This interview was recorded on May 26, 2023, at the Hsiang Kuang Buddhist Centre. Venerable Yongning, a dedicated practitioner who sought deliverance through the teachings of Practitioner Su, shares profound insights into the nature of personality and its role in the accumulation of karmic suffering. This record was compiled by the chief writer, Shi Fajing.
Venerable Yongning speaks:
". I am Yongning. Practitioner Su often speaks during his talks about how our lives are 'personality-driven.' But how many people truly understand their own personality? How many of us are aware of the specific negative causes we have sown that have resulted in the various fruits of retribution we experience today?
Every individual possesses a personality, and in truth, we hold not just one, but a complex tapestry of traits. All these facets merge into one, forming the person we are at this very moment. While living in this world, one might feel that having a strong personality is acceptable, or even necessary. However, the physical body is incredibly susceptible to the influence of these traits. When we allow our personality to dictate our actions, we often sow seeds of negative that were entirely unnecessary. We end up enduring immense suffering that we could have avoided, all because of what Practitioner Su describes as being 'personality-driven.'
The Roots of Our Suffering
These personality traits are not merely products of our current life; some are carried over from our past lives, while others are learned through the environments we inhabit today. Regardless of their origin, once a personality takes hold, is forced to bear the burden of its consequences. One must ask: if these traits only lead to suffering, why do we cling to them so tightly?
I would like to propose four questions for everyone to use as a basis for deep reflection:
First, when your body is acting out due to your personality, are you truly yourself, or are you being controlled?
Second, what is the underlying cause that allows these personality traits to manifest so frequently?
Third, does the influence of your personality on your physical body result in more positive or negative outcomes?
Fourth, is the root of your karma actually triggered by these very personality traits?
The Consequences of Ego
The answers to these questions are, in fact, quite obvious. It is clear that the impact of personality on the body is profound. It is not merely a fleeting moment of expression; it sets off a chain reaction of consequences. The most difficult of these to accept is the agony brought about by illness. A rigid or intense personality makes it easy for the body to be 'taken over' or used by external forces. It also serves as a beacon, the who have been waiting to seek revenge, and it makes us far more susceptible to being possessed by sentient beings in the spirit realm who are in sync with our negative states.
These various negative effects cause the physical body to gradually decline. It becomes difficult to withstand the influence of so many spirits, and eventually, one falls ill and suffers in ways that are beyond description.
The Path to Letting Go
In truth, the body does not need to be defined by a personality. However, human beings are deeply attached to this physical form and are overly concerned with its sensations. Consequently, our personality traits manifest alongside these attachments. Without the awareness to stop or adjust these patterns, we allow karma to be drawn to us, forcing our lives to follow the dictates of fate and the momentum of our past actions.
How, then, can one adjust their personality? There is no other way but to 'let go of oneself.' Yet, for many, the concept of 'letting go' seems impossible to achieve. When a situation arises, we forget our resolve to change and revert to our old ways. What is required is constant self-reflection, a repeated effort to view life with detachment, and a persistent dismantling of the laws of karma and cause and effect.
During this process, one must continuously examine the negative impact that personality has on the body. Especially when physical pain begins to manifest, one should have a moment of awakening. Remind yourself to view this body and these personality traits with detachment. Do not allow your personality to continue to dictate your actions, destroying your own health and polluting your spirit. What is the gain in doing so? You are left with nothing but physical pain and heavy karma—it is a loss that far outweighs any perceived benefit.
Personality traits sow all the negative causes and serve as the root of our retribution. We must adjust them swiftly. Only then can we purify our body and heart, and resolve the conflicts with our karmic creditors.
