The Pull of the Mind

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju, recorded by Venerable HaiZe.

On November 27, 2022, during the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provided profound guidance on the nature of our internal state and how it shapes our reality.

The Ripple Effect of the Mind

The heart pulls at the heart, and the fluctuations of the mind act as a powerful signal. When your mind is not still, these ripples reach out across time and space, summoning all manner of beings connected to you by past karmic affinities. This includes your karmic creditors, attached spirits, and even demon crowds. These invisible beings are drawn to the specific frequency of your thoughts and emotions, responding to the call of your unresolved past.

The Influence on Those Around Us

These internal fluctuations do not stop with invisible beings. They also ripple outward to affect the fourfold assembly of disciples around you. When your mind is in turmoil, those in your immediate environment may feel it deeply. They might experience sudden changes in their own moods, or you may observe shifts in their speech, behaviour, and reactions. When these invisible beings and the members of the fourfold assembly find their hearts turning along with your external environment, it is a clear sign that your karma has not yet been transformed. However, even in this state of being pulled by external forces, there is a purpose: it is through these interactions—the settling of debts and the expression of grievances—that the laws of karma and cause and effect of the past are finally brought to a conclusion.

Cultivating the Immovable Heart

If your own heart is fluctuating, yet the person you are interacting with is aware of this disturbance but remains unmoved, they are demonstrating a higher level of practice. They do not allow their own minds to be pulled by your ripples. Because they possess true meditative concentration, they can face these situations with a pure and steady heart. This ability to remain unswayed is a skill that every practitioner must strive to attain.

If you can cultivate this level of meditative concentration, you will no longer be pulled by the fluctuations of others. When you reach this state, the karmic creditors, attached spirits, and demon crowds will no longer find an opening to manifest or disturb you. You will be spared the suffering of being pursued for past debts or enduring the weight of old grievances. Instead, you will be free to focus your energy on diligent practice along the Buddha's path. Whether you are facing challenging external circumstances or changes within your own body, your heart will remain still and immovable. You will not be led astray by the waves of the world, and this is the true mark of a dedicated practitioner.

Namo Amituofo