What is the magnetic field effect?

Magnetism is a kind of powerful force, a force that draws the masses together. A field is a place—a place of practice, a location, a place of reliance. Magnetic fields include material magnetic fields and non-material magnetic fields. A material magnetic field is the gravitational, centripetal force formed by the seeds of the four great elements, while a non-material magnetic field is the gravitational and centripetal force formed by the mind consciousness and its associated mental factors.

Of course, magnetic fields also have repulsive forces, and there is negative energy. Negative energy is unwholesome energy; when the magnetic field effect is negative, it will draw away your positive energy and cause you to lose some of your upright energy. Stay away from groups with negative energy, and keep yourself optimistic and upward-looking every day. There are still very many people with negative energy and weak magnetic fields, and if one had to deal with all of them, it would be difficult to manage. But whether a person has negative energy and a weak magnetic field is relative: for some people they are negative energy, while for others they are positive energy; for some people they are a weak magnetic field, while for others they are a strong magnetic field. This is also a phenomenon of difference arising from different conditions and different circumstances. If the karmic affinity is wholesome, the magnetic field has attraction; if the karmic affinity is unwholesome, the magnetic field has repulsion. Material magnetic fields have gravitational waves—by what means do non-material magnetic fields attract and repel?

If a non-Buddhist practitioner sits across from you listening to you expound the Dharma, you can immediately feel a strong pressure. When the Paths differ, the magnetic fields differ; his magnetic field interference is very great—the greater the wrong views, the greater the obstructive force. The sublime Buddhadharma you had originally prepared to teach will come out awkwardly and unsmoothly in front of a non-Buddhist. When the differences between people are too great, they cannot be together; otherwise there will be unpleasantness, both sides will feel pressure, and in serious cases disputes and conflicts will arise, leaving neither party at ease. It is the same with marriage and family: only those well matched in background live happily and harmoniously. A group should likewise be composed of like-minded people gathering together, sharing the same aspirations and the Path, with roughly the same level, for only then will the group be harmonious; otherwise there will be disputes and conflicts, and each person will bear mental pressure. People of a lower level will impact the magnetic field of those of a higher level, dragging down the higher-level person's caliber, while the lower-level person, unable to attach themselves to the higher-level person, will harbor resentment. It is not easy to settle the relationship between them, and magnetic field balance cannot be achieved.

The Buddha also once withdrew from all his disciples and went alone into the forest to sit in meditation, not letting disciples come to his side—not even his attendant Ānanda could follow. Having long been impacted by the magnetic fields of sentient beings weaker than himself, the Buddha's mental power and physical energy would inevitably be affected. The Buddha is forever being needed and sought after by sentient beings, always giving out, only out and never in—how immense his mental power must be. Why are the Buddhas lonely? Because there is no one whose magnetic field corresponds to theirs. The Buddha is always the one who gives and bestows, while others are all recipients of giving; there is a difference, a non-equivalence, and so there is loneliness. Bodhisattvas who come into this world are also lonely, with no equals; they are all giving outwardly, saving and delivering others, their magnetic field radiating outward and taking nothing in. Over time, the energy of their own magnetic field will be consumed; when the energy is insufficient, their physical strength and mental power will weaken. This is also the principle behind bearing the karmic burden on behalf of sentient beings.

The Buddhas have already perfected all dharmas, possessing great heroism and great power—why would they still be affected by sentient beings? Because having a physical body consumes energy, replenishment is needed; the Buddha leaving the crowd to sit in meditation is precisely to replenish energy. If there were no physical body, there would be no such influence. Throughout the history of Buddhism, all practitioners of the Path have cultivated alone in solitude, without companions; with companions, one cannot cultivate successfully. Because one cannot find fellow travelers on the same Path, mutual companionship will weaken the magnetic field, and accomplishment in cultivation will not come easily.