Mirror.

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When we seek happiness outside, it is a mistake. We can find many new things to enrich our life experience, even travel around the globe, but then we still see things with their "old" eyes. It is our thoughts and feelings that make up our view of the world in which we live.

When we try to change the world from our own perspective or expectation, we will certainly fail. If it is raining, we can not shade the sun only by desire; But what we can do is look at ourselves to see what is in us that makes us uncomfortable with the rain. That does not mean we have to change our personality - we already have personality. Actually speaking, what we need is a mirror that tells us who we really are, and how we can modify it to be better.

For a long time now, we have a tendency to create many faces (masks). Each face is different, but we have never looked at our own face, maybe because we are so close to the subject that it is difficult to see clearly. In contrast, we see people around us, and when we see a beautiful face, we imagine ourselves as well.

However, our "mask" sometimes falls down, or we forget to bring it up, then we can catch a glimpse of what it really is. Often the truth is so heartbreaking that we can not stand it. I hastily covered it up.Because we are used to changing things so much that we can not accept ourselves. In the meantime, under the mask, our real face is rotting due to lack of air, light, because we never think of cleaning it clean.

On the surface, it seems like a good person, but the person beneath the mask needs to be purified. If I really am clear in heart, I am very useful to people around me. However, good outside pretensions, which are ugly inside, are not beneficial to ourselves and others.

Behind the mask is the self that we must understand and repair. We all have a name called "I" but we do not really understand who we are. When I give someone something, even if it is a small piece of bread, I think I am so good, so useful, that I will remember that action for a long time. On the other hand, if we do something bad, selfish, we try to forget immediately. We tend to create a false image of ourselves in order to comfort ourselves. Self-deception is difficult to control - that's why we need a mirror.

In the case of Tibet, there is a very well-known master, Lodro Thaye Jamgon Kongtrul Ripoche, who spoke on this issue: "When I look at the missionaries I see outside they can dress politely, Speaking vigorously, but when I look at their minds, they are like poisonous snakes.When they are in a difficult situation, or obstacle, then their real mind will appear. The poison will bite, and the outside will find it calm, and they will act if anything hinders them. "

That does not mean, of course, that snakes are bad; Snakes have the ability to become bad or good, but because of fear, jealousy or delirium, it can become dangerous when it feels threatened. Likewise, when we see the evil within us, created by u, we can modify it into wisdom. When we can turn inward to examine our own mind and purify our mind, we have found the path, and all natural circumstances are easy for us to respond in ways that positive and effective.

It is important that we have a fair attitude towards what we see in the mirror. Only seeing the bad side is as damaging and useless as seeing only the good of us. Only focusing on the negative aspects of personality can lead to severe depression and despair. We can look at ourselves in the mirror without condemning what we see or want to smash the mirror. By contrast, peeping or hiding our bad sides, only makes them more powerful, leading to internal repression, so that one day it bursts.

Today, most of humanity is indignant with nuclear weapons, while other nuclear weapons are present in our minds. Every day, the Self creates self-interest, jealousy, hatred, hatred and hatred, leading to fear and conflict in all aspects, harming ourselves and others. In order to neutralize a nuclear weapon or its reactions, it is impossible to hide it and wish it to disappear. In the same way, in order to extinguish the evil forces within us, we must untie it, consume it with care and skill, by means of love and compassion. This hard work needs to be done with patience and non-attachment.

What we have learned by looking at the "mirror" can be very helpful on the path of cultivation, but first of all we have to make it a part of our life experience, not one. what's separate For if we do not really dissolve into the wisdom of love, it is like we have brought a new mask.

And all of our discoveries must be applied to reality. It would be useless if we spent an hour meditating on letting go of jealousy, and when we finished meditating, we were drawn to the feelings of jealousy.What we have meditated must be applied to everyday life, to the situations we face in life.

In addition, as long as one can learn, he has many dharmas, with all sincerity; But if they are not related or can be applied in their own circumstances, it is useless. Classroom education and intellectual capabilities can help us understand and deal with many situations in our lives; But having an open mind is more important.

Although each of us is capable of understanding and loving, but if we do not develop these qualities and do not apply them to life, then there is no. A rich man who does not know how to use his money, is not equal to the poor but knows how to use the money wisely.

So we need to have  mindfulness , to use what we have in a good way. For example, only the feelings of jealousy within us, not enough. We also need to have the effort and skill to subdue and transform it.That way our confidence and strength grow, the feeling of poverty and vainness disappears, giving way to spiritual wealth and self-esteem. If we use the mirror, gradually we will recognize our progress, show our spiritual growth, and the suffering we have suffered will gradually disappear.

Step by step, one will be able to identify and neutralize the inner toxins, the negative states of the mind that make life even more difficult. No one can master the outside world, but we can defeat anger, self-interest, hatred, jealousy and jealousy ... Those who have made us far from life. At that time we will no longer feel life opposite us. We will be comfortable with ourselves, with the world around us, and we will be able to help those around us. Everyone, everything is convenient, useful for us, as well as the opposite.

Living with a mirror is always in front, not easy; But to understand and solve our problems in life, we must endure some irritability. The power of habits makes it easy to judge and try to modify others;Therefore, having to face one's own mistakes and modifying them can make us feel scared. It is natural that we are afraid of what we do not know; The solution is to learn and make friends with yourself, like the practice of animals, must first get the trust of animals.

This method of self-repair is not the easiest word of mouth, it must be derived from the heart sincerely, drastically. So let's begin to sort out our problems. We must control our minds and train ourselves.Otherwise we will continue to find life difficult to live, blame the person and circumstances when our work is troublesome, frustrating. Then we have to sort out millions of people to deal with, not one. So instead of trying to change others, we "look in the mirror", and modify ourselves. END=NAM MO SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY=THICH CHAN TANH.THE MIND OF ENLIGHTENMENT.VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=GOLDEN LOTUS MONASTERY=AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.28/7/2018.