Since we aim to cultivate renunciation, we must distance ourselves from worldly distractions that constantly occupy our minds and bodies, and we must do so extensively. Without detachment, liberation is out of reach. How to detach? Firstly, physically step away from worldly affairs to spare some time for yourself; then reflect on your own mind, observing how it operates—why it suffers, why it feels relaxed and why joy arises.
If your mind is constantly entangled in various worldly gains and losses, such as relationships with others, whether actions will bring benefits, or how others will judge me, etc. This will only lead to endless vexation. Devoting your mental energy to these worldly matters will not yield any good results.
Looking back at worldly affairs , we see that they are nothing but illusory and unreal appearances. Even if someone insults or mistreats us, this is merely an illusion. This pertains to the realm of one-sided emptiness. From the perspective of cultivating Bodhicitta, we should also regard the illusory form that harms us as our past-life parents or even perceive such harm as a blessing, viewing the aggressor as a facilitator who grants us an opportunity for cultivation.
If we can truly cultivate ourselves in this way rather than staying at the conceptual level, then the inner discomfort and unease will naturally dissipate. By keeping practicing and contemplating in this way over the long term, our mind becomes profoundly expansive, leading to a state of boundless spaciousness. At that point, the virtue will naturally manifest itself.
Otherwise, the heart will become as narrow as a needle's tip and exceptionally sensitive. At the slightest unfriendly glance from others, the mind begins to tense up, involuntarily wondering: Might he harm me? Is he targeting me? How should I respond? If I take action, how will he react? Such entangled thoughts circle and fold back upon themselves, like the cells of a hive or a swirling whirlpool—spiraling, tightening, and turning without release, with no escape in sight.
Therefore, we must change the way we conduct ourselves and loosen our attachment to worldly concerns. Only after making such changes can we truly see our own thoughts step by step clearly—to understand why our minds are always immersed in these complex and chaotic matters, and to uncover their root. In the end, we will discover the attachment to personal self, the most fundamental of all misconceptions.
This article is a preliminary translation draft and has not yet been reviewed or proofread by the speaker.
