The Subtle Method for Eradicating Lust through Contemplative Practice (Chapter on Mind Training)

Original text from the fifth volume of the Shurangama Sutra: (Ucchusma) I often recall that in the distant past, countless kalpas ago, my nature was filled with greed and desire. A Buddha appeared in the world named King of Emptiness, who taught that those consumed by lust become like a raging inferno. He instructed me to contemplate the cold and warm energies throughout every part of my body—the hundred bones, four limbs, and all extremities. Through this practice, divine light coalesced within, transforming my lustful mind into the fire of wisdom. From then on, all Buddhas addressed me as Fire Head. By the power of the Samadhi of Firelight, I attained Arhatship. With a great vow arising in my heart, I pledged that whenever Buddhas achieve enlightenment, I would serve as a guardian warrior, personally subduing demonic adversaries. When the Buddha inquired about perfect penetration, I explained that through thorough contemplation of the warm sensations within my body and mind, achieving unobstructed flow, all defilements were extinguished. A great treasure of flames arose, enabling me to ascend to supreme enlightenment. This is foremost.

Explanation: Ucchusma recalls that in the distant past, his mind was heavily burdened by greed and desire. The Buddha King of Emptiness revealed to him that those with lustful natures, due to excessive sexual craving, exist daily as if within a tribe engulfed by raging flames—burning their own body and mind, constantly experiencing scorching torment, finding no peace. To liberate him from this anguish, the Buddha taught Ucchusma a profound method to counteract lust: to daily contemplate the cold and warm energies throughout every part of his body—the hundred bones and four limbs—observing thoroughly from head to toe and back again.

This practice begins with the contemplation of the fire element, which manifests in the physical body as temperature—either cold or heat—pervading every part, internally and externally, across the hundred-plus bones and limbs. The Buddha instructed Ucchusma to fully observe all bodily sensations of warmth and cold. After practicing this contemplation for some time, Ucchusma underwent a profound transformation: divine light coalesced within, transforming his lustful mind into the fire of wisdom. What is this divine light? It refers to mental vigor, vitality, attention, and mental strength—primarily the spiritual power of the mental faculty (manas). Not only did the attention of the six consciousnesses cease scattering outward, but crucially, the energy of the mental faculty also stopped leaking outward through lustful expression. Instead, it turned inward, fully focused on observing the cold and warm energies within the body. This energy, which would have been expended outwardly, was now transformed inwardly into observational power and wisdom, giving birth to the light of wisdom—the fire of lust became the radiance of insight.

The Buddha’s method does not suppress lust by force but skillfully transforms and redirects it. The same energy and passion are shifted elsewhere—toward developing wisdom and liberation. How ingenious is this? Suppression causes painful struggle, as difficult to endure as quitting gambling or drugs, whereas transformation redirects the fire back to its source, repurposing it elsewhere. Through full utilization, the Samadhi of Firelight arises. Body and mind radiate vibrant vitality; afflictions and defilements are extinguished; coolness, stillness, and cessation are attained; the mind achieves great liberation, and one becomes an Arhat. The perfect penetration method cultivated by Ucchusma is this: single-mindedly contemplating all sensations of warmth and cold throughout the hundred bones and four limbs of the body. The fire element within the body flows unobstructed through every part, no longer hindered or stagnated by lust. From then on, all afflictions were eradicated, and the great wisdom of liberation from the three realms arose, enabling him to ascend the path of supreme enlightenment.

The same contemplation applies when beginning with the other great elements—earth, water, wind, and space—all observed through bodily contact with sense objects. Lust belongs to the fire element, while broader greed pertains to the water element. One can contemplate that the water realm within the body and the water realm outside are equally empty, thus eradicating greed and exhausting afflictions. Hatred also belongs to the fire element; similarly, one can contemplate the fire of the mind returning to emptiness, thereby eliminating hatred and attaining liberation. Any phenomenon among the five aggregates can serve as an object of contemplation, a gateway to the path, a means to exhaust afflictions and defilements, and a way to achieve nirvana and liberation.