On the eleventh of June, 2017, a disciple approached with a question regarding the challenges of spiritual practice. The disciple noted that Practitioner Su had recently taught that sleepiness is a significant hurdle for many practitioners, one that must be overcome and broken through. The disciple asked for guidance on how to visualise the Buddha-light to prevent falling into a drowsy state, as the space one enters while asleep is vastly different from the state of wakefulness. In that vulnerable state, one is easily susceptible to who may seize the spirit and drag it into the hells. This is a profound obstacle for any practitioner, and the disciple humbly requested the compassionate teachings of Namo Amituofo.
The Shadow of Slumber Upon the Path
Namo Amituofo provided the following discourse: You, as a child of the Buddha, are earnest in your desire for diligent practice, yet you find your progress hindered by the obstacle of sleepiness. This struggle does not discriminate; it affects practitioners regardless of age, gender, or the passage of time. Whether it is yesterday or today, this obstacle manifests constantly. It may appear when you are studying the , performing prostrations, or even while you are travelling in a vehicle. You may find yourself slipping into a state of slumber at any moment.
Fortunately, the Dharma protector Wei Tuo is always nearby, guarding your spirit and your subtle body. Without this protection, your life would have ended long ago, and you would have no opportunity to receive the teachings of Namo Amituofo. This is why we constantly emphasise the importance of maintaining the Buddha-name in your heart throughout the twenty-four hours of the day. The external obstacles to your practice are relentless and never cease.
The Vigilance of the Pure Heart
Venerable HaiZe has recently learned that one must be keenly aware of every thought and intention, even the most subtle. You must learn to stop a thought before it even fully arises. This means that you should not allow idle thoughts to take root. Instead, let your thoughts flow in a continuous stream, occupied solely by the Buddha-name. Anything else is merely a delusion or an affliction. It is truly frightening that people do not realise how their thoughts are constantly shifting. How can one maintain a pure thought if one is not aware of the nature of these thoughts?
Thoughts can be categorised into three types:
Goodness: These thoughts can help bring peace to your body and mind.
Evil thoughts: These thoughts will only lead to the suffering of afflictions.
Pure thoughts: These are found only in the recitation of the Buddha-name.
Only by keeping the Buddha-name flowing continuously, without interruption, can you maintain this purity. In this world, it is difficult to remain pure because we rarely have moments of true, unadulterated thought. Every thought and intention you have is filled with concepts of self and others. If these thoughts are good, that is acceptable, but if you allow evil thoughts to continue unchecked, you will eventually reap the bitter fruits of those actions. You will then return those evil thoughts to others, creating a cycle of negativity that persists throughout this life. How, then, can one ever achieve a state of purity?
The Courage to Transform
The root cause of in practice lies deep within your own heart. If you look closely, you will find that there are always lingering attachments to people, events, or objects that prevent you from remaining clear and alert. To overcome this, you must take firm action:
Sincere Repenting: You must truly repent for your past transgressions with a heart of absolute sincerity.
Facing the Hells: You must be willing to stand before the gates of the hells and invite the truth of your to be revealed.
Vowing to Change: You must make a firm vow from the depths of your heart to change your habits.
You must constantly maintain your awareness. Whenever you encounter drowsiness, you must face it directly and take responsibility for it. If you do not have a good friend or teacher to point out your faults, it is very difficult to achieve the clarity that comes with surgical precision. Purity has different levels of depth, and achieving a state of purity that is completely free from defilement requires cultivation over many lifetimes. When your heart and body are truly pure, your original nature will naturally shine through. This teaching was recorded by the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.
