Those of us trying to improve our compassion focus on the 6 perfections to open the heart and reduce attachment to the ego and its possessions. These start with the easiest, generosity. But not so easy! We must give up attachment to all our possessions and eventually to our body! This is slow process requiring a personal commitment. We don’t need to give everything away. But we cultivate the attitude of being able to give everything, when appropriate. This is non-attachment priming us for understanding emptiness, the wisdom of letting go of mistaken appearances. It frees us from worry. It frees us from fear. It frees us from disappointment. It frees us from ego-grasping and low self-confidence. It is the path to become a Buddha.
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Forgiveness and gratitude
Our default position whenever possible is forgiveness and gratitude. Forgiveness counters arrogance and ego. This moves us towards insight and wisdom. Gratitude opens our heart to compassion. Wisdom and compassion lead to the two bodies […]
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Practicing gratitude enhances our happiness even further
Now that we have at least considered practicing forgiveness, practicing gratitude enhances our happiness even further. Both practices rely on mindfulness, to know when we are not practicing, and to remind ourselves what specifically to […]
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Be calm and balanced
The strength of our emotional patterns can be overwhelming. Given the right circumstances, that are not always obvious, the same patterns of anger, jealousy, pride, and attachment recur. They seem to come out of the […]