The Art of Knowing Oneself

This interview with Venerable Yongning was recorded on December 23, 2019. In this discussion, the Venerable provides deep insights into the nature of the self and the internal struggle for mastery. The record was transcribed by the Buddhist disciple Shi Faxin.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. I am Venerable Yongning. Let us consider a simple, fleeting moment: you close your eyes. What do you see in that instant? Is it a scene born from deep confusion, or perhaps the image of a task you just thought about completing? Or maybe it is a person or an object you encountered inadvertently, which has now quietly slipped into your consciousness.

This momentary space is like a brief, flickering dream. The images are so vivid, and you find yourself drawn deep into them. After playing out this short, internal drama, you return to reality, and what presents itself in that moment of closing your eyes is merely a state of drowsiness. Why does this happen? Have you ever truly explored this? When you close your eyes for that single instant, how many beings within your body are pulling at you? What kind of thoughts are causing these beings to tug at your very essence? Is this tug-of-war truly what you desire? Or does it appear suddenly, without you knowing why? If you explore this deeply, you will find that it is the fifty trillion cells—the beings within this body—that are constantly being influenced by external environments. They manifest and create interference, leaving you completely unable to be the master of your own mind. You find yourself swaying and jumping between wanting and not wanting, or desiring something even when you know you shouldn't."

The Chaos Within the Blink of an Eye

"If you look at this physical body from a smaller perspective, you are like a blade of grass, swaying back and forth, moving with the wind. You are tossed about by every animal that passes by, steps on you, or pulls at you. In that moment, one direction seems correct, and then the next seems plausible. Many times, you are just like a headless fly, unable to make any clear discriminations.

Think back to your original nature before you were born to your parents. At that time, you only needed the basic physiological functions to exist. As time passed and you grew, you had to adapt to this environment just to ensure the survival of this body. Throughout this long journey, this body has, without you even realising it, become in sync with an infinite, immeasurable space. Gradually, you began to lose the ability to be the master of your own life."

Reclaiming Mastery Over the Mind

"If you wish to overcome this state of being unable to master your own mind, the only way is to rely on purification and the awareness of every single moment. In the present moment, you must discern: is this truly you? Is this what you want, or is it the beings within you pulling you to want it? Are you the one who wants to lose your temper, or are the beings within you pulling you to lose your temper? At the very foundation of this, what kind of practitioner do you truly wish to become?

When your foundation is shaken again, there is no need to be agitated, and no need to move. Because this is one of the essential lessons of your practice. This lesson is that everyone must know themselves well enough. If you can overcome the experiences of this physical body, you will also be able to help others break through their own attachments and confusion."

A Heart That Is Clean and Transparent

"Every step of the practice should be faced with a positive, wholesome mindset. A heart that is clean and transparent—that is the moment you reach the other shore.

Namo Amituofo."