directing thoughts/emotions

frequency86

I find myself quickly judging others in very simple situations (not always, depending on mood) I mentally pick them apart and notice every flaw of character. This usually makes me irritable and unpleasant.

Whenever I notice that I am doing this I can usually stop pretty quickly but by then the damage is done. I am also struggling with compassion. I want to feel compassion. I want to look on others with love and a recognition of connection. I often find myself disgusted and annoyed by others and I don't like to feel this way.

Any advice for someone very new to Buddhism?

taiyaki

Remember that it is all coming from you and not at you. Your mind projects such interpretation. It is your karma that forces you to see people in such way. For example someone who is irritating is irritating because you have been irritating in the past. Thus one must understand that everyone and everything is your teacher. Patience is developed by being around such irritating people and if one cannot conduct themselves around these people one must avoid such people and actively engage in a meditation practice. Then when one is ready then such people will be great teachers on the path. Patience is learnt from those beings we cannot stand. In that sense we purify our karma by not reacting negatively towards those beings.

All happiness comes when we focus on the other in a positive light. The emphasis on other automatically cuts our selfishness. In that sense if another is suffering and they are angry at you and you respond with anger back. It is like you are cutting them down with a sword. The compassionate thing to do would be to be kind to them and see anger as not personal. Such compassion arises naturally when one sees clearly into how everything is utterly empty of inherent existence. So wisdom naturally cultivates bodhicitta/compassion and compassion naturally cultivates wisdom.


So in the beginning one starts with regular compassion or small bodhicitta. This is where we take the vows and we try to reach bodhimind of the sake of all sentient beings. This motivation is cultivated because we suffer greatly. Because we suffer greatly we can relate to the suffering of others. Thus a great motivation is born.

When the mind awakens to it's bodhimind then that is the real bodhicitta. That is where compassion will naturally and spontaneously will flow out of clear seeing. Until then we must practice and keep our morality straight. We must study the wisdom and start cutting down our defilements with a sword. We must create great motivation to save ourselves from drowning for the sake of all beings.

If one does not have such motivation for self and others then one must suffer some more. Suffer until the teaching of suffering creates renunciation. Out of such compassion for self and other will arise wisdom and letting go. Out of such letting go will arise freedom from conditions. Out of such freedom arises natural compassion.

Again understand and see that all is a projection from mind. Create new projections and you create a new reality. That is how karma is controled and used to help all beings. Realize your inherent seeing then cultivate the compassion to cut down all that is unreal.

frequency86

Thank you. Sometimes I forget how the teachings are connected to one another.