Categories: Cosmic Messengers
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!
Welcome. We hope this teaching offers you a powerful determination, or spiritual resolution, to apply practically in your life. As we progress on the spiritual path, our inner world begins to change. You may already know that as we develop our spirituality, certain unwholesome mental states are suppressed, and with deep insight, they can be completely uprooted and eradicated. This is the journey of purifying the mind.
Within this journey, we have previously explored the topic of “Universal Representatives.” These are individuals who, knowingly or not, play a role in the greater cosmic balance. We encourage you to explore those teachings, as they provide a helpful context for understanding your own spiritual development and the subtle experiences you may encounter in modern society.
For those of you who are new to these teachings or have asked about meditation methods, the best approach is to engage with these articles from the very beginning, in order. This will provide you with a complete picture, answer your questions, and guide you in your practical training.
The Power and Responsibility of a Cultivated Mind
When we begin our spiritual practice, we don’t immediately possess immense mental energy. This power, this strength of mind, builds over time as we weaken our mental defilements, what in Buddhism are called kleshas. These are the unwholesome roots of greed, hatred, and delusion. Through calming meditation, known as Samatha, we can temporarily suppress them. With insight meditation, or Vipassanā, we can eradicate them completely. It is through this process that our mental energy becomes truly potent.
You may have heard stories of old, of ascetics or virtuous individuals whose words held great power. A curse from such a person was said to be incredibly effective. Why? Because a person who has cultivated deep virtue and understands the nature of the universe is in harmony with it.
The universe, nature, and even animals seem to revere and respect such a being whose mind is so developed. However, a true spiritual practitioner, a genuine sage, would never use this power to curse another, no matter the mistake made out of ignorance. Instead, their heart is filled with Mettā, or loving-kindness. They would wish for the person to be free from harm and the negative consequences of their actions.
Of course, the natural law of Kamma,the principle of action and its result,is unavoidable. Not even a highly developed being can stop the fruits of past actions from ripening. But they will always strive to prevent further harm with a compassionate mind. This tells you something important: a developed spiritual practitioner possesses an almost unimaginable mental strength. Without wisdom, this power could be tempting.
One might gain psychic abilities, like the “third eye” or what is called dibba-cakkhu (the divine eye), and be tempted to use them for unwholesome purposes. But as we have taught before, using these abilities for harm causes them to degrade and eventually disappear.
Your Role in the Universe: Becoming a Force for Good
Our responsibility, then, is to use this growing spiritual energy for good. Those who cultivate their inner world have a duty to benefit people, animals, nature, their country, and their culture. This connects back to the idea of “Universal Representatives.” Whether you realize it or not, you might be one of these individuals. It doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are here, engaging in this practice.
You could be a layperson, a monastic, someone living a life of celibacy, or simply someone committed to the five precepts. Regardless of your path, you have a role to play. There is something beneficial you can contribute to your country, nation, religion, and indeed, to the entire universe, including all beings, great and small. Perhaps you already feel this desire to contribute. This teaching is about giving you a concrete tool to channel that intention: a powerful spiritual resolution.
The Core Practice: A Sacred Spiritual Resolution for Protection and Guidance
Here is the central practice. It is a spiritual resolution to be made before you begin meditation and to be reaffirmed when you reach a state of deep concentration or a meditative absorption, known as a jhāna. While we have discussed other resolutions in our foundational teachings, I want to add this new, crucial one today. This practice transcends any identity, it doesn’t matter what your nationality, religion, or age is.
The spiritual resolution is this: you must make a firm determination that, “Through my thoughts, words, or deeds, may I cause no harm whatsoever to:”
- The universe
- Nature
- All living beings (this includes all animals, all humans, and even beings unseen by the physical eye, such as those in divine or celestial realms, all beings in all planes of existence)
- My country
- My nation
- My religion
Make this your constant prayer, your unwavering intention. Even if you believe you are already a person who would never cause such harm, it is vital to make this resolution. Why? Because as we discussed, some of us may be here as “Universal Representatives” with specific duties to perform for the world.
When you continuously make this spiritual resolution, your actions, whether in your education, your job, or your daily life,will naturally begin to align with what is wholesome and beneficial for your country, nation, and the world. You will be guided towards positive actions.
The Ripple Effect: How This Resolution Transforms Your Daily Life
This practice brings wonderful results, or “bonuses,” into your life. For instance, imagine you are at your workplace, and you are asked to do something you know is wrong, perhaps an act that would unfairly cause a colleague to lose their job. When you have fortified your mind with this spiritual resolution, such negative situations and tasks will be deflected from you. You will find that you are naturally protected from being put in positions where you would be forced to engage in unwholesome acts.
Instead, you will attract opportunities to do good. You will be presented with chances to help someone, to contribute to the Buddhist path (the Buddha Sāsana), or to do something positive for your community. You will find that you have a new energy, courage, and confidence to step forward and act without laziness or hesitation. The divine beings or guardian angels who watch over you will be better able to protect you because your intention is so pure. This is the beautiful, positive feedback loop created by this practice.
Patience and Perseverance: Nurturing Your Spiritual Resolution
So I will state the spiritual resolution one more time. Make this determination: “May no harm be done by me,through my thoughts, my body, or my speech,to the universe, to nature, to any seen or unseen beings, to my country, my nation, or my religion.”
As you repeat this, day after day, it will grow in strength. It will not become powerful overnight. It takes time. As your spirituality deepens, as your virtue (sīla) becomes more refined, as your concentration (samādhi) strengthens, and as the mental defilements are suppressed and eventually eradicated, this spiritual resolution will become an unshakable force in your life. You must practice patience and allow it the time it needs to grow. This was the understanding I wished to share with you today.
A Final Blessing
I will now conclude this short teaching. By the power and blessings of the Triple Gem, the Buddha, the Dhamma, and the Sangha, may you all be able to understand these points clearly and put this powerful spiritual resolution into practice in your lives.
We invite you to walk this path with us. Read our teachings, and most importantly, apply them practically in your own life. as you practice, questions will naturally arise. Please feel free to share your experiences and questions in the comments below, via email or contact form. I will do my best to offer guidance in future talks based on your progress. For now, begin this practice with an open heart and a mind free from expectation. Cultivate it correctly, and may you find the clarity and peace you seek.
Thank you for joining us. We hope this blog will be of great benefit to your spiritual journey.
May you all be well and happy.
May the blessings of the Triple Gem be with you all!.
