The Mastery of the Soul During the Hours of Rest

Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.

On the thirty-first of October, two thousand and twenty-one, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju offered these vital teachings regarding the state of our consciousness during the hours of rest.

The Sovereignty of the Soul in Slumber

When you fall asleep, your physical body enters a state of rest. Your eyes are closed, but have you ever considered whether your true self can truly take charge during these hours? You must observe the state of your soul and spirit. If your soul is at peace, it is in a state of meditative concentration. When this state is achieved, your soul can remain in control and will not leave the body. It will not be deluded by external environments, allowing you to remain settled within your own physical form.

The Subtle Entanglements of the Night

However, if your soul finds it difficult to maintain this self-control, it is often because of the thoughts you have harboured throughout the day, which manifest as dreams at night. Even if your thoughts, desires, and mental intentions are extremely subtle—so subtle that you yourself cannot perceive them—your karmic creditors are fully aware of them. They know exactly what you are thinking, desiring, and craving.

If these thoughts are obvious, they cause both you and others to feel their impact. Consequently, your karmic creditors will manifest scenes based on your daily thoughts and desires. They use these illusions to entice your soul, drawing you into their realms. Once you follow these visions, your soul becomes attached to them, making it difficult to return to your body. This is why you may experience deep, heavy sleep from which it is difficult to wake, or a sense of overwhelming drowsy states that you cannot resist.

The Fragility of the Unanchored Spirit

If your soul does not return to your body and remains trapped within these illusory realms, the consequences are significant. If your natural lifespan has not yet ended, your soul remains incomplete, which leaves your body, mind, and spirit in a state of instability and restlessness. If your natural lifespan has already reached its end, your main soul enters these dreams and realms without returning to the body. Because the four great elements of the body are left without a master, you will pass away without a final breath.

The Resplendent Shield of the Buddha-Name

To prevent this, you must strive to chant the Buddha-name 24/7. By maintaining the Buddha-name in your heart and on your lips, you create a shield of protection. If you chant the Buddha-name before you fall asleep, you stabilise your soul. If you continue this practice even after you have fallen asleep, the Buddha-name will remain with you, circulating through your heart and mind.

This constant practice prevents your karmic creditors from leading you into their realms. With your soul stabilised, your body, mind, and spirit will remain at peace. By upholding Faith, Vows, and Practice, and by perfecting your skills in chanting the Buddha-name, you will surely fulfil your wish to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo.