A Mind Without Longing, Buddhahood Naturally Attained: Lessons from the Chapter on the Apparitional City

Are you longing for something in your practice right now? Perhaps progress, attainment, or simply a little peace? Sometimes we wonder: why do I practice and practice yet still see nothing? The chapter on the Apparitional City in the Lotus Sutra offers us a surprising answer: when the mind is without longing and abides in the present, everything comes to fulfillment naturally. Let us listen to the profound teachings of Venerable Thích Chân Quang on this lesson.

Without Longing, Simply Abiding

In this chapter, the Buddha Great All-Inclusive Sovereign King of Worlds sat at the seat of enlightenment and entered meditative concentration, without any longing at all. He simply abided in that concentration through many small kalpas. When conditions were complete, Buddhahood was attained naturally.

"One who practices meditation to attain enlightenment, once the mind has been gathered properly, has no further longing. The way is to abide in the concentration one has already attained. To have something is not to be complacent, not to consider oneself complete. Simply continue abiding in one's own state without complacency, and when conditions are complete, one naturally transcends that state and advances to another."

This reminds us: do not rush to long for results. Quietly do what is right in the present. When the mind no longer craves, blessings from merit will grow on their own.

Ideals and Ambitions: Two Different Paths

In Buddhism, we are taught to have ideals and aspirations. But ideals and ambitions may look similar, yet they are vastly different in essence. A person who aspires to Buddhahood because they see beings suffering and wishes to have the ability to teach and transform them—that is an ideal. A person who aspires to Buddhahood because they see the Buddha being revered and receiving making offerings—that is an ambition.

"For example, a person who aspires to Buddhahood because they perceive the sublime and wondrous nature of enlightenment and liberation, and see that beings are suffering. Only enlightenment and liberation can give one the ability, the character, to teach and transform beings. So one who aspires to Buddhahood out of love for beings, out of perceiving the beauty of non-self (anatta) and liberation—that person has an ideal, an aspiration."

When we practice, let us examine our motivation. For whom do we practice? For beings, or only for our own ego?

The Minds Within Us: The Children Abandoning Their Toys

The Buddha Great All-Inclusive Sovereign King of Worlds had sixteen sons who, hearing their father had attained the Way, abandoned all their precious toys to follow him into monastic life. Venerable Thích Chân Quang explains that "the children" are the states of mind within us. When one dominant mind turns toward the Buddha's teachings (Dharma), the other scattered minds will gradually practice letting go of their preferences and return to the Dharma.

"When one mind within us, a dominant mind, turns toward enlightenment and liberation, the scattered minds around it, the minds that crave pleasure, will gradually turn to follow that dominant mind."

In reality, you may go out to enjoy yourself while your mind still dwells on the Dharma. You may work while reciting the Buddha's name. When the dominant mind is strong, your whole life, step by step, turns toward liberation.

The Weeping Mothers: Wisdom and Emotion

In the sutra, the mothers weep as they follow their children. The mothers symbolize emotion. When we resolve to practice, our reason (the father) clearly understands the noble path, but our emotions (the mother) pull us back toward old desires.

For example, you wish to go to the temple to receive the eight precepts, but a friend invites you to watch an entertaining movie. At that moment, emotion pulls at you, wanting to stay home and watch the film. That is when the mother weeps within the mind. Do not fear this inner struggle, for it is a natural part of the process of practice.

The Grandfather Also Practices: Habits Transformed

The grandfather in the sutra symbolizes ingrained tendencies, old habits. Old habits such as smoking, drinking, or gossiping—upon knowing the Dharma, will gradually transform into habits of practice: reciting sutras, sitting in meditation, doing charitable work.

"Before, I paid no attention to anyone, living as if oblivious to life and death. But once I came to know the Dharma, I naturally began walking through my village and neighborhood, and when I saw someone poor and suffering, I felt inclined to help them."

So each day, gently build new habits, changing from within the mind.

From Darkness into Darkness: The Need for Those Who Go Before

The sutra contains the phrase "from darkness into darkness." When there is no spiritual teacher to guide the way, the more beings suffer, the more they act wrongly, and the more they act wrongly, the darker things become. If they knew the Dharma, they could go from darkness into light.

"Beings need someone who has gone before to serve as an example."

Therefore, let each of us strive to become a good example for our families and those around us. When parents practice the Way properly, their children will be inspired to follow.

Live Fully in the Present

There may be conflict between ideals and ambitions, between wisdom and emotion, between old habits and new—all of these are challenges on the path of practice. Do not worry too much about the future. Abide in the present, and fulfill every good deed in each moment. When the mind longs for nothing yet remains diligent, that is precisely when blessings from merit will arrive naturally.

"We simply quietly continue doing what is right in the present, without needing to dream of the future. Abiding in the present, fulfilling every good deed in each present moment, without concern for the future—that is a true Buddhist."

We invite all Buddhist practitioners to practice diligently, to live with an upward aspiration, to abandon petty ambitions and nurture beautiful ideals. May all attain peace, joy, and enlightenment.