Jieyin took up the explanation, his voice calm and profound, like the still, fathomless waters of a deep pool.
"The seven emotions are joy, anger, sorrow, fear, love, hatred, and desire. The six desires arise through the eyes, ears, nose, tongue, body, and mind.
At the beginning of cultivation, one should first sever the six desires.
The desire of the eyes clings to beauty, obscuring the truth; the desire of the ears clings to pleasing sounds, drowning out the Great Dao; the desire of the nose clings to fragrances, preventing one from sensing the heavenly scent;
The desire of the tongue clings to delicious flavors, leaving one ignorant of true taste; the desire of the body clings to comfort, preventing one from experiencing supreme bliss; the desire of the mind clings to distracting thoughts, obscuring one's true heart.
Once the six desires are severed, the senses become pure, undisturbed by external things."
Zhunti took up the explanation, his voice lively and clear, tinkling like a mountain spring.
"After severing the six desires, sever the seven emotions. Joy clings to favorable circumstances, making one heedless; anger resents adversity, breeding hatred;
Sorrow grieves over loss, dragging one into despair; fear breeds anxiety, making one shrink back;
Love clings to affection, trapping one in obsession; hatred rejects what displeases it, driving one to extremes; desire seeks endlessly, making one greedy.
Once the seven emotions are severed, the mind becomes peaceful, unmoved by emotion."
The three took turns speaking, unfolding the method of Seven Emotions and Six Desires Severance layer by layer.
They divided the method into five stages, each with specific cultivation practices and criteria for verifying attainment.
The five stages progressed step by step, from easy to difficult.
Cultivators could advance gradually according to their aptitude and progress.
No Innate Spiritual Treasure