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The Path to Further Elevation

The Sleeping Original Nature

The original face that existed before your parents were born is the true, original nature of every living being. It is pure, luminous, and perfect. However, because a single thought of confusion arises, this original face becomes obscured. Like a treasure buried deep beneath layers of dust, this true nature has been left to sleep for countless aeons within the cycle of rebirth.

When, at some point in time, you are fortunate enough to encounter Buddha or , ancestral masters, and those who see their true nature, you receive guidance tailored to your specific capacity. They introduce you to the path of practice, teaching you how to remove defilements and attain purity. Only through this dedicated process can you finally allow your original face to manifest once more.

Navigating the Path of Practice

As you walk the path of practice, you will inevitably encounter obstacles. Your ability to face and overcome these challenges is what determines your progress. Whether you find a way to bypass these hurdles or work diligently to remove them entirely, the goal remains the same: to move forward. By successfully navigating these trials, your Body-Mind-Spirit can be elevated, and then elevated again, as you continue your journey until you reach your final destination.

The Subtlety of Spiritual Tests

It is important to understand that as you draw closer to your destination, the obstacles you face will become increasingly subtle and invisible. These are not coarse difficulties, but refined tests that challenge the sharpness of a practitioner's awareness. If you can maintain a state of no-mind, you will find that these obstacles and tests naturally dissolve. However, if you hold onto a mind of attachment, these obstacles and tests will remain firmly in place.

If you truly possess no-mind—if you have transcended the very concept of a mind—then where could obstacles or tests possibly exist? Where would there be any room for the laws of and cause and effect, whether they be good, evil, or a mixture of both? Conversely, if you still possess a mind, then regardless of whether obstacles or tests are present, your mind remains active. As long as you have a mind, you will find it, and whether that mind is good, evil, or a mixture of both, it will always be subject to the laws of karma and cause and effect.

The Mastery of the True Self

No matter what kind of obstacles or tests you encounter, the most critical question is: after facing them, are you able to let your true self take charge and pass through them? You must ask yourself:

Has the quality of my Body-Mind-Spirit been elevated or further elevated?
Is my true self capable of leading the countless cells within my body and the many beings connected to my karma toward positive change?

I offer these reflections for everyone to use as a reference in your daily practice. The path of practice is entirely dependent on your heart, your determination, and your perseverance. You have the choice to continue elevating yourself until you reach full , seeing the original face you possessed before your parents were born. Alternatively, you may allow yourself to be stopped by obstacles and tests, or even turn back and walk the wrong path. The outcome rests solely within your own heart.