Words from the Buddha's Heart: The Art of Quiet and Mindful Listening

Teachings from Namo Amituofo:

You must learn to calm your body and mind. When you are still, listen intently to the sounds emanating from within your own body. Perhaps these sounds originate from a part of your body where the symptoms of illness have already manifested. You may place your hand gently near or upon that area, listening to the beings and cells residing there, and engage in a silent dialogue with them.

The Body as a Sacred Vessel

Every being is unique, and their level of spiritual sensitivity varies greatly. Your physical form is not merely a collection of flesh and bone; it is a dwelling place for a vast multitude of beings. Within your body, you may find:

• Spirits from the six realms of existence.
• Beings from the four holy states.
• Various deities and heavenly beings from this world and beyond.
• The spirits of nature, including those of the mountains, rivers, and the earth.
• Tiny, crawling, and flying creatures.
• Beings from the ghost realm and the underworld.
• Your own karmic creditors and ancestral spirits.
• Even extraterrestrial beings from distant star systems.

Each of these beings exists within different parts of your body, depending on their unique causal conditions. They exert various influences upon you. Some may remain quiet and still, while others may cause significant interference. Some may radiate positive energy, acting as your protective Dharma protectors, while others may emit negative energy, which cancels out the goodness within your body and creates harmful disturbances.

Listening to the Voices Within

When these negative influences take hold, you may experience restlessness, emotional instability, or even physical harm. This can lead to ageing, illness, and in severe cases, the loss of life. As a practitioner, your sensitivity and awareness allow you to perceive these internal states. You may find that:

• Beings burdened by deep resentment will communicate messages filled with sorrow and bitterness.
• Beings consumed by anger will manifest messages saturated with fury and dissatisfaction.

You must learn to listen to the voices of these various beings. They have come to you for specific reasons: to seek the repayment of debts, to settle old scores, to repay a kindness, or to resolve a grievance. Those who come to repay a kindness or settle a debt of gratitude generally carry good intentions and lack malice. Conversely, those who come to seek revenge or settle a grievance are often filled with hatred and anger.

The Path to Harmony and Liberation

If your inner space is opened and your spiritual eyes are awakened, you may be able to perceive the landscapes of these hidden realms. You might hear the conversations of spirits and communicate with them through your mental notes, naturally understanding their intentions and their needs. Your body naturally forms various spaces where these spirits and your physical form interact and influence one another. Whether it is the formless spirits, the tangible cells, the internal organs, or even the pores of your skin, everything is interconnected.

If these spirits are calm, without waves of emotion, or if your cells have awakened and are able to listen, you are in a state of balance. However, if your karmic creditors are waiting for the right conditions to manifest their grievances, you must provide them with teachings. You must guide them by:

• Encouraging them to listen to sutras and hear the Dharma.
• Teaching them to chant Namo Amituofo.
• Performing prostrations to the Buddha.
• Practising the path of doing good, speaking good, and thinking good.

You must lead by example, ensuring that you give rise to all roots of goodness and achieve the fruit of Bodhi. By doing so, you create a positive development for all beings within you. This provides them with the opportunity to resolve their conflicts, receive the benefit of Chao Du, and be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss. Namo Amituofo.