The Perception of the Body and the Stillness of the Heart

The Perception of the Physical Form

The physical body may possess awareness, yet it may also be devoid of it. It may possess knowledge, yet it may also be devoid of knowledge. It may experience sensations, yet it may also be devoid of them. You must ask yourself: where does true knowledge reside? Consider the body as a temporary, hollow vessel. If a single hair on your body were to move, would you truly be aware of it? If one strand were pulled, the entire body would react, yet in truth, there is no inherent value in this movement. When such a movement occurs, does your heart feel it? If you feel it, that is a sensation. It becomes an emotion, a feeling, or a manifestation of the personality of the body.

When you allow the body to take charge, you yourself suffer, and it becomes difficult to attain clarity. You must understand that the sensations of the body are not the source of true knowledge; you must know when to stop. Allow the body to undergo its natural changes, but do not let your heart be moved by them. This is the state of being free from the influence of form, feeling, and consciousness. Do not let your heart be stirred by these fleeting changes, for it is not worth your concern. Always remember this.

The Illusion of Movement

When you allow yourself to be shaken by external events, you permit your consciousness, your thoughts, and all the shifting changes within your heart to take control. This brings no benefit; instead, it only adds to your confusion and disturbs your peace. You must not allow this to happen. You must realise that the heart should not be swayed by external circumstances. Even if your body experiences many changes, your heart must remain unmoved. The body is merely a testing ground for your practice; it has nothing to do with your true self. When minor changes occur, you must maintain your meditative concentration. Do not let yourself be moved or shifted. In the midst of movement, you must find stillness.

Testing the Strength of Your Practice

Tests appear at every moment, and change is constant. How can you prevent your heart from being moved? You must learn to let go of the self. By maintaining a mind free of wandering thoughts, you can release the illusions within illusions. Consider yourself as one who is dedicated to a life of pure practice. If you do not concern yourself with the dust of the world, you will have no thoughts of the world. By focusing on purifying your heart, you will see the nature of these illusions, and your heart will naturally remain stable. Whether you are observing these illusions, experiencing them, or seeing them played out through the physical form, you must know that they are all empty. The key lies in your heart: is it truly stable? This is the essence of your cultivation and spiritual maturity.

The Obstacles to True Stillness

You must ask yourself: are you truly cultivating your body and mind? When you face a challenging situation, does your heart waver? When you are confronted with pain—whether it is physical illness, the knowledge of pain, the experience of pain, or the memory of pain—can your heart remain still? Or have you already begun to dance with the wind, unable to stop? You must understand that a moving heart is an illusion, while an unmoved heart is the only reality. Everything in this world is a manifestation of illusion. Any movement or mutation is false. Within this illusory space, all changes in the world are influenced, and the human body is no exception. It changes in accordance with everything else. If you can stop yourself from being swayed by these changes, then the changes themselves cease to be changes. To find stability within change is the mark of one who has truly transcended the world. This is the true skill of a practitioner.

The Path to Liberation

Turbulence easily disturbs the heart, but practitioners must not move recklessly. You must keep your heart still and not allow it to create chaos. However, saying you want to stop is not the same as actually stopping. How can you achieve this? If your heart is filled with wandering thoughts, it cannot be pure, and therefore it cannot be still. Why is this so? Because you have not yet let go of the five poisons—greed, anger, delusion, arrogance, and doubt—or the five desires: wealth, lust, fame, food, and sleep. These, along with any scattered thoughts, emotional entanglements, and deep-seated habits, are the factors that prevent your heart from finding peace. If your heart is not pure, your practice will not be effective. This is a fragmented state, and you must strive to make your heart truly complete.

If you find that your heart cannot be stilled, it is due to your karma. You must perform your vows to resolve this karma. You must also engage in Chao Du to save your karmic creditors, clearing the debts of the past. Only then can you seek true stability and Awakening. By changing your personality and habits, and by having the strength of your vows, you will achieve your great goal. When your vows are fulfilled, you will realise the true stillness of the heart.

Meditation in Motion

Do not let your heart be governed by illusions. Within the realm of illusion, the heart can find no place of rest. Furthermore, in the midst of a chaotic heart, new and old karma become intertwined. How can you stop this? Do not let your heart act on its own accord. You must stop the heart from being governed by these impulses. When the heart is in its natural state, it is at ease; it seeks nothing and possesses nothing. Only then can you attain true clarity. When you are not acting out of illusion, you are acting out of pure stillness. The heart remains still even in the midst of movement; it is unmoved by the world. A true heart is a knowing heart, and a knowing heart is a true heart.

If you study the Buddha's teachings but remain moved by the dust of the world, your heart cannot be stable, and you will not be able to find stillness. You must be still, peaceful, at ease, and free from the cycle of birth and death. Learn the practice of meditation in motion—true purity, stillness within movement. In this world of empty phenomena, you must practise meditation in motion. Namo Amituofo.