We are NOT mere mortals. Born today, gone tomorrow. We are fooled by the body & mind to think and believe we are just a body with a mind. This belief is a conditioned condition. (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)

As long as we hold this cockeyed view of our existence, we remain stagnant in selfishness. We tend to take up an attitude of get while the getting is good.

• Get even
• Get more
• Get lost

This attitude leads to selfish suffering. It is guaranteed.

Selfishness includes all our impurities. As long as we are tied up in our selfishness, our mind is impure. We believe our obstructions and taints are lifelong. We believe these obstructions and taints are real and permanent. We fall prey to the material, mechanistic world of identification as a “conditioned thing.” We believe things are essential, important, must-haves that will save us from impermanence.

This is a mistake!

But since the mind and body are subject to change, we can change our mental and physical impurities by studying our mental forms.

We start with a teaching about the mind.

“Mind is a forerunner of all actions.
All deeds are led by mind, created by mind.
If one speaks or acts with corrupt mind,
suffering follows,
As the wheel follows the hoof of an ox pulling a cart.

Mind is the forerunner of all actions.
All deeds are led by mind, created by mind.
If one speaks or acts with a serene mind,
happiness follows,
As surely as one’s shadow.

‘He abused me, he mistreated me, defeated me, robbed me.’
Harboring such thoughts keeps hatred alive.

‘He abused me, he mistreated me, defeated me, robbed me.’
Releasing such thoughts banishes hatred for all time.

Animosity does not eradicate animosity.
Only by loving kindness is animosity dissolved.
This law is ancient and eternal.”

― Dhammapada

 

We take up this study so that we free ourselves from suffering. We free ourselves by forgetting ourselves. Nothing in it for ME! Only loving kindness dissolves hatred & animosity. It requires generosity and fearless wisdom.

May you be safe from harm. And free from suffering.