Transcending Gain and Loss: Transforming Your World
Teachings from Great Master Xuanzang
Recorded by the Buddha’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe, 24th June 2019
The Illusion of
How do we truly define the concepts of gain and loss? How do we determine what is genuinely gained and what is truly lost in the grand tapestry of our existence? In truth, these concepts do not exist in the external world; they arise entirely from the depths of our own hearts. Because we cling so tightly to a sense of self, we create endless discriminations, constantly comparing high and low, superior and inferior. We live in perpetual fear of losing the things we possess, such as:
- Our cherished family bonds and relationships
- Our deep-seated emotional attachments
- Our professional roles and responsibilities
- Our social status and reputation
- Our perceived power and influence
This profound lack of security leads to a loss of confidence in our own inner strength. We live in constant, gnawing fear that others might replace us, or that our position in the world is fragile and fleeting.
The Emotional Rollercoaster of Attachment
When we perform well and receive praise, encouragement, or recognition, we feel a sudden, intoxicating surge of and confidence. Conversely, when we are slandered, criticised, or blamed, we feel stifled, depressed, sad, or jealous. These reactions are all clear symptoms of a deep-seated attachment to gain and loss. When our heart is swayed by external environments and the complex web of karmic bonds, we lose our autonomy and our inner peace. This instability is a direct result of our personality and our habitual patterns of thought, which have been conditioned over countless lifetimes.
Whether we are adults or children, the pervasive influence of the modern world causes us to place immense importance on our own . We carry a heavy, exhausting burden of attachment to gain and loss. We place ourselves under the constant, harsh scrutiny of others, and because we cannot withstand the inevitable changes and tests of the external world, we often retreat from our goals. In doing so, we ignore the inherent capabilities, the quiet confidence, and the true nature that we already possess.
The Path to
How can we improve this state of mind? We must begin by shrinking the ego until we reach the state of no-self. When there is no self, there is no gain or loss, and no external force can truly harm us. People in this world often view themselves as indispensable, but this is a deeply biased perspective. Where there is a self, there is ; where there is no self, there is no karma. The journey from having a self to reaching no-self is exactly where we must put in the diligent work of our practice.
By adjusting our body and mind and engaging in consistent purification, we can achieve clarity. Only then can we see our own problems clearly, be willing to put in the work to change our ways, and find the opportunity to leave suffering behind. Furthermore, we must learn to respect the Buddha-nature in others. When you clearly understand that every creature in the six realms of rebirth is a Buddha and possesses Buddha-nature, your practice will have taken a great leap forward. You will naturally develop a heart of appreciation and praise for others, rather than a heart focused on gain and loss.
to Your True Nature
You must increase your awareness. The moment a thought of gain or loss arises, you must use your awareness to transform, stop, or sever that thought. Do not allow such thoughts to grow, for they will only damage your spirit. You must reclaim your confidence and your true self. Within your true self, there is no gain or loss, no comparison, and no hierarchy. There is only , wisdom, mind-capacity, and tolerance. When your inner state is sincere, it will naturally manifest in your external actions, without any need for force.
The Compassionate Perspective
Expand your mind-capacity. Use a heart of compassion and wisdom to observe the suffering of people in this world and the helplessness of those trapped in the six realms of rebirth. The greatest tragedy in the human world is the absence of the Buddha’s teachings. Without guidance, the suffering that beings endure will be impossible to escape.
If you can see this clearly, you will realise how foolish and confused your previous perspectives, feelings, and attachments were when you were caught up in gain and loss. Those thoughts were driven by the manifestation of karma. The words and behaviours that resulted from such negative thinking have a destructive impact on your own spirit. You should let go of these thoughts immediately and transform them so that you can regain your clarity and return to your true self.
The Art of Being Unmoved
Awakening is a vital link in the process of practice and changing your ways. Ideally, one would understand that attachment to gain and loss harms one’s virtue and practice, and thus never allow such thoughts to manifest. However, the reality is often that we only become willing to change after we see our own problems, or after we have suffered significant trauma. A heart that is empty is a priceless treasure. No-self is the true appearance of an awakened being.
When you encounter obstacles, you can treat them as if they were not there. With no feelings or thoughts attached to the event, you remain clear and at ease. In such a state, how could there be gain or loss? How could there be comparison or hierarchy? Any external words, actions, or environmental changes will not leave a single stain upon you.
Protecting the Heart
To pass through a hundred flowers without a leaf touching is a profound skill in practice. It is a manifestation of the true self, as it has always been. Do not be turned by the environment; instead, learn to transform the environment. The ideal state is to have no mind in response to any environment. In truth, if there is no mind, where could gain or loss come from? Where could there be tests or external conditions? If there is an environment, it is as if there is no environment. The environment and the heart are one.
The mystery of this is difficult to know unless you are the one experiencing it. Those who have attained this state know it, but for those who have not, even the most eloquent description is difficult to grasp. At the very least, one should know that when an environment or karma manifests, one should not be moved by it, but should instead transform the environment.
The Power of Gratitude and Contentment
In summary, if you wish to confront your attachment to gain and loss and not be turned by the environment, you must cultivate a heart of gratitude and contentment. Simply lighting the lamp of gratitude in your heart will illuminate the darkness of dissatisfaction. If you wish to transform the environment, you must apply the skill of being unmoved. The environment will naturally follow the transformation of your heart.
Environments are neither good nor bad; it is only the heart that defines them. This is why the heart can transform the environment. If you say it is good, it is good; if you say it is bad, it is bad. It is entirely up to you. Therefore, a practitioner must be skilled at adjusting, nurturing, and protecting this heart. If this precious heart becomes stained during the process of purification and awakening, you must awaken quickly and align yourself with Buddha-actions.
Recorded by the Buddha’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
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