Slowing Down and Declining

Teachings by the Teacher, recorded and transcribed by Venerable Fa Hui

7 August 2026

Teachings by Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju:

Why do elderly people manifest old age and illness, show physical suffering, have mental obstructions, or have deficiencies in their Six Roots that require others to care for them? If one's physical form, movements, and reactions are slow, if one lacks physical strength, finds tasks difficult, or is short of breath, one naturally appears to move slowly, which indicates that one's physical condition is declining.

When ordinary people experience aging, illness, and physical suffering, their spirits also manifest a state of suffering.

However, for a practitioner with a firm vow, compassion, and virtue, no matter what physical pain they endure, their heart and actions of compassion to save the world and beings remain unchanged.

Their spirit can still freely enter and exit the body, without being restricted, interfered with, or obstructed in its actions by the pain the body suffers. This is a sign of spiritual elevation, where the spirit is not oppressed by physical suffering.

This is because the karma created through Body, Speech, and Mind—in physical actions, words, or thoughts—as one ages, attracts karmic creditors to manifest and attached spirits to enter the body, accumulating layer upon layer, and even leading to being controlled by demon crowds, making it difficult to maintain self-control.

These manifestations of karma are precisely the price paid through the body's aging and illness, serving as the retribution to dissolve karma.

The suffering of the Body-Mind-Spirit can only be resolved by elevating the spirit, never departing from the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, and being selfless and devoted to beings. This prevents the manifestation of karma and spares oneself from being deeply trapped in the suffering of aging and illness.

If one's physical actions, movements, and reactions are slow, if one lacks physical strength, finds tasks difficult, or is short of breath, one naturally appears slow, which represents a decline in physical condition.

If an elderly person is seen to have six roots are pure and their functions are good or unimpeded, one can know that their virtue, words, physical actions, and thoughts are in accordance with and aligned with the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way; this is a sign of Goodness.

Namo Amituofo