Letting Go of Past Relationships: Teachings from Bodhisattva Ashvaghosha
A Dharma Talk by Bodhisattva Ashvaghosha
April 15, 2019
April 15, 2019
Teachings from Ashvaghosha:
In this world, and across these various dimensions of existence, every person is living for the sake of a dream. We must ask ourselves: what are we all striving for? What is the ultimate goal that drives our forward momentum? In truth, everyone is drowning in the pursuit of these goals, lost within the dream of , life, and death. We have been asleep for so long that we have forgotten how many days, months, and lifetimes have passed since we first entered this cycle. Even now, the dream remains unbroken. Yet, upon our very being, we have accumulated countless imprints—marks left behind by the cycle of rebirth that bind us to this world, making it difficult for us to truly depart.
The Burden of Accumulated Karma
Originally, every being is meant to be bright, luminous, and clear. However, because of the various identities we have assumed throughout our long journey, we have become heavily burdened. We have gradually accumulated many responsibilities that we cannot walk away from, as well as layers upon layers of Causal Conditions. These various constraints have transformed into the karma that fuels our cycle of rebirth. Because we cannot let go of these attachments, many precious vessels of the have sunk into the ocean of karma, unable to find their way back to their original true self.
A single fluctuation of the mind, or even a fleeting thought, is enough to stir up the past. Whether it is from this life or from previous lives, the various influences and sensations can suddenly resurface. These thoughts remind us of the complexities of past relationships—the rights and wrongs, the joys and the sorrows. These memories act as invisible chains, pulling us back, preventing us from stepping out of the past. We find ourselves influenced once again by the environment, which is a truly regrettable state of affairs. While everyone has a past, how should one face it? I, Ashvaghosha, wish to counsel you all: you must learn to practise She-Li—the act of letting go and leaving behind.
The Practice of Letting Go and Leaving Behind
If I speak of simply letting go, many of you may feel that it is an incredibly difficult task. However, if you allow the events of the past to continue to weigh you down, you will never find ease. Your heart will remain perpetually obstructed by these lingering concerns. Therefore, She-Li is the most effective method for your liberation:
She is the act of renunciation—the conscious decision to discard that which no longer serves your spiritual growth.
Li is the act of departure—the physical and mental movement away from the environments and thought patterns that keep you trapped in the past.
Although you have chosen the path of practice, which ostensibly gives you the time to renounce all worldly relationships, if you were to ask your own heart if you have truly let go, many would find it difficult to answer. How many can truly say they have completely released these ties? The moment you inadvertently speak of your past or present life, the echoes within your heart begin to resonate, and you suddenly realise that you have not truly let go at all.
The Danger of Lingering Attachments
When you encounter such obstacles during your practice, how should you handle them? If you cannot wake up from this state in an instant, you risk losing your precious wisdom-life. Because of sudden, overwhelming karma, many practitioners find their original intention to practise severed, which is a profound tragedy. You may believe you have achieved detachment because you spend most of your time in practice, trying your best not to think about or touch upon the past. But why, then, does a quiet thought suddenly cause you to remember? It is because while your body has left, your heart has not yet followed.
Deep within, you may still be harbouring expectations, wondering if certain situations might change or if a specific outcome might manifest. This heart has quietly developed an anticipation. The routine of practice may have helped you temporarily forget these , but a vast area of your heart remains filled with these old emotions. It is not appropriate to continue dwelling on that part of your heart. Instead, you must know within yourself: I have resolved to let go of all these secular matters. This resolution should not be a mere verbal declaration; it must be a courageous, internal affirmation: My heart is now firm and resolute.
Severing the Ties with a Sharp Blade
Most people in this world, including many practitioners, find it difficult to release the deep-seated emotions they hold within. While a practitioner may not speak of these things, they often revisit these fragments of memory in the silence of their hearts. This prevents one from achieving a state of pure meditative concentration. When facing these past events, your heart must possess great strength—you must use a sharp blade to sever these ties. Regarding these past experiences, your heart should clearly understand that they are things to be discarded and that you must leave those past spaces behind. There is nothing that you cannot bear to part with; there is nothing that you cannot let go of.
Practice is akin to receiving a new wisdom-life; you should not continue to grasp the past tightly. The past is like a dream of previous lives—when you speak of it, it feels like a faint memory, a sense of familiarity, but in your heart, there should be no lingering emotion. The benefit of She-Li is that it allows you to see things clearly. You must truly realise that you have completely departed from the scenes of the past and that your identity is now entirely different. You should no longer immerse yourself in the plot of that old story; you have already left the drama behind.
to Your True Identity
The inability to let go stems from the fact that you cannot forget the past, and memories are not easily erased. However, to resolve these relationships, you must clearly understand that you no longer have any connection to the past. You must properly tidy up the expectations you hold regarding these emotions, feelings, and desires. By readjusting the flavour of your practice, you will finally achieve true awakening. Your wisdom will manifest the moment you truly let go. Do not bind yourself to past relationships; you are no longer connected to them. Practice is a brand-new life. You must truly awaken, and once you see your past clearly, you will be even more motivated to help other beings who have not yet awakened, rather than remaining trapped within your own story. That is not the way of a true practitioner.
I hope that you all understand these principles. Resolve all your relationships, and help yourself rediscover the true relationship of practice—the identity of one who truly practises to save the world. With all other beings, you share only a Buddhist affinity; there is no other relationship. I hope that all of you can attain this awakening. Namo Amituofo.
Ashvaghosha
Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Shi Faxi
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