How Negative Thoughts Destroy a Life: An Interview with Venerable Yongning

This article records an interview with Venerable Yongning, who reflects on the profound and often devastating impact that negative thoughts can have on the human spirit. The interview was conducted and recorded by the chief writer, Shi Fajing, on April 30, 2023.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. A single negative thought, though it may seem insignificant at the moment of its inception, possesses the power to summon karmic creditors from ten thousand lifetimes ago. Every thought that arises within our consciousness is swift and natural; they emerge effortlessly, triggered by the myriad sights our eyes behold and the sounds our ears perceive. Within the landscape of these thoughts, there is a clear distinction between Goodness and evil. In this world, it is a pervasive and unfortunate phenomenon that thoughts of an 'evil' nature far outweigh those of true Goodness.

A bad thought is inherently evil. A heart burdened by such negativity cannot remain pure; it becomes stained, murky, and heavy. Yet, it appears incredibly difficult for human beings to avoid these negative thoughts. They manifest like an unstoppable habit, as if one is being controlled by an external force, leaving the individual unable to be the master of their own mind.

The Invisible Trap of the Mind

The influence of these negative thoughts is immense, yet humanity often chooses to ignore them. We allow ourselves to dwell on these dark impulses, which not only harms our own spiritual well-being but also pollutes the magnetic field of our surrounding environment. I once observed a spirit from a space within the void—a student who had studied at the University of Chicago in the United States and earned a double doctorate. This high academic achievement was the pride of his life, yet he lived in a state of profound darkness and agony from which he could not escape.

In this world, high academic qualifications are what most people strive for. They are viewed as a definitive proof of one's ability, a form of validation that society prizes. But that is not the whole story. From the experience of this student, we can see that a person's thoughts can destroy their entire life. Even with the highest degrees, one can still end up living in utter misery. Possessing a prestigious education does not guarantee a beautiful or fulfilling life.

A Brilliant Mind in a Darkened Cave

I witnessed this student's space while Practitioner Su was performing Chao Du for the earth. The student was trapped in a space within a rocky cave. It was dark and freezing cold. He just crouched there, motionless, trapped in the depths of his own despair.

When the Buddha-light shone into that cave, the student did not react at first. It took many sessions of Chao Du—by today, I estimate it was the thirty-third time the Buddha-light had illuminated that cave—before he finally lifted his head to look toward the golden radiance of the Buddha.

I asked him, 'How long have you been here?' He replied, 'I do not know. It feels like a very long time. I have been crouching here and have never left.' I asked, 'Why are you crouching here?' He answered, 'I cannot find the exit. I have been swallowed by the darkness.' I asked again, 'Where does this darkness come from?' He replied, 'It comes from my own dark thoughts.'

The Roots of Spiritual Interference

I asked him to explain in more detail. He said, 'I was born into a wealthy family and earned a double doctorate, yet I have always lived in darkness, unable to find a way out. Since I was a child, bad thoughts would constantly appear in my head. These thoughts made me see everything in a negative light—I saw myself as bad, others as bad, and the world as bad. I was severely controlled by these negative thoughts. They began to influence my outlook on life and my values. Gradually, I lost all hope. Even with such high degrees, I did not know what to do. I could not go on living, but I did not know where to go. The bad thoughts in my brain never stopped for a single day. They kept growing and spreading, and they emerged so quickly that I could not stop them.'

I encouraged him to look back and see what had happened to him. When he looked back, he saw that his head was being controlled by a multitude of spirits. These were the karmic creditors he had summoned every time a negative thought arose, along with other evil or malevolent spirits attracted by his negativity. They were all orbiting his head, interfering with his thinking, making him feel as if he had fallen into a whirlpool where every thought was twisted and inescapable.

The Persistence of Compassion

The student was under such heavy interference that he had lost the ability to be the master of his own mind. He lived in darkness, just as cold and dark as that cave. Even when the Buddha-light appeared again and again, his dark thoughts still controlled him, telling him not to trust anyone easily—not even the Buddha-light. That is why he would not look up.

Practitioner Su, in his great compassion, patiently brought the Buddha-light to that place time after time. By the twentieth time, his heart had begun to waver because the Buddha-light had appeared so often that it stirred his curiosity. After secretly observing it each time, it was only by this thirty-third time that he finally believed, lifted his head to look at the Buddha-light, and walked out of that dark, rocky space.

I share this student's example to tell everyone that negative thoughts can destroy a person's life. Even after the spirit leaves the body upon death, one may still continue to be interfered with and influenced. This student's negative thinking summoned karmic creditors from ten thousand lifetimes ago. These creditors interfered with his life, and even after he died, they were still waiting for him to emerge from that space.

From this, we can see the immense power of negative thoughts. The impact is so great, so deep, and so long-lasting. We should be aware of this and start changing from our daily lives. Do not let your own thoughts destroy your life. Namo Amituofo.'"