What Is the Magnetic Field Effect?

Magnetism is a kind of strong force, the power that draws the masses together. A field is a place—a place of practice (daochang), a location, a place of reliance. Magnetic fields include material magnetic fields and non-material magnetic fields. A material magnetic field is the gravitational, centripetal force formed by the seeds of the four great elements, while a non-material magnetic field is the gravitational and centripetal force formed by the mind consciousness and its associated mental factors (caittas).

Of course, magnetic fields also have repulsive forces and negative energy. Negative energy is evil aura; when the magnetic field effect is negative, it will draw away your positive energy and make you lose some of your upright qi. Stay away from people with negative energy, and keep yourself optimistic and upbeat every day. There are still very many people with negative energy and weak magnetic fields, and it would be difficult to deal with them all. But whether a person has negative energy and a weak magnetic field is relative: to some people they are negative energy, while to others they are positive energy; to some people they are a weak magnetic field, while to others they are a strong magnetic field. This is also a phenomenon of difference caused by different conditions and different momentum. If it is a wholesome condition, the magnetic field has attraction; if it is an unwholesome condition, the magnetic field has repulsion. Material magnetic fields have gravitational waves—by what means do non-material magnetic fields attract and repel?

If a non-Buddhist practitioner sits across from you listening to you teach the Dharma, you can immediately feel a strong pressure. When the Paths differ, the magnetic fields differ; his magnetic field interference is very great—the greater the wrong view (mithyā-dṛṣṭi), the greater the obstructive force. The sublime Buddhadharma you had originally prepared to teach will come out awkwardly and haltingly in front of the non-Buddhist. When the differences between people are too great, they cannot be together; otherwise there will be unpleasantness, and both sides will feel pressure; in serious cases disputes and conflicts will arise, and neither will have an easy time. It is the same with marriage and family: only those well-matched in background can live pleasantly and harmoniously. Likewise, a group should be composed of like-minded people of the same kind, with shared aspirations and roughly the same level; only then will the group be harmonious. Otherwise there will be disputes and conflicts, and each person will have psychological pressure. People of a lower level will disrupt the magnetic field of those of a higher level, dragging down the higher-level person's standard, while the lower-level person, unable to attach themselves to the higher-level person, will harbor resentment. It is not easy for them to settle their relationship with each other, and magnetic field balance cannot be achieved.

The Buddha also once avoided all his disciples and went alone into the forest to sit in meditation, not letting his disciples come near him—not even his attendant Ānanda could follow. Having long been buffeted by the magnetic fields of sentient beings weaker than himself, the Buddha's mental strength and physical energy would be affected. The Buddha is forever being needed and sought after by sentient beings, always giving out, only outflow and no inflow—how powerful his mental strength must be. Why are all Buddhas solitary? Because there is no one whose magnetic field corresponds to theirs. The Buddha is always giving and bestowing, while others are all recipients of giving; there is a difference, a non-equivalence, and so there is solitude. Bodhisattvas in this world are also solitary, with no equals; they are always giving outwardly and rescuing others, their magnetic field flowing outward without inflow. Over time, their own magnetic field energy will be consumed; when energy is insufficient, their physical strength and mental power will weaken. This is also the principle behind bearing the karmic burdens on behalf of sentient beings.

All Buddhas have already perfected all dharmas, being great heroes of great power—why would they still be affected by sentient beings? Because having a physical body consumes energy, replenishment of energy is needed; the Buddha leaving the crowd to sit in meditation is precisely to replenish energy. Without a physical body, one would not be affected. Throughout the history of Buddhism, all Dharma cultivators have cultivated alone in solitude; without companions, for having companions prevents cultivation from succeeding. Because one cannot find others on the same Path to accompany each other, mutual companionship would weaken the magnetic field, and attainment in cultivation would not come easily.