Emotions and Inner Life
How does Sheng Zhen Men distinguish positive and negative energy?
English translation draft · Based on the Chinese article. This is not a word-for-word translation approved by Master Shengyuan.
At Sheng Zhen Men, we describe positive and negative states with yang and yin terminology. Love, light, warmth, optimism, initiative, and consideration for everyone point positively; anger, coldness, pessimism, passivity, and selfishness point negatively. These are terms within practice, concerning the state appearing now. Occasional sadness cannot label an entire person good or bad.
Happiness also depends on what you are doing. Bullying or hitting someone is not good energy merely because it feels satisfying. Respect and mutual comfort matter. 'I am happy' cannot justify hurting others.
I used a film's divine dragon and demons to discuss love and trust, fear and suspicion. People seem to have angelic and demonic sides, but choosing an angelic action means not performing a demonic action at that moment. The emphasis is choice, rather than seeing sadness or worry and declaring someone entirely without love.
In daily life, check whether you feel open and comfortable with others, or irritated by everything. If strongly unhappy, consider adjustment rather than remaining trapped. I teach this to help understand one's own heart, not to conclude that anyone sad must have a spiritual attachment.
Discomfort alone also cannot distinguish deity from demon. Dao Xuan discussed someone uncomfortable at a center. I explained that, within our understanding of energy, negative encountering positive can feel uncomfortable, and positive encountering negative can too. Assess each case. Do not select one explanation that makes your own place always right and everyone else's wrong.
Notice feelings alongside underlying motives and behavior. Discussing animation, we noted characters who look like ghosts or demons yet help people, and cases of orthodox methods used to harm. The reminder is to examine works and actions, beyond assuming a particular appearance reveals the whole meaning.