Reacting Wisely to External Stimuli

In the Essentials, Master Ouyi’s commentary on the Amitabha Sutra, we read, “One lets go of the phenomena one sees and keeps in mind and never reminisces about them.” Letting go refers to how we are to react to our external environments.

Outside stimuli often tempt us. But, ideally, when we see or hear these stimuli, we should not be attached to them. When they are over, we should not reminisce about them again. Every time we recall them, a seed is planted in our Alaya consciousness, and we create a karmic cause. Our mouths are not creating a karmic cause, neither are our bodies. It is our thoughts that are creating karmic cause.

We should often remember “All phenomena are unreal” and “All functioning phenomena are like dreams, illusions, bubbles, and shadows.” This is the truth the Buddha taught us. It is very hard for ordinary people to understand and to awaken. Sakyamuni Buddha taught the Dharma for forty-nine years. He repeated the important teachings. We are familiar with them after hearing them so many times but we cannot practice them. As soon as a situation arises, we immediately become deluded and our wandering thoughts, discriminations, and attachments arise.

 ~ Based on Ven. Master Chin Kung's 2003 lecture series on the Amitabha Sutra