A scattered mind inevitably develops a sighing mindset. The more scattered a person’s thoughts, the harder it becomes for them to achieve anything meaningful or find satisfaction. For example, imagine someone visiting a clothing store, trying on outfit after outfit, saying, “Should I buy this? No, no, maybe that one instead,” and finally sighing, “None of these suit me!” That’s the sighing mindset, isn’t it? When a person’s thoughts are scattered, this mindset takes hold.
Those with poor karmic conditions often develop ignorance. When a person’s karmic conditions deteriorate, they become increasingly foolish. For example, consider a woman who repeatedly experiences failed relationships. As she grows older, her confidence diminishes, and she becomes desperate. She might start saying to anyone she meets, “Please introduce me to someone—anyone! It doesn’t matter if they’re not ideal; I’ll take them.” Isn’t that foolish? Isn’t that ignorance? Lacking proper karmic conditions, they become willing to settle for whatever comes their way. Thus, poor karmic conditions lead to ignorance. Karmic conditions don’t just refer to relationships between spouses—they also include relationships with children, teachers, classmates, and others. Why is it that some people practising Buddhism still harbour resentment towards certain individuals? It all stems from karmic conditions. When karmic conditions are poor, ignorance grows. Discontent arises, arguments occur—these are clear signs of poor karmic conditions. Experiencing losses, such as having something stolen or receiving a fine, can further intensify ignorance.
There was a man who was frequently fined for parking offences and grew to resent parking officers. One rainy day, he spotted a parking officer issuing tickets. Wearing a hat and a large mask, he ran up to the officer, pulled down his mask, spat on the officer’s face, and quickly fled. Isn’t that foolish? Don’t you think he acted stupidly? His poor karmic conditions led to repeated fines, but instead of reflecting on his own behaviour, he blamed others. It’s important to understand karmic conditions—anger and hatred only lead to greater ignorance. Those who face many obstacles in life often lack the intention to chant the Buddha’s name. Without a mind focused on chanting the Buddha’s name, obstacles will only increase. In the human world, who doesn’t face troubles? You should take precautions in advance. Understand that no one is free from difficulties, so you must prepare yourself before problems arise. Don’t wait until things happen to lament, suffer, or complain, saying, “How could this happen to me?” In reality, many signs were already there, but you failed to notice them.
Another analogy: if you notice something smells a bit off, you might wait to see if others try it first. If someone eats it and immediately gets a stomach ache, you’ll know not to eat it yourself. This is what we call being cautious or having foresight. By developing this awareness, you’ll find that you can navigate situations more smoothly. Do you see?
For example, if you know your health isn’t in great condition, you prepare medicine in advance. If you suddenly feel unwell, you can take the medicine immediately and recover quickly without needing to go to the hospital. Similarly, when unexpected events occur, even if they seem sudden, you should recognise them as the result of spiritual disturbances or the activation of karmic obstacles. At that moment, you become immediately aware of this. What does “awareness” mean? It means having the ability to sense and address the issue immediately. Addressing it involves resolving it and managing the situation effectively. By doing so, you will quickly diminish karmic obstacles and spiritual disturbances.
You must let go of material desires, specifically the five desires, and eliminate indulgence in the pleasures of the Six Sense Objects. I’ve explained the concepts of the “five desires” and “Six Sense Objects” to you before, so I won’t go into detail today. Living in the mundane world, people often immerse themselves in its worldly pleasures, mistaking them for true happiness. Today, you might enjoy a good meal; tomorrow, you might have a bit of extra money and think this is joy. But these are merely the superficial pleasures of the mundane world, and you must learn to restrain yourself. For instance, some older men light up with joy the moment they see a group of young women—that, too, is a mundane pleasure. The influence of the Six Sense Objects must be overcome. Many people cannot resist their cravings when they see food, but even this must be restrained. Everything in this world that appeals to the senses belongs to the realm of the Six Sense Objects and must be subdued. Do you understand?
The Six Sense Objects correspond to the objects of the six sense organs. Attachments to desires in this mundane world can give rise to various states of being. However, even while living in the mundane world, if your spiritual level is elevated, you can transcend to the realm of the Bodhisattvas. Different levels of spiritual states exist within different realms. You can dwell in the Asura realm or the human realm, depending on your state of mind. Similarly, within the human realm, one can embody the state of sagehood or descend into the mindset of a vicious and ruthless criminal. Isn’t that true?
