Why can fear remain after leaving a threatening religious teacher?

Fear after changing places may mean the earlier shadow has not loosened. A relative or friend once felt a religious teacher knew everything, even private conversations. At Sheng Zhen Men, despite my assurance of divine protection, the person remained tense. I also met practitioners afraid to discuss much lest their teacher or leader learn of it. If practice leaves people living in prolonged fear, the problem needs understanding.

First clearly describe what causes unhappiness and fear. What did the person actually say or do? What is your worry or imagination? A group’s influence or your own unresolved feelings may be involved. Be objective and discuss specifics. One unhappy moment does not condemn an entire place, while claims of knowing everything do not justify surrendering judgment.

I too once thought keeping child spirits and harmful occult practices existed only in films. Work in this field changed my understanding through service experience. That relative or friend’s situation was also viewed religiously then. But unexplained fear cannot establish occult attack, nor can fear alone identify someone as monitoring or harming a person. Clarify actual events before discussion.

I encourage people with “the harmful cannot overcome the righteous” because my faith recognizes both negative unseen influences and righteous deities and Buddhas able to respond, understood through taiji’s yin-yang balance. Do not see only fear and conclude there is no path forward.

Spiritual cultivation emphasizes your original spirit, the original spiritual light or soul. Saying all beings have Buddha-nature encourages people not to belittle themselves. Return effort to serious learning and practice, gradually accumulating inner strength and wisdom instead of continually watching only what is outside.

“If you are afraid, you have lost” reminds us not to declare ourselves incapable before beginning. Present fear does not mean failure. Understand the problem and possible responses. Believing the righteous can prevail over harmful influences is faith for facing unseen matters, not a promise that belief makes everything follow your wishes.

Faith should support clarity and stability. If contact with a teacher deepens the shadow and you do not know how to leave, explain the situation and seek help. Changing places may not remove fear immediately; lingering fear can be understood gradually. If unsure what to do, you may also talk with us at Sheng Zhen Men. We will help as far as able.

Notice especially that frightening claims are not always entirely false. A few true facts mixed with wrong demands make distinction difficult. Apparent knowledge of your whereabouts does not make every statement trustworthy. Some clients became too afraid even to explain their situation when visiting me. In such moments, separate what you actually heard and experienced rather than first assuming you can never escape.

Dao Shun also described being sternly warned of a traffic danger when young, which frightened him out of riding or driving for many years. That was his experience, not mine. Hearing only a problem and being left with fear and no way to respond can have profound effects. I hope teachers not only identify problems but help people understand what can be done and the direction ahead.