Mastering the External World: A Path to Awakening

The Distinction Between Inner and Outer Worlds

The difference between the internal and the external is profound. The internal realm originates from your heart, your spirit, and your body. Everything else—the people you encounter, the things you possess, the environments you inhabit, and the Causal Conditions you face—can be classified as external. If you wish to rediscover your true self, you must put in the work within your own heart, rather than constantly seeking fulfilment or validation from the outside world. The external environment is merely a small part of your life, and external conditions are simply the basic elements of your daily interactions. Learning to utilise these external environments and conditions as a source of support for your practice is an indispensable skill for the modern practitioner.

The Courage to Awaken

At this present time, all beings are suffering. How could I, as a practitioner, be content with my own comfort or remain muddled within the Five Desires and the Six Dusts? You must possess the boldness to be the only one awake while everyone else is asleep. You must have the courage to reach for the state of an awakened being while the masses remain lost in confusion. You cannot allow yourself even a fleeting moment of complacency, for the opportunity to reach the state of an awakened being might be missed in that very instant. You must not allow yourself to act with negligence or indifference, for it is precisely in those moments of carelessness that you cover up your own sensitive awareness. To do so is to lose much for the sake of very little; it is a trade that brings no true benefit.

Cultivating Virtue in the Small Things

Whether you are interacting with others, responding to situations, or navigating the complexities of daily life, you must be diligent in the small, unnoticed details. You must ensure that your hearts and actions are consistent, whether you are in the presence of others or entirely alone. By doing so, you nurture your heart and your nature, and you cultivate your own virtue. This is the mark of one who possesses good roots and the roots of Wisdom (Prajna). Before you reach the state of no-self and no-thought, you must be skilled at examining every thought and intention that arises within you. Do not allow your heart to ripple with waves of emotion, for these disturbances will cloud your mind and create obstacles to becoming an awakened being.

The Stillness of the Mind

A truly wise person will see their own problems long before they manifest as external issues. If you can humbly seek guidance and change your ways, every word you hear and every action you take—whether you are walking, standing, sitting, or lying down—will be of great help to your practice and your path to becoming an awakened being. Once you reach the state of an awakened being, you will naturally realise that you and everything around you are one, fused into a single entity. When it is time to act, you will have the necessary skills; when it is not, you will remain empty, like a clear, open space. If you encounter adversity, the joy, anger, sorrow, or happiness of others must never be allowed to shake or interfere with your own mind. You must remain as immovable as a mountain, never changing your state because of the insults or laughter of others. If you are disturbed, you must be able to calm your heart in the shortest time possible. This is compassion for others, and it is also compassion for yourself. If you allow yourself to fall into sadness or afflictions because of adversity, you are regressing rather than progressing. Without the awareness to turn this around, you will simply drift with the current, changing as the external environment changes, which is a great loss on the Buddha's path. If you encounter prosperity, you must remain the same as you always are; you should not allow yourself to become attached to feelings of joy or excitement.

Transforming Conditions into Dharma

Conditions can be either good or bad. When good conditions manifest, you should keep a heart of gratitude. If you possess Wisdom (Prajna), you can further transform these good conditions into Dharma affinity, allowing the good Dharma to continue and flourish. If bad conditions manifest, you should use them as an opportunity to let go of your negative karma. You should accept them with joy and never create further negative karma; this is the way of a wise person. Any experience you gain in your practice, by the time you achieve success, will become a teaching tool to help other beings. Everything you touch can be transformed into a method of practice. This is what it means to be at ease with Causal Conditions, and this is the true appearance of one who is learning to become a Buddha. Practitioner Su is a perfect example of this.

The Path of No-Self

In your internal practice, the state of no-self is supreme. When there is a self, it is difficult to find peace, as you will be turned by every condition you encounter. To let go of the self for the sake of all beings is the Great Way. When there is a self, there are too many thoughts—scattered thoughts, delusional thoughts—making it difficult to achieve a single-minded focus, and even harder to reach the state of no-thought. These long discussions are all intended to guide you back to a single heart, and ultimately, to the state of no-thought, so that you may successfully walk the Buddha's path. A life of ease, where one is content regardless of the circumstances, is a life many yearn for; yet, everything depends on your own heart. To be able to let the environment change according to your heart, rather than letting your heart be changed by the environment, is the true mark of a practitioner. All of you must work hard and put in the work diligently to truly achieve this.

Recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.