What does it mean to subdue inner obstacles and remove external interference?

Subduing inner obstacles means recognizing and adjusting negative thoughts and emotions. Removing external interference concerns harmful energy and disturbances from outside. In Sheng Zhen Men's understanding, inner confusion, attachment, and excessive desire hinder wisdom and clarity. Fu Mo work therefore considers both inward and outward aspects, rather than only external spirits.

This also relates to everyday movement toward beneficial directions and away from harmful influences. Everyone can learn to handle negative thoughts and become their own Fu Mo practitioner. Serving others still requires professional learning and ability. Willingness to learn does not immediately establish readiness to perform exorcism for someone.

My statement that without inner obstacles there would be no external interference emphasizes cultivating the heart. It cannot be reversed to assume a harmed person must be at fault. Recognize unrest and conflict-producing thoughts and where adjustment is needed, while distinguishing external events too. Matters beyond personal handling can receive assistance from teachers, fellow practitioners, or deities. We do not have to bear everything alone.

Some young people seeking help needed, alongside outward religious work, gradual attention to childhood feelings of being misunderstood and uncared for by parents. Long-accumulated feelings do not change instantly. The deities provide light and support; parents also need to consider missing care and perhaps apologize, while children gradually understand parental difficulties. We hope faith and family can cooperate to improve matters at their roots.

A friend bullied at school remained afraid of crowds afterward. From our understanding in that case, addressing external interference alone did not touch the inner injury. Help involved gradually recognizing adulthood and building confidence in self-protection. Without change in fear, distress could recur. Helping a hurt person means finding the actual problem and corresponding support, not scrutinizing a victim as though being bullied were entirely their fault.

Cultivating the heart also includes honesty with ourselves. Recognizing a poor temper, emotional instability, or actual shortcomings shows what to adjust. Saying 'This is the real me' cannot justify remaining still. Acknowledging the situation and becoming willing to face and handle it offers a chance for body, mind, and spirit to settle gradually.

Some inner obstacles appear when another person's provocation leads us to lose control. Discussing a car horn, I said unexplained provocation does not require immediately getting out to fight over winning. Returning attention to the original purpose is more useful than following anger. But a horn warning about safety needs attention. Not being provoked must not become ignoring the surroundings entirely.