Breaking Illusions

If you've finished the first nine chapters and feel that what I've said is correct and makes sense, then you should start paying close attention.

The first step is called "borrowing cognition to break cognition," also known as "Breaking Illusions."

First, view all sentient beings as gods and Buddhas. Treat any interactions or events with people as tests from gods and Buddhas.

Sincerely engrave this idea into your mind and practice it in your daily life.

At the same time, continuously train yourself to perceive your own thoughts.

It's normal not to achieve "Every Thought Awakened" at the very beginning. However, afterward, remember to reflect, recall, and remind yourself to be aware of your thoughts the moment they arise. See what you are thinking.

"Seeing what you are thinking" means observing your own thinking with your mind, which is to say, letting thoughts observe thoughts. Practice this deliberately.

Don't listen to others who say "observing the inner self" isn't about thoughts observing thoughts. Once you get used to it, it won't be thoughts observing thoughts anymore; it will become instinct.

Believe in yourself and persist. If you're quick, you'll be able to observe this within ten days to half a month. With continued persistence, you'll successfully lay the foundation within about a hundred days. Laying the foundation means building a solid base.

While practicing observing your inner self, try using methods to "Shifting Thoughts." This method is similar to substituting concepts.

It's similar to viewing all sentient beings as Buddhas. You can also think of it as tricking yourself with your own thoughts – yes, tricking your own thoughts.

For example, when I'm in an argument with someone, I view them as a Buddha or Bodhisattva. The argument is simply to help me practice observing my own thoughts and see what I'm thinking and what emotions are arising. They are helping me, not genuinely trying to fight with me.

Once this thought arises, you won't dwell on the matter or the person.

Because you truly believe this person is here to help you cultivate, you'll use them to practice observation and "Shifting Thoughts."

If you can change your thoughts, you can actually change the situation.

While the event remains the same and the person is still the same, due to the shift in your mindset, the event turns into a good thing. You won't get angry or distressed. At the same time, you'll have learned to "Shift Thoughts," and the result is that you've improved yourself through this event, rather than getting caught up in its troubles and distress.

After achieving this, simultaneously train in "Controlling Thoughts" and "Transforming Thoughts." "Controlling Thoughts" is very similar to "Shifting Thoughts." It means using your method of replacing thoughts to control what you think and what you don't think. At the same time, those negative thoughts will be "Transformed" by you.

In other words, "Shifting Thoughts," "Transforming Thoughts," and "Controlling Thoughts" happen simultaneously.

When you're bored, you can also learn from me and use false thoughts to combat false thoughts. For instance, visualize a sword or some other magical artifact in your mind. Yes, a magical artifact.

Use your thoughts to etch its shape and form in your mind. Due to the instability of thought, this sword might sometimes be large and heavy, sometimes small and delicate, changing freely, but that doesn't matter. Just remember to visualize this sword when you're bored, and then use your mind to control its shape freely. It can be a Fangtian Huaji, a meteor hammer, anything you want.

The purpose of this is to "sever thoughts." For example, when you feel agitated, visualize this sword and then use this conceptual sword to "sever" the thought that is causing your agitation.

Visualize your thoughts concretely. You can imagine your annoyance or distress as a ball or a small monster, and then in your mind, use the sword to strike down the monster.

The more deliberately you think about it, the better. You'll find that when you do this, the thing you were just annoyed about will be put aside and forgotten.

It may seem simple and magical, but this is actually a method of bringing your mind to a single point.

Practice continuously, and gradually, you'll be able to notice every thought as it arises and resolve it through similar methods.

Afterward, various thoughts will launch a fierce backlash against you. Grit your teeth, persevere, and continue to slay demons and vanquish monsters.

Slowly, those negative thoughts will submit to you and fear you greatly, because no matter how many come, you can unleash a sword energy to destroy them.

Treat controlling thoughts as playing a game; it's fun and also a form of cultivation.

If you continue this way, you'll have very few thoughts in a day, and even those previously chaotic and distracting thoughts will become scarce.

Of course, while cultivating like this, you must also continuously comprehend the principles of all things.

For example, you know that all life will eventually pass away, including yourself. Therefore, who is here and who is not doesn't need to cause you too much pain.

This is predetermined and cannot be changed. The only thing you can do is live well.

I once had a very good friend who left me a last message when he passed away. I was heartbroken when I saw it and called him frantically, but no one answered.

I knew it was over; he was gone. I couldn't help but recall our shared memories, cherishing them dearly.

When I realized I was falling into sadness thinking about his passing, I chose to forget about his departure and only focus on the happy times we shared. This is how I controlled my emotions.

This is a method, not self-deception or heartlessness. In other words, if someone has left, crying yourself to death is useless and brings nothing but harm.

If you truly cherish that relationship, then keep that person well in your heart. Don't forget this friend, and don't suffer. Carry the beauty of your time together and live well.

Isn't there a saying that true death for a human, besides the normal physical death, is also being forgotten?

Furthermore, in life, you must also get used to the comings and goings of people, because no one can stay together forever; it's only temporary.

Don't be sad about friends who remain friends and friends you no longer keep in touch with.

Human thought is unstable. Today you think highly of someone, and they think highly of you, and you have a good relationship. Tomorrow, if they think ill of you, and you lose contact, don't be sad or dwell on it.

Even you yourself are constantly changing, so how can you expect others to remain unchanged? Do you understand? Accepting everything is actually a manifestation of compassion and kindness.

Don't cling to past moments, who was right and who was wrong. They all helped you grow. You gained your own experiences and insights from those events.

This applies to both good and bad things. Ultimately, you'll realize that they were all just processes to help you become stronger.

Love that makes people want to die for each other, heroic loyalty that shakes the heavens – these are all temporary because people's hearts change.

Look again in ten years. Which of your children will still be partying with you? Who will be with you through thick and thin when your elderly parents are gone?

As a person, the greatest love is to take good care of yourself, your soul, and your body.

Because if these two are hurt, no one can replace you.

After taking care of yourself, continuously strengthen yourself and gain the ability to protect those you once wanted to protect.

Of course, in life, you should also practice great love, selflessness, and inclusivity towards all things.

When your heart encompasses all things, you possess all things. In the language of fantasy novels, if you can achieve this, you will have reached the Myriad Manifestations Realm.