Dream Hints Prove That the Truth of Suffering Is the Severance of the View of Self

Ruchun: Recently, while reciting the Shurangama Mantra, I have experienced intense reactions in my head. Deep within my brain and the roots of my ears, there are constant crisp cracking sounds, even more pronounced than during meditation. This afternoon it was more obvious. After a loud crack, I suddenly felt that the left ear canal and the half of my face connected to it became empty, hollow, and this lasted for a long time. The energy continued to press relentlessly from the back of my head to the crown, nasal cavity, and ear canals, making my entire head feel like a balloon about to burst. Suddenly, a great stirring arose within my heart. I thought of how desperately I had striven over the years for family, career, children, and relatives, enduring immense hardships, only to end up with suffering, emptiness, and impermanence. How foolish I was! In contrast, now being alone and tranquil feels so good. After a while, a voice suddenly emerged in my mind: "The current you is the original you."

Reflecting on my past ignorance and delusion, I felt truly foolish. At this moment, the red light before my eyes became increasingly brilliant, and then a golden light opened within the red light. In the golden light, there was a tall golden Buddha statue. A voice drifted past my ear: "Welcome back." While I was wondering about this, another gentle voice came: "Child, you have finally returned." In this state, I sat for two hours without realizing it.

Commentary: First of all, Ruchun's meditative absorption is very good. The mind has a certain degree of emptiness, not far from the emptiness realized at the path of seeing, or perhaps there is an indication of attaining the path of seeing, though it is not clearly stated. Because the meditative absorption is very good, the energy pulse has surged through the back of the head and even the entire head, and the Conception and Governing Vessels are nearly connected. The transformation of merit, meditative absorption, the physical body, and various aspects of mind and conduct—or what might be called a complete rebirth—has lifted you to the brink of the path of seeing, less than a step away, or perhaps you have already arrived but cannot articulate it due to lack of experience.

Both Shi Ruyuan and Ruchun are excellent in meditative absorption and mind nature. Their energy channels have passed through the entire body, opening or nearly opening the Conception and Governing Vessels. Their physical bodies have transformed, and both body and mind have undergone a complete rebirth. This shows that attaining the path of seeing is inseparable from the movement of energy channels and the transformation of the physical body. Without transformation of the physical body, the consciousness cannot be ultimately transformed. Body and mind support each other; lacking either, one cannot attain the path of seeing. The transformation of the physical body requires meditative absorption. Therefore, without meditative absorption, do not speak of attaining the path of seeing. An ordinary person's bones cannot replace the sacred embryo.

Soon, a voice emerged in the mind saying: "The current you is the original you." This statement should have a prerequisite: the transformation of your mind. The transformed mind is the original you. This original you could refer to the you after achieving the fruits of the Small Vehicle or the Great Vehicle. It cannot be clarified or distinguished here. Also, the golden Buddha statue said to you: "You have finally returned." This phrase also has deep implications—whether it is a return to the Small Vehicle, the Great Vehicle, or a return of the mind cannot be distinguished here. Ruchun needs to carefully describe the events before and after in more detail.

Ruchun: In the middle of the night, I dreamed of exhaling energy. After waking up, I felt very refreshed and began to meditate. In the meditative state, I continued to contemplate the suffering, emptiness, and impermanence of the five aggregates, the secular world, and the six contacts. Craving equals suffering; non-craving is freedom from suffering. Non-craving and non-attachment are our original body and mind, which are free from suffering and affliction. That is the true self. Then I dreamed that I had realized the truth of suffering. My entire body suddenly became empty. I felt very surprised, woke up briefly, then fell asleep again, still dreaming about the truth of suffering. I started exhaling again, and after a while, I felt my body become empty again. After waking up, my entire chest felt very open and empty. It seemed I hadn't really slept last night.

Commentary: This is the state of realizing emptiness, the state of cutting off the view of a self. It is almost there. Let me wake up fully and make a final determination. No rush. Non-craving and non-attachment are not the true self either; it is still selflessness and emptiness. The true self is one's own unborn and imperishable pure mind of self-nature. Dreaming of realizing the truth of suffering and the body becoming empty means you have realized the truth of suffering and cut off the view of a self. This is the emptiness of the Small Vehicle, perhaps a direct realization of Small Vehicle emptiness, which is the Small Vehicle's path of seeing. Once the Small Vehicle path of seeing is attained, the Great Vehicle is not far off, because the merit is sufficient, the mind nature is good enough, and by maintaining meditative absorption and continuing to investigate the Great Vehicle, there is full hope of realizing the Tathagatagarbha. Currently, although in the human realm, male wisdom surpasses female wisdom, in the Dharma-Ending Age, women feel suffering more keenly and are more diligent, so they attain the path of seeing faster than men. Those with light suffering become lazy; it would be better for all of you to experience suffering.

Over the past two or three months, I sensed that something was about to happen, and indeed it did. Such events can happen more often; I don't mind. One by one, let everyone return—return to selflessness, return to self-nature, return to the original self, return home and sit steadily. I will also feel at ease. Let us all enjoy liberation together! Those still endlessly busy with theories, who have not yet embarked on the path of actual practice, aren't you foolish? Those still busy with worldly affairs, aren't you hopelessly foolish?

Ruchun: Thank you, Master, for the encouragement. Your disciple will continue to strive. I hardly go out now; I find going out very tiring. I don't like to talk, and even less do I like to hear sounds. I always convert voice messages to text. I don't care about food or clothing. Previously, I used to pour away dishwashing water, but now I mostly drink it. My clothes are all cheap items bought from Pinduoduo. I prefer to be alone and quiet, and I enjoy contemplating the five aggregates in stillness.

Commentary: The common characteristics of those who have currently attained the path of seeing are: great blessings, ample leisure time, no need to work, dedicating all time to cultivation with no other distractions, and a profound understanding of the suffering, impermanence, and emptiness of the world. Ruchun's bodhisattva nature is the best. A bit foolish, perhaps, but foolish in a worthwhile way. Both you and Shi Ruyuan have been studying Buddhism for about seven or eight years, which is quite fast—more than ten times faster than those who focus on theory. Both of you are foolish, one more than the other. Foolish is good; without foolishness, how could you undergo a complete rebirth? How could you achieve emptiness and selflessness? Those who are sharp and clever are mostly creators of evil karma, always eager to rush toward the three lower realms. That is true foolishness, genuine foolishness.