We find newborn babies to be very pure, not just because they are at the beginning of their journeys, but because they do not have any labels on them yet. To return to this most relaxed and natural state, we have to forget who we are.

Mind training removes the internal cause of suffering

We came here to learn about various ways to remove afflictions, because we seek happiness and want to avoid suffering. The cause of suffering can be approached from two perspectives. First, it originates from outer phenomena which are solid and tangible. In this modern era, we have increasingly more effective ways to deal with them. For example, we would have required many people to remove a fallen tree in the middle of a road after a typhoon, but now we have machines to move them very efficiently. These kinds of suffering can be eliminated very quickly, but it only brings about temporary happiness.

The second kind refers to mental suffering which stems from within. If the mind was physical, we can alleviate its pain with medical treatments, but this isn’t the case. Under the guidance of experienced teachers, we can increase our understanding of the mind and practice taming it to remove afflictions. This mind training is called “lojong” in Tibetan.

Mind training is not just a practice for monastics, but it has immense benefits for everyone. I think it is the most important practice in this modern age. We can become kinder, more trusting, and more empathetic towards others through learning about the mind; this improves our personal relationships and creates positive impacts on both ourselves and society. If we yearn for a better world, we should start by practicing “lojong” ourselves.

We possess the antidotes to our problems

The actual refuge we take is in ourselves. We can only receive the blessings and acquire the antidotes to our problems by taking the initiative ourselves. If we indulge in our habitual tendencies and afflictions, living lives filled with pride, selfishness, and anger, we cannot change our minds and the Dharma cannot enter our lives, even if we have taken refuge in the Three Jewels. To truly receive the blessings and help from the Three Jewels, we have to change our ways of thinking and try to benefit others.

To give rise to Bodhicitta, which benefits self and others simultaneously, we have to tame our minds and let go of our egos. In Shatideva’s The Way of the Bodhisattva, the first chapter “The Benefit of the Awakening Mind” mentions:

“How can I fathom the depths
Of the goodness of this jewel of the mind,
The panacea that relieves the world of pain
And is the source of all its joy?” (Verse 26, translated by Stephen Batchelor)

Loving-kindness is the wish for sentient beings to be happy, and it helps us to focus on creating the causes of their happiness, whereas compassion aids us in freeing them from suffering. Through training in loving-kindness and compassion, we direct our attention onto others instead of ourselves, allowing us to open up and diminishing the constraints due to focusing solely on ourselves. By continually contemplating and meditating on the immeasurables, our minds become vast and limitless, naturally accumulating endless merits.

The Four Immeasurables are founded upon equanimity. For instance, we should try to show more concern towards people we are unfamiliar with, since we all share a similar desire to be surrounded by kind and caring people. If I was on a plane, my neighbor might feel awkward if I didn’t take the initiative to explain what I was wearing, and the entire journey would have been uncomfortable. If I smiled and introduced myself at the beginning, it would remove any awkwardness and we could spend our time comfortably.

Once we are willing to adjust our mindsets, changes in our lives will also ensue. More people might enjoy talking to us, and we will create more virtuous connections. For Dharma to be effective, we have to implement it in our behaviors. When we return to our lives after this class, we can start to open up our minds by being accepting and understanding towards all kinds of people. We should do so as if we are reminding ourselves to take our daily medications. We may not see obvious results right away, but if we keep making small changes daily, we will eventually witness the results of our practice.