The Illusion of Being Controlled

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.

On the eleventh of July, 2025, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided these profound teachings on the nature of spiritual control and the path to liberation.

The Source of Spiritual Entrapment

When one feels that their Body-Mind-Spirit is being controlled, one must ask: who is truly in control? In reality, it is your own heart that has allowed this to happen. When your mental notes fluctuate incessantly, you create an opening that invites karmic creditors, attached spirits, and demon crowds to manifest before you.

These layers of beings gather together, forming a formidable force. This is the weight of deep, unresolved karmic grievances—a debt that demands repayment. Because of this, the person being controlled finds it difficult to act independently. Their mental notes, physical sensations, and behaviours fall under the influence of these external forces, causing them to manifest the negative mental states and physical reactions of the spirits residing within them.

Recognising the Signs of Attachment

When a practitioner is under such influence, they may exhibit behaviours that are entirely uncharacteristic of their true self. These signs often include:

• Avoidance: A strong desire to flee from the practice or the temple, as if they cannot bear to remain in a place of purity.
• Stubbornness: A rigid, unyielding personality that refuses to change or accept guidance, even when it is clearly for their own benefit.
• Emotional Turmoil: Sudden, overwhelming waves of sorrow, uncontrollable weeping, deep sadness, or intense anger.
• Aggressive Behaviour: Thoughts or actions that are harmful to oneself or others, stemming from the vengeful nature of the attached spirits.
• Drowsiness and Dissociation: The most common symptom, where the practitioner suddenly feels a heavy, sinking sensation, as if their consciousness has been pulled into another space.

At such moments, even if the community tries to counsel the individual, they find it difficult to accept help. This is because their body is already under control; the reactions you see are not those of their true self, but of the spirits that have taken hold.

The Path to True Freedom

To stop these controlled behaviours, one requires the intervention of someone with true virtue, influence, and the ability to convince or subdue the spirits involved. The karmic creditors, attached spirits, or demon crowds that are controlling the individual must be resolved through Chao Du. By inviting these spirits to hear the Dharma and performing the proper rites, we can help them leave suffering behind and find happiness, which in turn allows the practitioner to regain their peace.

However, one must remain vigilant. It is essential to adjust your mental notes, returning to the Universal Principle, the Truth, and the Right Way, and a calm, steady heart. You must not allow your mental notes to fluctuate again, nor should you fall back into negative patterns of thinking. If you do, you risk repeating the same cycle and once again inviting these beings to manifest.

Purifying the Body-Mind-Spirit

How can you ensure you are no longer controlled? The primary task in your practice is to change your personality traits. You must actively work to transform your character, letting go of the habits that keep you bound to the cycle of rebirth.

Furthermore, you must engage in the following daily lessons:

• Chanting Namo Amituofo: This is the most direct way to invoke the Buddha's blessings.
• Prostrations: A humble act that dissolves karma.
• Reciting the Sutras: This allows you to listen to sutras and hear the Dharma, which provides the wisdom needed to navigate life.

As you engage in these practices, you are not only helping yourself; you are also allowing the beings within our bodies to receive the teachings of the Dharma. Through the Buddha's blessings and the Buddha’s light, you create the opportunity for these spirits to accept resolution and be liberated through Chao Du. By chanting Namo Amituofo with a sincere heart, you are employing a powerful method to purify your own Body-Mind-Spirit, while simultaneously offering that same purification to all the beings who dwell within you.

Namo Amituofo