Advice from the Earth Deity

This is an article written by our Root Guru, Living Buddha Lian Sheng.
Chinese Version: 地神忠告
Translated by Lotus Nino.
Edited by Lotuschef.

 

During a Sadhana session this morning, as I reached the part of performing Boundary Protection for a house belonging to a dharma brother, suddenly the Earth Deity of his family appeared.

I asked the deity: “Is there anything? I’m in the middle of Samadhi session.”

He replied: “I need your help with conveying a few matters.”

I said: “Could you do it another day? I’m in the middle of Samadhi and don’t wish to get interrupted.”

The deity replied: “Your creating the boundary protection for him is a kind of affinity in itself. Since there is affinity, then please help me with sending my messages to him!”

I couldn’t help but stopping the Sadhana to listen to the Earth Deity.

He said: “Please help me with telling the male owner of this family:”

1. That he has to work at being a responsible father and husband! Do not wander around after work! His current life style is his own personal choice, therefore he has to accept the responsibilities! However he is avoidingescaping from his own choice of lifestyle, and he is not fit to be cultivator (sadhaka)! Although many are like him, but since we’ve been accepting his offerings, we feel that it is our duty to tell him about what is right.


2. He needs to be filial to his parents properly. His current behaviour can’t be counted as filial, as he is rebellious towards his parents. He needs to know that registering his parents for dharma ceremony is only a small part of being filial. True filial piety lies in Physical Execution! He is still currently causing his parents to worry and be anxious. Actually this can't be said to be filial,  at times also is not obedient, this is extremely not good. He often boasts that he is a sadhaka, however his behaviour can’t escape the eyes of heavenly and earthly deities and spirits, and filial piety really didn’t do well;


3. Please tell him that if he can’t make good as a “human”, how can he think to be a Deity/God? Even I, a lowly earth god, need “auspicious merits”. What is “auspiciousness”? What is “merits”? Let him ponder properly! If he can’t even yoga with me, a lowly earth deity, what more with the Buddha/Bodhisattva?


4. Please tell him not to constantly beg! He is kind; however he keeps on begging daily. This means that he only knows how to perform small offerings and not the greater one of cultivating the True Yoga of Heart and Nature. The offerings are sincere, but how can small merits from the small offerings compare to the yoga of the cultivation of the heart?


5. Please tell him not to be suspicious of problem with the altar or boundary protection. There is Lord Ksitigarbha, the principal deity, here to empower, what has he to be doubtful of? His suspicion causes transgression of confidence in the Yidam deity; in you all, his Acharyas; his own true nature; how can a sadhaka like this achieve yogic union?


6. Please tell him that cultivation isn’t like this. Chanting mantra too fast,  with not a bit of Sincerity, this is actually wrong. You, Grand Master, have taught already.  What did he learn? It is pointless to chant mantra without sincerity.


7. Please tell him to recite dedication of merit only once. We are tired of hearing it.


8. Please tell him that a smart person will simplify complex problems; a stupid person will however do otherwise. It is a Great blessing that he can work in this type of company; earn this amount of salary which is all due to his Grand master’s blessing. What is more to be uncontended about? Indeed, a person like him who doesn’t know how to amend his character and outlook, but prays to even more deities and offers even more incense will all be pointless! He only knows how to make simple matter complicated! You must help me tell him about this, because after he complicates matter, he will come to beg us again, all these are created by him so what can we do?


9. Please tell him not to use his feeling to sense his aura la! To gauge good and bad. As these actually arise from his own thoughts, therefore deceiving his own body. This is truly a dangerous matter. If his feeling is correct, then he won’t have so many worries now. All these worries are self-sought ones!


10. Please tell him that his biggest problem in cultivation is to never reflect upon himself. All problems are actually created by himself, but he has never looked at his own problems. You, Grand Master, has taught a lot, but he didn’t listen even a single thing. What is the use of reciting 100-syllable mantra of Lord Vajrasattva without proper self-contemplation? Cultivation is not to look at externally, but internally. He doesn’t have any idea about this concept. He only knows how to seek  external forms.


11. Please tell him that we, the local earth gods and deities here, expect him to improve his character. Like the earth deity here, being decked out in nice clothing and has even reached the level of Merit and Benediction God, we are somewhat envious of him. We also want promotion, not only by relying on the transference of merits from his Sutra recitations, but also by the quality improvement of his heart. That’s the way for us to get promoted. If he carelessly recites the Sutra and dedicates the merits to us and we get promoted, then will he be promoted as well? Of course that isn’t the way! A true sadhaka can express his heart and mind, he can persuade us – the Earth Deities to be interested in learning the dharma. We must be able to see your level of improvement! When you don’t have the so-called level; what kind of merits can you dedicate to us? Why need to cultivate together with you?


12. Please tell him to start learning to be a human being. He can’t be a proper human being, therefore he can’t expect anything else of him. His current lifestyle is all due to the blessings from you, Grand Master. It is not good that he doesn’t sincerely respect Guru. He needs to repent properly to you, Grand master. If the lineage blessing breaks, his life will become very pathetic. Munificence and spiritual cultivation are two different matters. He does the former solely for the sake of himself, and not from Boddhicitta, while in so doing expecting much auspicious rewards in return.

I hereby request your help to tell him that we’ve been receiving his sincere offerings daily, however we have no way to tell him about these advices. These are truly sincere counsels from us, the earth deities.

I silently listened to the earth deity until he finished and then I chanted “Om Guru Lian-sheng Siddhi Hum” once and the white light showered the deity and cleansed his body.

I know that you are not an Earth God. From the advices that you want to convey, I can see you are not earth deity, but you are actually......

Please keep on protecting this dharma brother. I shall send him your messages.

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Dear dharma brother, don’t you think that these are all the same as what I’ve told you yesterday in the car? You need to have a thorough self-introspection because even the earth deity from your family has started to speak up.

May all spiritual cultivators be able to learn self-introspection, and from these cleanse all our habits, then repent all past and present evil deeds, therefore halting all karmic negatives from growing. Diligently cultivate to break free of all sufferings.

Amituofo.

 

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