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Cellular Mindfulness: Transforming Habit Energies and Freeing Ancestors in the Present Moment
Negative habit energies reside not only in our consciousness but in every cell of the body. Addictions to alcohol, drugs, or tobacco exist in each cell, meaning the mind is in the body and the body is in the mind. We possess a tendency to run toward the future, believing happiness is impossible in the here and now. This habit energy, often transmitted through generations of ancestors, keeps us in a state of constant struggle and tension, even during sleep. Recognizing and smiling to this energy allows the body to relax and heal, liberating both ourselves and our ancestors simultaneously. The Pure Land is available in every moment, but only when we are capable of establishing ourselves fully in the present.
Awakening, or satori, is not abstract but a daily practice of waking up to the specific reality of the present moment, such as realizing one is rushing while brushing teeth or drinking tea. This daily awareness leads to Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, the highest, true awakening. By stopping and establishing oneself in the here and now for even a few minutes, transformation and healing become possible. One can call upon the healthy cells transmitted by ancestors for support, as the Buddha and the capacity for healing are inherent within.
The secret of healing lies in the capacity to give up the struggle and allow oneself to be free from pressure. This is illustrated by the experience of Sister Dam Nguyen, whose cancer came to a standstill when she ceased struggling and fully enjoyed the Dharma and Sangha. Ultimately, reality is not caught in the extremes of permanence or annihilation, nor being and non-being. There is no creation or destruction, only manifestation when conditions are sufficient. Form cannot manifest without consciousness, and consciousness cannot manifest without form; the body contains feelings, perceptions, mental formations, and consciousness. This follows the principle: “This is because that is.”