In our daily lives, we often find ourselves caught in the cycle of gain and loss. This state of mind, which we call the Mind of Gain and Loss, refers to the specific attitudes and emotional responses we harbour when we acquire something we desire or lose something we cherish. It is a state of constant fluctuation, where our inner peace is held hostage by external circumstances.
In contrast, the Ordinary Mind is the ability to face change, challenge, and uncertainty with a heart that remains calm, stable, and unmoving. It is not a state of indifference, but rather a state of profound clarity. When you witness the success of others, do you feel a ripple of comparison, jealousy, dissatisfaction, disappointment, or sadness? If you do, it is a clear sign that your competitive nature and your Mind of Gain and Loss have manifested. These emotions are the symptoms of a heart that has not yet found its centre.
The Hidden Nature of the Mind
Often, we take our daily comforts for granted, failing to realise their true value until they are taken away. It is only when we experience a sense of loss, or when we see others possessing what we desire, that the Mind of Gain and Loss reveals itself. During peaceful times, when there are no external tests or trials, we may believe we are calm and composed. We may not even be aware that we possess such a volatile personality.
However, the moment we encounter difficult people, challenging situations, or unexpected obstacles, our hearts begin to fluctuate. It is in these moments of friction that we finally perceive the hidden, latent tendencies within our own character. The Mind of Gain and Loss is a subtle, dormant force that waits for the right conditions to emerge. If you can recognise this during your practice, you have already taken the first step toward transformation.
Cultivating and Mind-Capacity
To overcome these tendencies, you must diligently nurture your compassion and expand your mind-capacity. When you see others suffering because of their own Mind of Gain and Loss, you will naturally understand that this is a path to be avoided. You will see the pain caused by attachment and choose, instead, to let go.
True practice requires you to be humble and modest. You must learn to treat every single being with respect, without looking down on anyone or placing yourself above others. By cultivating this humility, you dissolve the barriers of the ego. When your practice of chanting reaches a high level of skill, you will be able to suppress and eventually eliminate the delusions, discriminations, and attachments that cloud your true nature.
The Path of the Ordinary Mind
When you no longer allow your afflictions and your Mind of Gain and Loss to manifest, you stop creating the internal turbulence that attracts to manifest. You prevent the interference that disrupts your spiritual progress. The Ordinary Mind is the true path. It is the natural state that emerges when you have successfully cultivated the (Discipline), Concentration, and Wisdom.
This state of mind is the result of deep spiritual insight. Because you have come to understand the truth of reality through your practice, your heart no longer rises and falls with the changing tides of the world. You maintain this stability 24/7 by chanting Namo Amituofo continuously, ensuring that your heart remains in a state of unwavering peace. This is the confidence and the spirit of non-contention that manifests in a true practitioner. May you find this peace, leave suffering behind, and find true happiness in the light of Namo Amituofo.
Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable Fa Hui.
