Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded and transcribed by ’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
On the twenty-fourth of February, 2024, during the noon offering, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided these profound teachings on the nature of the mind.
The Illusion of
People often experience turbulence in their hearts because they are preoccupied with the concepts of gain and loss. This mental instability arises primarily because there is a strong sense of self. Because we cling to this "I," we inevitably become concerned with what we might acquire or what we might forfeit. In truth, how can one clearly distinguish between gain and loss? When you believe you have gained something, how can you be certain that it is not actually a loss? Conversely, when you feel you have suffered a loss, how can you be sure that it is not, in fact, a hidden gain?
The Relativity of Fortune
If you approach life from different perspectives, you will inevitably arrive at different results. Therefore, it is wise to view all things with a positive outlook rather than focusing on the negative. By doing so, you can avoid the creation of many unnecessary problems. This shift in perspective allows you to transform your heart and, consequently, transform your environment. In many instances, the problems we face are merely constructs of our own thinking.
The Hidden Dangers of a Calculating Mind
Whenever you allow your every thought and intention to be driven by attachment, you invite various spiritual consequences:
Karmic Forces:
You attract the weight of your past actions.:
These beings may manifest to seek balance for past grievances.Attached Spirits:
You become vulnerable to spirits that may seek to reside within your body.Demon Crowds: You invite interference from negative forces that seek to control your mind.
This is why it is essential to give rise to all and achieve the fruit of . By focusing on these virtues, you can avoid the manifestation of karmic beings and prevent yourself from falling under the control of negative influences.
Transforming Through the Heart
To transform karma is to understand that the environment follows the heart. The external circumstances of our lives shift in accordance with our inner state. When a practitioner who has realised their true nature works to transform their karma, the environment itself changes in response to their purified heart. Those who have reached this state of are free from the mind of gain and loss. While they no longer cling to these concepts, they are able to see the nature of gain and loss with absolute clarity.
The Clarity of an Awakened Being
When the mind of gain and loss manifests in others, one can clearly perceive the energy being released. It is often heavy, complex, and negative. Beyond the simple desire for gain or fear of loss, this energy carries qualities of:
Comparison:
A constant, competitive measurement against others.Despondency:
A heavy, low-vibrational state of mind.Melancholy: A lingering sense of worry and gloom.
This state of mind is the polar opposite of the kindness, purified positive energy, and clean energy required for spiritual practice. It creates a polluted magnetic field. The more deeply one has progressed in their practice, the sooner they can detect this negative energy in others. Often, they can perceive it even before the person themselves is aware of it. If this is true for a dedicated practitioner, it is even more so for a Buddha or for Practitioner Su. Therefore, the mind of gain and loss is a significant obstacle to your practice. You must not allow it to take root in your heart. Namo Amituofo.
