Let’s delve into the concept of ‘ideology’. What is ideology? Ideology refers to the thoughts that arise based on your theoretical foundation. If there’s just a fleeting thought, such as ‘I want to do something’, that’s merely a thought, without any theoretical grounding. For instance, when you’re a bit peckish, you might think about having a bite to eat, but this thought doesn’t constitute an ideology. What does ideology look like then? Let’s again use the analogy of someone’s feeling hungry. A person with an ideology might think: ‘What time did I have my meal today? Seems like it’s mealtime now.’ A thought that has been formulated after being processed through reasoning, that’s what we call an ideology.
When practising Buddhism, it’s essential to firmly adhere to your beliefs and faith. It’s through your trust in the Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door that Master Lu’s teachings can help you cast aside distracting thoughts. Only with unwavering faith in Buddhism can you achieve liberation and set out on the journey towards Buddhahood. If an individual can’t break free from worldly matters, they won’t be able to attain Buddhahood. So, when practising Buddhism, hold steadfast to your beliefs. Thinking along the lines of, “Now that I’ve embarked on the path of Buddhism, I’ll do my best. Regardless of what transpires, I will continue to learn. Regardless of what other people may say, I will focus wholeheartedly on my cultivation.” With such an ideology, one can truly succeed in their practice.
When karmic force takes hold, remember why you’re cultivating your mind. What’s the purpose of your mind cultivation? It’s for enlightenment, to comprehend the true nature of your inherent conscience. If you lose sight of your cultivation’s goal, you’re essentially back to square one. To practise and then stop is the height of folly. Stand by the strength of your will, which is the power of faith. As long as you have faith, you’ll have strength.
We should possess the ability to control our “faculty of faith” and “faculty of mindfulness”. The faculty of faith is the source of belief, while the faculty of mindfulness forms the foundation of thoughts. If you fail to manage your faith and mindset, you will lose your direction, allowing others to dictate your path and leading to a loss of self-determination. Why do some people let their emotions be swayed by others? It’s because they’re naive. Always remember to regulate your faculties of faith and mindfulness, especially the foundation of your thoughts. For example, when you’re feeling lost or distressed, it’s vital to control the root of these thoughts. This task requires a diligent effort. By diligent effort, I mean striving hard to achieve something, unobstructed by any hurdles. This effort can generate a type of power, a supernatural strength inherently present within the heart. Controlling your thoughts means managing the faculty of mindfulness. Once the faculty of mindfulness is corrected, coupled with the recitation of Buddhist sutras, a supernatural realm will manifest within your thoughts. Such thoughts are the thoughts of the Buddha.
Even minor actions can have significant outcomes; never engage in wrongdoing, no matter how trivial it may seem, and never neglect acts of kindness, no matter how minor they appear. It’s essential not to underestimate the impact of small misdeeds, thinking their consequences will be minimal. Understand that the karmic retribution can be severe and can magnify over time. A seed of evil can evolve into a significant karmic obstacle, much like a quarrel in our lives where a lack of communication and understanding intensifies resentment. This is the principle of karma: evil actions sow harmful seeds, while good deeds yield positive outcomes. Never underestimate the power of doing good, no matter how simple or minor it may seem. As long as you commit to it, you plant a seed of goodness, which will yield positive fruit in your Eighth Consciousness field.
True generosity involves letting go of all anxieties, worries, prejudices, and attachments. You might wonder, how is this considered ‘giving’? Well, by letting go of your anxieties, you end up benefiting both yourself and others. For instance, if you’re feeling down, with a face full of worries and anxieties, others who see you may also become upset. In this case, you’re essentially passing on your worries and anxieties to others. On the other hand, if you’re cheerful, free of worries, and greet everyone with a smile, you bring joy to others. Isn’t this a form of giving?
If you don’t cling to notions of right and wrong, every moment can be pleasant for you. Living without sticking to judgements enables you to find happiness at all times. For instance, even if someone has clearly made a mistake, choosing to forgive them allows you to maintain your joy. One shouldn’t deliberately stir up conflicts or obsess over right and wrong in this world. Mistakes result from worldly changes. It’s crucial to understand these changes, see through them, and foresee their outcomes. For example, if you know that consuming a certain dish will lead to negative effects, you’ll avoid it, thus eliminating potential obstacles. Obstacles arise because you haven’t clearly perceived the essence of things.
A noble person holds themselves accountable before criticising others. If you aspire to be such a person, scrutinise your actions before blaming others: “Did I do the right thing?” As such, those who are willing to humble themselves never run into barriers; there’s no path they can’t traverse. This essentially means that we should learn to let go, humble ourselves, and often concede, “I’m sorry, I was wrong.” Recognise the importance of not holding yourself in too high a regard; only by learning to forget oneself can a person achieve liberation.
If you decide to let go today, then simply let it go. If you’re seeking a definitive end, you’ll only find that there is no definitive end. This means if you’ve decided to let go of something today, you should relinquish it entirely, without any reservations. And if you’re persistently wondering, ‘When can I settle a matter or resolve an issue?’ then you’ll come to realise that there is no definitive conclusion
Indeed, life is a product of illusions. Our fleeting life, just a few decades in this Human Realm, is formed and conceived by delusional thoughts. For instance, thoughts about wanting to be more beautiful, desiring wealth, or dreams about future aspirations – all of these are products of our imagination. Ultimately, when life draws to a close, all these dissipate. Isn’t that delusional? What can you take with you after death? Anything that cannot be brought along with you can’t be considered real. Whatever is impermanent is not truly yours. In the end, we can take nothing with us; only our karma follows. Anyone who deeply contemplates these teachings will indeed gain unexpected mental fortitude. We’ll delve more into this next time.