The Nature of Environment and the Awakened Mind

The Heart as the Sole Creator

During the first session of the Thrice Yearning Ceremony, we reflect upon the nature of our environment and the conditions we face in our daily lives. Teacher Practitioner Xia Lianju provides us with this essential teaching to guide our practice: "Conditions and environments possess no inherent quality of being good or bad. These labels are merely projections that arise from within our own hearts."

Everything is mind-only. The external conditions we encounter are also created by the heart. Consider a single situation: for one person, it may be a favourable condition, while for another, it is an adverse challenge. This difference exists solely because their hearts are different. When we understand this, we begin to see that the world we experience is a reflection of our own internal state.

The Mastery of the Awakened Being

Those who have realised their true nature are those who are truly in control of their own lives. Regardless of the environment they find themselves in, they possess the ability to maintain their meditative concentration. They are able to:

• Constantly awaken their awareness to the present moment.
• Transform their environment rather than being swayed or controlled by external circumstances.
• Provide themselves with positive energy at all times.
• Keep their hearts perpetually stable and unmoved by the chaos of the world.

Aligning with the Buddha-Heart

If you can cultivate a heart that is like the Buddha-heart, your heart-environment will naturally become like the Buddha-environment. When your heart is pure and aligned with the truth, you will no longer need to worry about whether you will realise your true nature. You will be able to be reborn in the Western Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss with complete ease and freedom. This is the path of the awakened being, where one leaves suffering behind and finds true happiness.

This message was recorded by the chief writer, the Buddha's disciple, Venerable HaiZe.