The Practice of Ultimate Reality and the Practice of Phenomenal Reality

The Practice of True Reality and the Practice of Appearance

Previously, we mentioned “Deep Hidden Practice.” What is Deep Hidden Practice? It can be practiced in any religious sect, which means “cleansing the life essence,” purifying our own spirit, energy, and soul to make the spirit clean and free from pollution and impurities.

People consume grains and various foods, sometimes encountering stale or toxic items. We must detoxify through exercise and sweating, drink plenty of water to flush out toxins through urine, meditate to purify the mind, settle thoughts, and receive the cleansing of cosmic energy while releasing negative energy fields.

This aims to achieve synchronized purification of body, mind, and spirit. If we can also utilize our spare time to read Buddhist texts, Taoist teachings, scriptures, or wisdom from enlightened beings that have attained enlightenment, it will help elevate our body, mind, and spirit in unison!

Are you already on the path of ascension? Please ask yourself sincerely—question your inner “true self,” ask it: Have I walked the right path in my spiritual practice this lifetime? Each of us has a life plan or “fate chart” established before reincarnation.

This fate chart is based on our past lives; it is written as a “test” for our future based on what we have done in one lifetime. How will we face the challenges or tests in this life? This may sound vague; let me rephrase: “To know past causes is to see present effects; to know future results is to observe present actions.”

The principle behind “To know past causes is to see present effects; to know future results is to observe present actions” suggests that everything a person experiences in this life—whether good or bad, fortunate or unfortunate—is closely related to the karmic causes they have sown in their past (including previous lives).

Therefore, those who have received kindness must repay it; those who bear grudges must seek revenge; debts must be repaid; those who harm others will ultimately be harmed themselves. The law of cause and effect follows closely like a shadow that one cannot escape (unless one makes efforts afterward to do good deeds as atonement for past misdeeds). However, accepting this perspective is not easy for most people.

Generally speaking, individuals must undergo long periods of experience and often pay significant prices before gradually understanding this principle. This journey represents what one must go through in the cycle of reincarnation known as “humanity.”

Have you truly cultivated your practice down to your very core? Is your practice genuinely deep hidden practice or merely superficial practice? If you only focus on external behaviors without changing internal beliefs, then similar mistakes will continue to recur.

Conversely, if you only correct your beliefs but do not change your behavior at all, that becomes mere “empty talk” rather than true practice. Therefore, whether someone is genuinely practicing can be discerned by observing whether their beliefs and actions are changing toward a righteous path. Thus, the definition of “practice”—

is about correcting our previous erroneous beliefs and behaviors so they align with middle-path thinking and actions. Middle-path thinking refers specifically to “right mindfulness,” while middle-path behavior refers to “right action.” So what does “middle path” mean?

The so-called “middle path” refers to principles that are balanced and just—neither biased nor partial—exuding great compassion and fairness while embodying ultimate truth and virtue without selfishness or egoism. Deviating from these principles leads one into realms where biased thoughts and actions fall under the category of “superficial practice.”

Humans possess both external appearances and internal states; if something manifests externally in form or color—it’s naturally evident; however if it resides within one’s heart—it often changes endlessly yet remains hidden from knowledge. Therefore what one thinks internally versus what one does externally,

when karmic results have yet matured are indeed difficult to predict regarding success or failure. Just like any endeavor’s outcome ultimately depends on how circumstances evolve over time—it’s currently hard to foresee.

Until after one’s death—it’s truly challenging to determine good versus evil deeds until breath ceases at which point morality can finally be assessed clearly distinguishing merits from faults. If someone lived kindly during their first half but committed heinous acts later—their transgressions could significantly undermine all accumulated good deeds from earlier years.

Hence until a person has passed away definitively determining another’s true goodness or wickedness remains impossible—similar as distinguishing between light when darkness prevails; wisdom cannot discern right from wrong until revealed.

Human nature inherently lacks goodness or evilness—it exists before any thought arises. However when encountering circumstances due cause arises separating good from bad judgments between right versus wrong emerges accordingly. Thus triggered conditions become pivotal keys influencing moral outcomes.

Individuals find themselves amidst various environments without “subtle wisdom” responding appropriately leads them into confusion when unexpected events arise causing disarray within them. Each person’s disposition varies greatly with differing thoughts shaped by innate tendencies; some remain steadfast like mountains while others act impulsively lacking clarity.

Ultimately reality stems from personal karmic habits resulting in diverse preferences alongside varying perspectives arising accordingly. If exposure time towards righteous teachings proves brief coupled with inadequate aptitude—they naturally struggle against adversities collapsing swiftly under pressure.

Whenever external situations become pronounced leading thoughts arise triggering mental responses binding oneself externally evolving certain concepts within their hearts;
this causes sudden shifts within their minds compelling hidden malevolent tendencies surfacing,
thus revealing repeatedly shifting distorted scenarios surrounding them. Therefore generally speaking novice practitioners learning Buddhism or Taoism often lack stability making it difficult achieving clarity thus struggling attaining tranquility amidst chaos.

Because fluctuations within one’s nature remain invisible intangible difficult recognizing momentary changes akin unpredictable transformations occurring throughout heaven earth alike winds clouds shifting unpredictably hence understanding practicing requires first cultivating wisdom stabilizing one’s disposition maintaining inner peace!

“Body engaged within worldly affairs while heart detached” or “body practices worldly ways while heart cultivates transcendent paths”—this describes methods balancing body-mind practices where engaging worldly matters prevents resolving accumulated karmic obstacles whereas detaching heart fails liberate endless worries hindrances,

As for cultivating ‘heart’ pertains higher levels since an unsettled mind hinders spiritual wisdom emergence thus crucial key lies maintaining ‘stillness’ where true essence rests—

As stated in 《Taishang Qingjing Jing》 regarding ‘true purity’ alongside ‘true stillness’, (if one wishes attain genuine stillness then sitting quietly meditating achieves state wherein heart settles).

Should achieving emptiness concerning both heart-nature prove elusive thus continuing forward risks failing attainments along spiritual endeavors potentially leading oneself spiraling into cycles reincarnating endlessly wandering between life-death!

by – Phoenix Mountain Cihuang Palace