The Awakening of Spiritual Awareness (14)
With the competition of technology and the rapid changes in society, the uncertainty about the future has ironically led to a lack of security. The pressures of life feel like a heavy burden, making both body and mind more unstable.
Thus, psychosomatic symptoms have become a common ailment in today’s world. Issues such as depression, bipolar disorder, and panic attacks affect many people to varying degrees. Everyone experiences some symptoms; it’s just a matter of severity. Therefore, the fluctuations of the mind significantly impact the quality of life, even affecting family members.
Living in this world while blindly chasing after desires leads one to lose themselves. Becoming immersed in the pursuit of material satisfaction leaves one physically and mentally exhausted—suffering both bodily pain and emotional distress—forgetting the essence of life itself. Attachment to greed, anger, and ignorance binds oneself. The three poisons churn within consciousness, permeating daily life. To some extent, we all engage in actions that go against our conscience. Mencius said: What distinguishes humans from beasts is their sense of conscience. Common people may abandon it; noble individuals preserve it. The difference between animals and humans lies in human conscience; we should constantly examine whether our conscience still exists and whether we act in accordance with it. Therefore, the teachings left by ancient sages remind future generations to be cautious and fearful when dealing with others and everything around us. We should always be vigilant not to lose our moral compass while pursuing wealth and material desires, leading us to commit acts worse than those of beasts. Even crows know how to return favors; lambs know how to kneel for milk. Can humans behave worse than animals?
Some may ask: My heart is restless and unstable; what should I do? How can I cultivate myself to achieve inner peace? There are no other methods—only self-reflection and repentance are needed. We must look within ourselves: Have we been good people? Have we fulfilled our responsibilities? The classics say: A gentleman focuses on his roots; when the roots are established, the path emerges naturally. There is no other way for humanity; find your own role and do your best without placing your aspirations on external matters or chasing after illusory fame or excessive material enjoyment. Being content with one’s role allows for a clear conscience.
From birth onwards, as we learn to speak, we continuously acquire new knowledge and concepts that shape our understanding simultaneously. These concepts evolve with personal growth and experiences but often lack maturity or completeness in reasoning. People frequently deceive themselves into believing their understanding is correct—that their perspectives are right. Consider stepping into a library: how many books have you read? The knowledge you possess is almost negligible compared to what exists out there. Moreover, how many storms have you weathered in life? If you face all situations using your limited knowledge or perspective, how can you avoid worries? How can you not encounter setbacks or obstacles? When faced with difficulties in life, if one wishes for change, it must start from within because current struggles are bound by your knowledge or perspectives that confine you. Only by letting go of these incomplete notions can one find a new path from within.
The Zen masters say: True understanding comes from self-awareness through one’s own heart-mind wisdom. Mencius stated: What one can do without formal learning is innate goodness; what one knows without deliberation is innate wisdom. Buddhism teaches that all beings inherently possess prajna wisdom—how can this be manifested? It requires diligent practice in meditation because meditation forms the foundation for all cultivation practices. Without meditation skills in one’s practice efforts, it’s like floating duckweed without roots—unstable and aimless.
Zen practitioners do not generate good or evil thoughts when encountering circumstances; they remain unmoved by external changes—not merely sitting still but finding stillness amidst movement.
If we describe this state: before emotions like joy or anger arise—in silence where there seems to be nothing—we should engage with things without generating distinctions between right or wrong or feelings of love or hate regarding choices made—always remaining calm without differentiation or attachment (the differentiation between right/wrong stems from one’s own judgment based on personal biases).
By Teacher Liu Hongming