How to Reduce Demonic Obstacles

Question: Having transcended the bondage of the physical body in meditative absorption, contemplating the illusory nature of all phenomena, abandoning emptiness and consciousness, separating from the inner and outer realms, and focusing on the sphere of nothingness, the mind is empty within with nothing to rely upon, all thoughts cease, and one abides in serene stillness—this is the typical Sphere of Nothingness within the Four Formless Absorptions, the seventh level of meditative depth! It's profoundly mysterious; has anyone attained such a holy state?

Answer: This is purely a state within the Four Dhyanas and Eight Samadhis, not a sage's realm, because it does not involve liberating wisdom. It lacks both the wisdom to sever self-view and the wisdom to realize the mind's true nature. Purely meditative states remain outside the Buddhist path, hence they are called heterodox concentrations. During the Buddha's time, many adherents of heterodox paths attained such concentrations; meditative absorption was not at all rare then. Nowadays, heterodox practitioners can no longer cultivate even moderately deep meditative absorptions, which is precisely why this is called the Dharma-ending Age. In this era, even heterodox practitioners are no longer professional; how then can the Buddha Dharma flourish? The Buddha descended in India two thousand years ago precisely because sentient beings' virtuous roots had matured. Many sought liberation but did not know how to attain it; all believed that meditative absorption alone could liberate them from the suffering of birth and death. Thus, they diligently cultivated concentration with unwavering diligence, becoming heterodox practitioners outside the Buddha Dharma. Out of compassion for sentient beings, the Buddha took birth in this world, showering the nectar of Dharma to relieve their suffering.

If someone today were to cultivate the Four Formless Absorptions of the formless realm and manifest supernatural powers, sentient beings who learned of it would go wild with worship. And if this person harbored ulterior motives, seeking to dominate Buddhism, introducing other doctrines to entice and control sentient beings, ordinary people would truly be unable to resist or do anything about it. They wouldn't even be able to see through it, let alone possess the capacity to refute him. If such a demon were to arise in later times to disrupt the Buddha Dharma, only a Bodhisattva possessing the Four Dhyanas, Eight Samadhis, and great supernatural powers could subdue him, protecting sentient beings from falling into demonic paths. The Buddha stated in the sutras that only great Bodhisattvas who have attained the Bhumis (stages) can refute all heterodox paths. An Eighth Bhumi Bodhisattva can refute all heterodox paths, while those from the First Bhumi up to the Seventh Bhumi can only refute some heterodox paths. Ordinary beings can only pay homage to heterodox practitioners and demons, lacking the wisdom to see through them. Therefore, refuting falsehood and revealing truth is not something ordinary people can accomplish. The general populace lacks the ability to refute falsehood and reveal truth; avoiding becoming accomplices is already commendable. Sentient beings can only strive to broaden their knowledge, increase their rationality, reduce emotional reactivity, and lessen mindless adoration. By doing so, they give less convenience to demons, and sentient beings will suffer fewer calamities caused by demons.