“Those who are driven by desires, when their desires confuse them, lose their sensibility; those who give in to their emotions, when their emotional energy is misdirected, become violent and lose self-control.”
“Driven by desires” implies that a person’s actions are motivated by their desires. Nowadays, people often won’t take action unless prompted by some form of desire. They might go shopping because they want to buy something, pursue a romantic relationship due to emotional longing, or work hard to earn money—all driven by desire. Without desire, what motivation would they have? This principle also applies when you come to learn Buddhism with me; you are driven by the desire to improve your health, career, or overall life through these teachings.
“When desires confuse them, they lose their sensibility” describes how unchecked desires can lead to confusion and mental fog. Consider ancient emperors, who typically had many women around them. Often, this led to neglect of their duties and state affairs, resulting in lethargy and disorder. When desires overwhelm, they cause confusion, which clouds the mind and leaves one uncertain about their actions. This is why limiting desires is crucial—the fewer desires you have, the clearer and calmer your mind will be.
“Those who give in to their emotions” suggests that your perception of situations often depends on the flow of your qi (energy flow). When your qi flows smoothly and you feel happy, you are less likely to be bothered by external events. For instance, seeing me happy might make you feel happy too because everything is influenced by your energy field.
“When their emotional energy is misdirected, they become violent and lose self-control” highlights that imbalanced qi can lead to negative emotions. Disrupted qi may cause you to feel frustrated or appear gloomy. Our qi must not be misdirected. Anger also stems from imbalanced qi. It is crucial for your qi to remain steady and balanced, as it fosters clear thinking and emotional stability.
I often say, “Those who frequently forgive themselves will not receive forgiveness from the Heavens.” Only by holding yourself to high standards—reflecting on your mistakes and thinking, “How could I have done wrong again? I’ve let Guan Yin Bodhisattva down”—will the Heavens forgive you. For example, imagine you accidentally step on someone’s foot on the bus. If you immediately say, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to,” the person will likely forgive you. However, if you respond, “It’s not my fault—it’s so crowded on this bus. Why did you put your foot there?” what do you think will happen? You might even get punched in return.
A person who is quick to forgive themselves will never earn the Bodhisattva’s forgiveness. Similarly, if someone cannot truly forgive others from the heart, they will never find inner peace. Genuine forgiveness is essential. Without it, your heart will remain unsettled, and you will struggle to find peace within yourself. Refusing to forgive others only leaves your heart burdened and restless.
The essence of life is simplicity and ordinariness. If someone says, “I’m just an ordinary person, and that’s okay,” it shows they truly understand and embrace the essence of life. Remember this: life thrives in simplicity. In your role, quietly and diligently fulfil your responsibilities without seeking attention or admiration. Strive for humility and keep your actions grounded in simplicity. Life is impermanent—it arises and fades in an instant. Do you understand? In the blink of an eye, life can end, and in the next, a new life can begin. Do not be deceived by the illusions and fleeting images of the world. How many people fall ill and pass away within just three months? They go in and out of hospitals, and before you know it, three months have passed, and a living, breathing person is gone. Isn’t this the very nature of illusion?
A person who can master self-control attains true freedom—they become the master of their own life. However, if you cannot restrain yourself, you are merely a slave to your desires. For instance, when you crave food and say, “I can’t resist, I have to eat,” it means you cannot control yourself and are no longer in control of your actions. Learn to endure and exercise discipline. Those who fail to control themselves become slaves to their physical bodies, while those who can restrain their impulses and desires become the true masters of their own lives.
In the Diamond Sutra, it is said: “The present mind is unattainable, the future mind is unattainable, the past mind is unattainable.” These are the three unattainable minds. To truly let go, one must release all attachments to the past, present, and future. When your heart lets go, your anger and resentment will naturally leave you. However, if you hold onto these attachments, hatred will forever remain in your heart. Once you let go and say, “I will not hate anymore,” the hatred dissipates.
A single moment of anger can sometimes lead to disaster. To abandon your troubles is to be a true cultivator of the mind. Why hold on to so much worry? Isn’t your mind already cluttered enough? Over a lifetime, your mind becomes filled with useless baggage. Take a moment to examine it—all that remains are leftovers, rotten scraps, and defilements. You tend to remember the bad things while forgetting the good ones. If you carry a lifetime of resentment, grudges, and hatred in your mind, can you truly be a good person? Do you see? To live a meaningful life, you must learn to let go. Only those who can let go are true Buddhist practitioners. That’s all for today.