Attaining Accomplishment in Cultivation Requires No-Mind, Desirelessness, and Non-Seeking

There are very few people who seek nothing from learning Buddhism, and even fewer who are in a state of no-mind. Seeking refers to worldly pursuits; all Buddhist practices aim to achieve a state of no-mind, no-desire, and no-seeking to attain accomplishment. Anyone who has a mind and seeks is still unaccomplished. Whatever one seeks, it stems from having a mind, grasping the sought-after object as real and clinging to it; thus, it is all incorrect. Some seek numerous followers, seek prestige, seek power and influence, seek control, seek blessings and virtue, seek political influence, and so on—all are misapplied efforts of the mind, not the conduct of a true practitioner.

Bhikkhu Vajraparipūrṇa practiced the Great Perfection of Wisdom, applying no mental effort and letting his mind abide nowhere. The demon king Papiyan (Mara) spied on him for an entire kalpa, seeking an opening to harass him, yet found no opportunity to disturb him and returned frustrated. On the other hand, those with intense greed and many desires, who cannot transcend the Realm of Desire, are originally demonic followers. Papiyan not only refrains from disturbing them but also grants them powerful blessings and encouragement, urging them to continue their greed, to greed greatly, to greed insanely. Only genuine practitioners frequently encounter demonic obstructions and are disturbed by Papiyan. The negligent are controlled by demons, they are demonic followers. Demons wish for all beings to indulge in the pleasures of the five senses, to indulge in the afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion, and not to subdue their own minds. The more negligent they are, the more demons rejoice. The demon king Papiyan is also skilled at crushing beings’ resolve to practice the Dharma. When beings lose faith in their practice, demons rejoice, and beings fall into their trap.

For a practitioner, possessing correct knowledge and correct view is crucial, and possessing profound meditative concentration is also extremely important. This enables one to skillfully discern demonic disturbances, not follow the demon’s will, and avoid falling into the demon’s lair. Meditative concentration accomplishes all Buddhist undertakings; without meditative concentration, all undertakings cease. Anyone who prevents others from cultivating concentration is a demonic follower; those with wisdom should be skilled at discerning demons. Reciting mantras frequently and cultivating meditative concentration extensively can subdue demons. Without meditative concentration, mere cleverness and wisdom are useless and cannot withstand the temptations of afflictions. When one is truly progressing on the path, even in dreams one subdues the demons of the five desires; dreams become increasingly pure, and the mind becomes increasingly clear and bright. Lacking meditative concentration, no effort avails; it is not genuine practice. Do not constantly remain at the level of the conscious mind; it is useless.