The Hidden and the Manifest: Teachings on Stillness

The Turbulence of the Heart

Feelings are suffering, and they are precisely what a practitioner must learn to let go of. Whenever a feeling arises within you, it is a fluctuation of the mind, and you manifest different appearances according to the nature of that feeling. Whether it is joy, anger, sorrow, happiness, worry, pain, or grief, these emotions cause your heart to fluctuate, and consequently, your body moves in response to these internal shifts.

Even feelings of happiness and joy are merely fluctuations. These ripples touch and disturb the beings residing within your body. These beings, who were originally in a state of stillness, are awakened by the turbulence of your emotions. The beings currently manifesting within you are, for the most part, your parents, teachers, karmic creditors, and family members from countless past lifetimes. They are among the many beings stored within your Alaya consciousness.

Awakening the Beings Within

Often, it is the subtle thoughts and minor fluctuations of the mind that stir and awaken these beings within your body. If even subtle thoughts have such an impact, one can only imagine the effect of larger, more intense emotional disturbances. Having feelings and experiencing the fluctuations of the mind are significant obstacles to your practice. You must understand that these internal movements prevent you from maintaining the clarity required for true spiritual progress.

The Demonstration of the Awakened

When those who have attained meditative concentration or are awakened beings teach others, the feelings and perspectives they display are a demonstration, a skillful means to guide others. Because they have no fluctuations of the mind, their actions do not enter the consciousness and do not create karma. They remain free from the cycle of rebirth even while interacting with the world.

Transforming Emotional Entanglements into Dharma Affinity

The most vital task for a practitioner is to transform emotional entanglements into Dharma affinity. This allows you to break free from the karma of emotional bonds. To achieve this, you must cease interacting with others based on emotion, desire, or personal cravings. Instead, you must transform your own personality and character, which will naturally lead to profound changes in your life.

Cultivate a heart that is calm and stable, manifesting a countenance and speech filled with compassion, wisdom, and tolerance. Demonstrate the magnificent merits of chanting Buddha's name, performing prostrations, and reciting the Sutras through your own conduct. Making the vow to reach the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss is the primary direction, helping you escape the cycle of rebirth. This is the most important purpose of transforming emotional entanglements into Dharma affinity.

When your practice achieves success, you will be able to transform your karma. You will no longer be led by your past actions, and you will no longer enter the cycle of rebirth. At that stage, the family members of this life become beings whom you can truly save. Letting go of feelings is the fundamental skill of your practice. Always remember that the path to liberation requires a heart that is as still and clear as a mirror, reflecting the truth without being stained by the dust of emotion.

Namo Amituofo