The Art of Stopping Thoughts

The Nature of Mental Activity

Thoughts and ideas are merely activities of the mind-consciousness. People are deeply accustomed to habitual thinking, often falling into these patterns without even realising it. If your thoughts are virtuous, that is well and good. However, if your thoughts are unwholesome, a chain reaction of negative consequences will inevitably follow. Thinking of yourself, your family, or your household affairs is rooted in selfishness. This is a significant part of your karma, which binds you to the cycle of rebirth.

Transforming Your Karma

The purpose of your practice is to transform karma. You must stop these thoughts and resolve the karmic obstacles that already hinder your body. You must distance yourself from the manifestation of karma, rather than inviting it. This is the only way to achieve the goal of purification and cleansing away the dust and grime of karmic pollution. If you continue to invite karmic manifestations, how can you ever hope to practise in purity, let alone reach the state of an awakened being? For karma that has already manifested, you must repent, resolve the conflict, and perform Chao Du. For karma that has not yet manifested, you must stop your thoughts. Do not let your mind stir and provoke the manifestation of karma.

The Path of Diligent Practice

You must be diligent in your practice to dissolve karma, purify your mind, and remove obstacles. Serve all beings and form good affinities. By cultivating both merit and wisdom, and by accumulating virtues, you will gather the necessary provisions to resolve conflicts with beings, reduce your karmic burden, and eventually be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, or even reach the state of an awakened being. Namo Amituofo.

Recorded and transcribed by Namo Amituofo’s disciple, Venerable HaiZe.