The Fluctuations of the Heart: Teachings from National Master Xianshou

The Elusive Nature of the Heart

The fluctuations of the heart are the most difficult phenomena to grasp and the most challenging to subdue. Why do human beings remain trapped in reincarnation? It is because we have a heart. Why do we experience such profound suffering? It is because we have a heart. The complexity of human existence, the difficulty in regulating our emotions, the impermanence of our lives, and the illusions we perceive—all of these arise from the movements of the heart.

The heart is the master, governing our Body, Speech, and Mind. Every fluctuation we experience leads to a corresponding action, and every action creates a ripple in the vast ocean of karma. We are caught in this cycle of reincarnation precisely because of these constant, restless movements. As long as the heart fluctuates, we are bound by the laws of karma and cause and effect, unable to find rest. When the waves finally cease, we reach a state of stillness and perceive the Truth.

The Three Aspects of the Heart

To understand this, we must look at the three aspects of the heart:

• The Flesh Heart:
• The physical organ that sustains our biological life.The Discriminating Heart:
• The aspect of our heart that constantly judges, compares, and calculates based on external conditions.The Spiritual Heart: Our true self, the original nature that possesses innate wisdom.

These three aspects interact, pulling and influencing one another. When they are unified, we find our daily practice. However, because of the laws of karma and cause and effect, these aspects manifest in different forms and appearances, leading us into different paths of existence. As long as we continue to create karma, these fluctuations will never cease, and the cycle of reincarnation will continue without rest. When will these waves finally stop? Only when we reach a state of stillness will we see the Truth. All students who are diligent in their practice must focus their efforts here to truly develop their skills.

Energy and the Laws of Karma

Everything in the universe manifests its vitality through fluctuation; where there is movement, there is change. Consider the ripples in water: they produce sound, patterns, and waves. Sound waves can be as light as a silken thread, barely audible, or as heavy as a thunderous roar. Similarly, the fluctuations within your heart can lead you to the hells or to the heavens. Within the slightest movement, the difference in outcome is immense.

This is why the practice of Precepts (Discipline), Concentration and Wisdom is essential. Through the Precepts, we subdue the heart; through Concentration, we level the heart; and through Wisdom, we transform the waves of the heart. When one wave arises, another follows, and they collide like enemies, creating turbulent storms that cause us to become drowsy and lose our way. We must ask ourselves: why not stop the waves? When the wind dies down and the water is still, we can finally hear the true sound of the heart, see the clarity of the water, and perceive the essence of existence.

The Mechanics of Fluctuation

What is a fluctuation? It is change, and it is also energy that can be transformed. This energy exchange forms different appearances and creates karmic consciousness, which then manifests as the laws of karma and cause and effect. Energy is never destroyed; this is why we say that all phenomena are empty, yet the laws of karma and cause and effect are not.

Fluctuations exist in both tangible and intangible forms:

• Tangible Fluctuations:
• These include the elements of earth, water, fire, and wind. For instance, the movement of the earth manifests as earthquakes, which can be triggered by the sea or by subterranean pressure. These vibrations interfere with all living beings, manifesting the results of past causes.Intangible Fluctuations: These relate to our Feelings, Perceptions, Mental Formations, and Consciousness. Our emotional states are the foundation upon which we live our lives.

When our feelings are wounded, even a slight ripple is transmitted throughout the Dharma Realm, and the emptiness of space already knows it. If our thoughts lose their focus, our willpower becomes scattered, making it easy for karmic creditors to interfere. We must be extremely cautious.

Purification and the Path to Awakening

The Alaya consciousness records everything, and our Six Roots are constantly interacting with the Six Dusts. The result of this interaction is determined by our consciousness. When you find yourself in a state of being drowsy, with a dull gaze and a heavy mind, you must act as a wise person. Do not succumb to this state; face it with an unyielding spirit. Even in the physical world, fluctuations are at work—just as a shell nurtures a pearl through the gentle movement of water, our own practice nurtures the growth of our true self.

Everything is in a state of dynamic movement, though our physical eyes have limited vision. If we broaden our perspective, we will see that fluctuations are everywhere, filling the emptiness of space like a fine, intricate net. When these flows touch, we feel and perceive. Within this, the laws of karma and cause and effect are intricately intertwined. These subtle, mixed fluctuations move our bodies and even our very cells. If these movements are rapid and murky, we become entangled, which leads to aging. If they are slow and gradually become impure, we become heavy and dense, which leads to the formation of our karmic burdens.

If you can stop the movement, you will gradually become clear and bright. Through continued purification, you will eventually reach a state of transparency and finally realise your true self. Why do we study the Buddha's teachings? We do so to find our true self and to see our original nature. By helping ourselves, we gain the ability to help others. This is the power of the Buddha, and it is the fulfilment of the Buddha-vow. This message was recorded by Venerable HaiZe.