the result of past lives.National and community ties:
• Even our place of birth and our social circles are governed by the laws of karma and cause and effect.Work colleagues: Every professional interaction is an opportunity to either resolve past debts or create new ones.

We are gathered here because of these Causal Conditions. We worry about one another, we are burdened by our concerns, and we find it difficult to let go of our feelings. We cannot see through the illusions of emotion, and because of this, we remain trapped in the six realms of rebirth. We come together to settle debts, to seek revenge, to repay a kindness, or to resolve old grievances. These interactions are complex and intertwined. In the midst of this entanglement, it is often impossible to determine who is right and who is wrong. We simply carry these burdens from the past into the present, and we continue to suffer the consequences in this life. It is a cycle that is difficult to escape, for the shackles of emotion in this world are linked together, ring by ring.

The Heavy Chains of Attachment

How can one break these shackles? When the heart does not know where to turn, one must go before the Buddha to repent and seek understanding. You must learn to let go of emotion and remove the stains from your heart. Do not cling to worldly love; instead, invite the power of compassion to replace it. Understand that all beings are one. The harm caused by these emotional shackles is profound, and you must make a conscious effort to unlock them. By upholding the Precepts, you will have the strength to guard your heart. Through meditative concentration, you will be able to untangle these knots. With Wisdom (Prajna), you will be able to purify your mind. Above all, realising your true self is the most important task. Only when you are free from the influence of worldly emotion can you truly be free.

The Path of Precepts, Concentration, and Wisdom

Emotion is the greatest obstacle to your practice. When you are anxious or concerned, these feelings become spiritual obstacles. Your thoughts become difficult to sever, and messy thoughts fly about like scattered clouds. If your mind is in such a state, how can you develop Wisdom (Prajna) and rediscover your true self? Your practice requires a clear and bright heart. You cannot afford to have even the slightest attachment or wandering thought. You must not allow your mind to deviate. If your thoughts are wrong, your views will be wrong; if your views are wrong, your actions will be wrong. You must be transparent and clear, especially if you are a practitioner who seeks to realise your true self.

Transcending the Illusion of Desire

Consider the relationship between parents and children. Parents worry about their children, and children strive to be filial to their parents. If a child or a parent falls ill and suffers, the other party often becomes consumed by thoughts of how to alleviate that pain. While the world considers this to be normal human nature, the moment your heart moves in this way, it becomes clouded. You have stirred your own heart, and in doing so, you have invited your karmic creditors to manifest. They are waiting for this exact opportunity to seek revenge. Your negative karma manifests, and you become even more anxious. You must face these situations with reason. You must understand that everyone has their own karmic retribution. Unless you have made an Ultimate Vow and are truly practising, it is difficult to transform this karma. Even in the deepest relationships, such as that between parent and child, you cannot take on another person's suffering for them. You should offer care and concern, but do not let your deep attachment cause your heart to fluctuate. Do not let your mind become disturbed, for this will cause you to abandon your practice and become bound by the shackles of emotion.

The True Duty of the Practitioner

If you are a lay practitioner, you must have a daily practice. Do not let your worldly duties cause you to forget your daily practice. You should be even more diligent, lest your care for others leads you to neglect your own spiritual path, which may cause your spiritual obstacles to manifest. Many lay practitioners retreat from the Buddha's path because of these distractions. If you are a monastic, you should know that the best way to repay the kindness of your parents is to achieve success in your practice. By doing so, you can help your parents be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, allowing them to leave the six realms of rebirth forever. This is the only true way to repay their kindness.

There is no entanglement in this world greater than that of emotion. People often think that romantic love is a natural part of life, but they do not realise that it is the root of the cycle of rebirth and a deeply locked shackle. Desire and romantic love lead the heart into fantasies, causing sexual desire to fluctuate and even leading to improper actions. Between a husband and wife, if the relationship is based on propriety and righteousness for the sake of continuing the family line, it is acceptable. However, if there is sexual misconduct—engaging in sexual acts outside of marriage—this is the creation of negative karma, and the retribution will be in the hells. Many monastics have fallen into this trap, allowing confusion to arise. How can one remain pure when emotion stains the heart? This is a great obstacle to practice. As long as a thought of lust arises, the heart is stained, and a sexual sin is committed. This is a violation of the Precepts and will lead to retribution. How much more so if one actually engages in such acts? How can one avoid the retribution of the hells?

For all sentient beings, you must have meditative concentration. Use compassion to help others leave suffering behind, just as you would help yourself. You must distance yourself from these emotional shackles and seek to resolve them so that your heart can be clear and your eyes can be bright. Therefore, as a practitioner, do not speak of worldly emotion. Instead, speak of Wisdom (Prajna). Leave behind emotion, be free of desire, follow the Buddha, and rediscover your true self. By walking the path of Wisdom (Prajna) and emptiness, you will truly be a wise person. Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

Namo Amituofo