The State of the Spirit During Sleep

The Mystery of Nightly Rest

Teachings from Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju. Recorded by the chief writer, Venerable HaiZe.

Students of Hsiang Kuang Pure Land Buddhist Centre, let us reflect upon your nightly rest. You retire for the night and rise at one-fifty in the morning when the wooden board is struck. This is the typical routine of your sleep. However, have you ever paused to consider whether you possess the awareness to understand the state of your spirit while you sleep?

When your physical body lies in bed, it may toss and turn, but the soul—which we collectively refer to as the spirit—is not necessarily idle. What is the condition of your spirit during these hours of darkness? It is a question that every serious practitioner should contemplate.

The Wandering Spirit

When you fall into a deep slumber, your spirit may not remain within the confines of your body. It can be influenced by many external factors:

• External Calls: Does your spirit follow the calls of other spirits, wandering to the east or west?
• Dream Realms: Do you find yourself drawn into complex dreamscapes, trapped in a space from which you find it difficult to awaken?
• Karmic Retribution: Does your spirit enter the hells to be questioned or to undergo punishment, leaving you feeling physically unwell and exhausted upon waking?

These experiences are not merely random occurrences; they are reflections of the karmic seeds stored within your consciousness. When you are not in a state of meditative concentration, your spirit is vulnerable to these external influences and internal karmic creditors.

The Anchor of the Buddha-Name

There is, however, a profound remedy. If your spirit is harmonised with the Buddha-name, it remains stable and secure. Consider the state of a practitioner who, 24/7, maintains the practice of chanting Buddha's name. Even as they sleep, the Buddha-name continues to resonate within their heart and ears.

When the spirit is anchored in the Buddha-name:

• It remains settled and calm, regardless of the environment.
• Other spirits cannot easily disturb or pull it away.
• It is not easily swayed by the illusions of different realms.

This stability is what we call meditative concentration. By keeping the Buddha-name at the forefront of your mind, you create a protective barrier that keeps your spirit safe from the turbulence of samsara.

The Interplay of Self-Power and Other-Power

My dear children, the state of your spirit is visible to the Buddha or Bodhisattva, to your Teacher, and to the Dharma protectors. You may ask: if they can see our state, can they help us? The answer lies within your own heart.

Whether you receive assistance depends entirely on your own efforts:

• If you do not truly let go of your ego for the sake of others: Then the Buddha or Bodhisattva, your Teacher, and the Dharma protectors find it difficult to apply their strength to assist you.
• If you sincerely let go of your attachments for the sake of all beings: Then the Buddha or Bodhisattva, your Teacher, and the Dharma protectors can effectively use their power to support you.

Everything is manifested through your own self-power. Only when you have cultivated this sincerity and willingness to let go of the self can the other-power of the Buddhas truly assist you in your journey toward awareness. Do not let your nights pass in vain; let your spirit rest in the light of Namo Amituofo.

Namo Amituofo