The Prison of a Stubborn Heart

Venerable Yongning is a monastic who sought deliverance at the Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre. Having found refuge and clarity through the teachings of the Centre, Venerable Yongning now resides there, dedicating their practice to the liberation of all sentient beings. This interview was recorded on October 4, 2023, by Chief Writer Shi Fajing.

Venerable Yongning speaks:

"Namo Amituofo. Within stubbornness, there lies a profound sense of rigidity. This hardened heart is the very thing that causes one to suffer so deeply. Through my observations of humanity and the countless spirits I have encountered during the process of Chao Du, I have realised that everyone is being harmed by this 'stubborn heart.' It is a source of agony beyond words.

Why must one be so stubborn? We cling to our own views, our own methods, our own patterns, and our own thoughts. While the specific points of our stubbornness may differ from person to person, everyone possesses some degree of this rigidity. What is the true purpose of such stubbornness? In reality, it is merely a personality trait—a refusal to compromise, a resistance to change, and a habit of insisting on one's own way while finding it nearly impossible to accept the opinions of others. Such a person possesses a heart that is incredibly rigid. In severe cases, they find it difficult to coexist with those around them, as they cannot integrate into a group, driven only by the need to uphold their own opinions and behaviours.

The Vulnerability of a Rigid Mind

Is this stubborn heart perhaps being controlled? Once a person possesses even a hint of this rigid personality, they become highly susceptible to the influence of spirits, both within and outside their body. These spirits can amplify those stubborn mental notes, making the rigidity even more entrenched, rendering the person difficult to change and impossible to communicate with. If you look closely at someone who is deeply stubborn, you will see that their head is densely packed with spirits. Their heart and character are too intense, too insistent. While they may appear strong on the outside, their internal energy is being consumed bit by bit. This is precisely why they are so easily invaded by external spirits, leaving them covered in spiritual attachments.

A stubborn heart brings no benefit whatsoever. It causes one's life to become stagnant, much like water that has ceased to flow and is destined to rot. When others offer better opinions or ideas, the stubborn person will still insist on their old methods. They are unable to adopt new approaches, unable to keep up with the changing currents of life, and thus easily find themselves immersed in failure and negative emotional states.

The Ancient Spirit of the Banyan Tree

From the spiritual space, I have witnessed many spirits who suffer precisely because of this stubborn heart. During their lifetimes, they possessed an intense rigidity, and this very personality trait caused them to enter the realm of all things after death, where they suffer immensely. Today, I observed an old banyan tree. Its aerial roots had grown out from its branches, and those roots had in turn grown into thick, sturdy trunks—the sight was truly spectacular. Yet, this old banyan tree was completely filled with spirits. From the roots and bark to the leaves and aerial roots, there was not a single spot that was not occupied by spirits. It had gathered a vast number of spirits of yin energy. Just like the spirit residing within the tree, they all possessed a deeply stubborn character. No matter how the external environment changed, they all stubbornly guarded this tree, unwilling to leave.

I looked at the true self within the old banyan tree. It turned out to be a spirit that had existed for over a thousand years. He was an elderly man with a hunched back, and his heart was so stubborn that his very appearance was unfriendly. Once, humans had attempted to remove this tree, but the intense energy field of the banyan tree immediately harmed them. Some who were physically weaker at the time lost their lives within just a few days. This stubborn spirit of the banyan tree had guarded this tree for a millennium. Even though Practitioner Su had brought the Buddha’s light here several times, he remained unwilling to let go and leave. He kept himself trapped in the cycle of being reincarnated, suffering beyond measure.

The Path to Liberation

Today, I counselled this stubborn spirit of the old banyan tree to let go of his stubborn heart. I told him that doing so would not only change himself but also save all the spirits attached to the tree. The stubborn spirit was incredibly tough and had a foul temper, but finally, under the illumination of twelve rays of Buddha’s light, his heart was softened. At that moment, I saw that the location of this old banyan tree was actually his former home. That was why he stubbornly guarded this place, unwilling to leave, even as dynasties changed and time marched on. Today, he was finally willing to let go. All the spirits on the old banyan tree followed him into the Buddha’s light, and they no longer need to continue suffering.

A stubborn heart keeps one living in a state of pain. Learning to accept and learning to change can help one's heart become more flexible and compassionate, helping one to gain the opportunity for liberation from the cycle of being reincarnated. Namo Amituofo."

Yongning