Spiritual Interference and the State of Our Hearts
Deepening an Unshakable Mind — Spiritual Interference and the State of Our Hearts
Last week, through An Unshakable Mind, we explored ways of thinking that help us keep moving forward and overcome adversity. Yet behind difficult circumstances lies our inner suffering—anxiety, anger, and doubt.
Master Ryuho Okawa teaches that beneath these inner conflicts lies a spiritual struggle. Evil spirits pull our minds toward darkness, while our guardian spirits seek to guide us toward light. According to these teachings, this tug-of-war takes place within us, often without our awareness. Who has never experienced anxiety, sleepless nights, or persistent suspicion? What if spiritual influences were at work behind that suffering?
If this is true, wouldn’t gaining an understanding be an important first step?
People do not have an accurate understanding of spiritual matters; they are unaware of the true nature of evil spirits, so they do not know how to handle them.
Let us begin by deepening our understanding of spiritual matters.
1. What Are Evil Spirits?
When we hear the words “evil spirits,” we may think of ghost stories or frightening tales and feel that such beings have little to do with our own lives.
Happy Science teaches that evil spirits were once human beings who lived on earth, just as we do. Having misused their freedom of thought and continually harbored negative thoughts, they retain these tendencies after death and resonate with similar thoughts in others.
We have the freedom to choose the thoughts we hold in our hearts. These teachings explain that, depending on how we exercise that freedom, we can cultivate an angelic heart or move closer to a demonic state of mind.
Seen in this light, learning about evil spirits also invites us to reflect on how we use our own minds. “What kinds of thoughts am I nurturing each day?” Something that once seemed remote may suddenly become a deeply personal question.
2. What Is Spirit Possession?
Master Okawa explains spirit possession as a process in which thoughts and actions that go against Buddha’s wishes create “clouds” within the mind, attracting evil spirits to the resulting darkness.
According to these teachings, a region called the “thought tape” lies between the surface consciousness and the subconscious. When this region becomes clouded, the connection between the two is obstructed, making it harder for Buddha’s light to reach the mind. Through the principle that “like attracts like,” spirits with similar tendencies are then drawn near.
The sun continues to shine, but thick clouds can prevent its light from reaching the earth. In the same way, we are encouraged to reflect on whether our own thoughts are casting shadows over our hearts.
When anger, resentment, or suspicion arises, do we keep returning to those thoughts and feeding them? Becoming aware of the movements of our own minds may be the first step toward restoring inner harmony.
3. How Can Evil Spirits Be Led to Leave?
These teachings emphasize the importance of clearing the clouds from the mind.
Even if a spirit temporarily leaves through a purification ritual, it is said to be drawn back if the state of mind that attracted it persists. For this reason, we are encouraged to reflect on our daily thoughts and actions and strive to live with the heart of Buddha as our own.
If we continue to feel angry with someone, we can try to see things from their perspective. If we find ourselves repeatedly complaining, we can turn our attention to what we have already been given. When we recognize our mistakes, we can reflect honestly and change our behavior.
Through these daily practices, we seek to clear the clouds from our minds and cultivate hearts that can receive the light. This, too, is taught as an important part of addressing spiritual interference.
In this week’s seminar, we will deepen our understanding of spiritual interference and spirit possession while exploring what we can do to keep our hearts filled with light. We will also discuss prayers for our ancestors.
