- Everyone wants Happiness: No one wakes up in the morning and says “May I suffer.” Even the man who is about to hang himself is seeking happiness by ending his life.
- Pleasure and Happiness: Pleasure is dependent on time, object, place — it changes with nature. For example, your first serving of chocolate is great, the second is nice and the third leads to disgust.
- Well Being = Happiness: Deep sense serenity and fulfillment — a state that underlies all emotional states (joys, sorrows, etc.).
- Outer Conditions ≠ Well Being (or Happiness): Our control on the outside world is limited , temporary and illusory. We think if we can gather all he conditions to be happy, then we will be happy. To have everything to be happy dooms the destruction of happiness because if something is missing we will not be happy.
- Mind Translates all Experiences: There are certain states of mind that flourish well-being (loving kindness, compassion, etc.) and others that don’t (anger, hatred, jealousy, arrogance, obsessive desire).
- The Nature of Mind = Consciousness: Consciousness is like a mirror that allows all images to arise on it — everything good and bad can reflect on it but consciousness does not become good or bad.
- Mind Training: Two mental factors cannot happen at the same time. You cannot in the same gesture want to hurt and help someone.
The Tao of Our Beliefs
“We instantly believe everything we think. Isn’t that insane? It’s good for us to explore the depravity of our minds, so we know we are just as crazy as everyone else!” – Krishna Das
“The truth you believe and cling to makes you unavailable to hear anything new.” ~Pema Chodron
“Believe nothing no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and common sense.” ~Buddha
The Tao of Listening
“Deep listening is the kind of listening that can help relieve the suffering of another person. You can call it compassionate listening. You listen with only one purpose: to help him or her to empty his heart. Even if he says things that are full of wrong perceptions, full of bitterness, you are still capable of continuing to listen with compassion. Because you know that listening like that, you give that person a chance to suffer less. If you want to help him to correct his perception, you wait for another time. For now, you don’t interrupt. You don’t argue. If you do, he loses his chance. You just listen with compassion and help him to suffer less. One hour like that can bring transformation and healing.” ~ Thich Naht Hanh
Source: Oprah.com