Working
with Karma
- #4
Wisdom
versus illusion
The
Buddha said that it is important to always think of others. For
the moment, our tendency is to think only of our own benefit.
It is difficult for us to act positively, or to care for others
because we have negative emotions, and they disturb us. To understand
the difference between positive and negative actions, we need
to examine how our consciousness functions. We must therefore
be introduced to the conditions of our mind. Our mind functions
through two aspects. In Tibetan, they are yeshe and nyurmon. Yeshe
is wisdom, or complete clarity. Nyurmon means distraction. Our
mind can function either through wisdom or through the distracted
influences as in the negative emotion. Everything depends on our
mind. If we are not aware of our inner functioning and we simply
follow according to how we feel, then we are said to be acting
under confusion. But if we are aware, and we can see by ourselves,
then there is understanding. The understanding will steer us in
the right way. The right way does not imply that there are prescribed
things to avoid or to do. Of course, we are now very much controlled
by our feelings. But actually, if we take the time to reflect
and to try to see for ourselves, then we will discover the right
things. In other words, we will connect to yeshe, wisdom, or clarity.
To clarify our mind, or to allow this wisdom to come through,
we have to know the functioning of the disturbing emotions. The
disturbing emotions are not something foreign to us, external
to us, but they are how we feel. So the first thing is to understand
the cause of the disturbing emotions, or the distractions. When
we are not aware of them, they disturb us. But if we are aware
of them, then they do not disturb the mind. Aware, we go forward.
Aware, we continue. In this way, we begin to connect to the wisdom
aspect of mind.
The
Buddhist tantric teachings employ different methods, rituals,
mantras, and meditations to help us connect to the truth. They
help us deal with our disturbing emotions. Ultimately, we wish
to become clear of our ignorance. It is the root cause of our
being trapped by our own illusion. It is why we helplessly live
our illusions and suffer the consequences of our negative emotions,
and actions.
“Illusion”
is just a term. For most of us, seeing is believing. I am not
saying that things do not exist. Rather, I am saying that things
exist as appearances in your mind. Due to a lack of true understanding,
the disturbing emotions dominate our experience. We feel that
there are many problems and much suffering. The one point that
can never be overemphasized is the very importance to look always
at yourself. We use meditation as a method to look within. This
is essential when you follow the Buddhist path of practice. You
should know how to look within. Here are a few things that we
need to keep in mind:
1.We
have to engender a proper attitude. This means to know how to
think for the welfare of other beings.
2.We have to know the meaning of ignorance that is in our mind.
3.We have to know that there is karma, or cause and effect.
Knowing
these three factors will help us when we look into our mind. We
will know where to connect because we can understand the significance
of the different meanings. The right connection gives our mind
the proper orientation, attitude, and will in turn reveal to us
what really matters.
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