Guo Gu first distinguished between the medical definition of stress—as a biological and psychological response to external demands that exceed our ability to cope—and the Buddhist concept of vexations (kleshas), which encompass a broader spectrum of emotional afflictions rooted in attachment, aversion, and self-centered perception.
He taught that stress or vexations are not inherently external. In Buddhism, all experience arises from and is shaped by the mind. If stress were purely external, everyone would react identically to the same situation. The fact that people respond differently reveals that internal mental factors and habits mediate our experience. Stress is deeply connected to the polarized view of self and others, where we label circumstances or people as "problems" outside ourselves, and our habitual tendency is to blame the outside instead of examining our own reactions. Guo Gu emphasized self-awareness and responsibility: learning to expose what’s actually happening, what’s the “undercurrent tone” of our internal state.
He shared four toolkits to help us achieve that and manage stress:
- Relaxation
The first toolkit is relaxation. By relaxing the eye region, shoulders, and abdomen, we can more easily access the present moment, diffuse our defense mechanism, and open our heart to expose what is truly happening in our mental state. - Engagement
The second toolkit is engagement. After relaxing and exposing habitual responses, we treat stressful situations as opportunities to solve problems—asking what needs to be done and what can be done. - Labeling and Shelving.
The third toolkit is labeling and shelving. When you're unable to act on an issue—due to timing or capacity—you mentally label it and "shelve" it for later, rather than ruminating. This approach prevents emotional entanglement and creates mental space. - Physical Activities
The fourth toolkit involves physical activities, such as cleaning, walking meditation, or prostrations. These practices ground the mind, release tension, and shift the internal state. Guo Gu recounted the story of a monk at the time of the Buddha who overcame mental obstacles simply by sweeping, eventually attaining awakening. The lesson: engaging the body can transform the mind.
Two main roots of vexations were highlighted: 1) resistance to change, and 2) craving for change. Both reflect a rejection of the present moment. Whether wanting things to be different or fearing that they will change, these responses arise from a self-referential mindset that divides the world into self vs. other.
Guo Gu taught that wisdom is the ability to expose our internal patterns and compassion is the expression of that – just doing what needs to be done and what can be done.
In summary: relax, expose, accept, engage—use the toolkits that are most helpful to you. If self-referential patterns are dropped, one can meet each moment with clarity and equanimity, and stress would no longer dominate us.
After the talk, the group shared what they found most beneficial from the teachings and appreciated the practical toolkits.
From the Teacher: Managing Stress
Principles on Managing Stress. — by Guo Gu *
* Guo Gu (Dr. Jimmy Yu) is a Chan teacher, author, and Buddhist scholar. He is the founder and teacher of the Tallahassee Chan Center in Florida and founder of the socially engaged intra-denominational Buddhist organization, Dharma Relief.
He first learned meditation as a child in 1972 with master Guangqin (1892-1986), one of the most respected Chinese meditation masters and ascetics who lived in Taiwan. In 1980, Guo Gu moved to the United States and began studying with master Sheng Yen (1931-2009). In 1991, Guo Gu was ordained as a monk and became Master Sheng Yen’s first personal attendant and assistant. In 1995, he was given permission by the master to teach Chan independently; his experiences were later recognized by other teachers as well. Wanting to bring Buddhism beyond monastic walls, Guo Gu left monkhood and re-entered the world in 2000. In 2008 he received his Ph.D. in Buddhist Studies from Princeton University and is currently a professor of Buddhist studies at Florida State University.
