Never lose your passion.

 It’s important to recognise the wisdom in the emotions, and not to be afraid of our reactions to the emotions. Emotions are not bad, if they are viewed correctly! It’s easy for others to stir up our emotions, and therefore we need to be able to recognise transcendent wisdom. If it wasn’t for passion, we just wouldn’t get anything done: the ‘rush’ of energy is important – as long as it is for constructive reasons and is done with a good heart. This is quite useful when cleaning the kitchen, toilet, and the mind!

 As I have said before, I used to fence. Fencing, like all sports, is controlled aggression – energy. One uses the energy at the right moment, by not over reacting or giving away one’s intentions to the opponent. It’s also great fun! If the opponent is any good, they will be doing the same thing – controlling their actions. It is such a wonderful feeling to fight someone who knows what you know. At the end of the match, we would whip off our masks, grinning from ear to ear, with much appreciation, respect and a shaking of hands. Did someone win? Did someone lose? Who cares!

 The emotions have another secret, and that is of merit – if viewed in the proper way. Merit is the acquisition of good karma, through patience, generosity, discipline, diligence, concentration and wisdom. These are called the six Paramitas. It is through these Paramitas that we recognise the good qualities in others, and so we gain as much merit as them.

 PRIDE…is the wisdom of equality. Recognise that others can know the same things of which we are proud, and so we can be generous and not so lofty. 

I could be proud of certain knowledge that I have, but it’s important to remember that this was given to me by others.

JEALOUSY…is the wisdom of accomplishment. Jealousy shows that we recognise, admire and appreciate something in others, and in ourselves.

I was once watching a fencing match with a friend, and the words in my mind were, “I envy him.” My friend, unprompted, suddenly said, “I admire him.” I was shocked at my jealousy: it was only through understanding later that I realised we had a mutual appreciation of the skill we had observed, and in that appreciation, one’s own understanding was revealed.

 ANGER …is the wisdom of mirror-like clarity. Whatever we see as wrong is precisely reflected, and in having confidence in that, we can be compassionate. This does not mean we are sitting and doing nothing: at the very least, we are not compounding the problem!

I could be angry at the state of the world, but in seeing the causes and conditions clearly, I can better understand others’ points of view (it doesn’t necessarily mean I condone them!).

 DESIRE…is discerning wisdom. Whatever is desired is precisely felt. This is detached discrimination being objective, without subjective clinging.

When I’m painting a picture, I desire it to be “right”: one has to be objective in seeing what isn’t working, and correct it. It’s spontaneous in the moment, and without desire for appreciation: it is therefore objective. The subjectivity may come later, but isn’t dwelt upon because the next situation arises.

 IGNORANCE…is all encompassing wisdom. Whatever is ignored, and for which we feel indifference, is encompassed within spaciousness. Spaciousness can be a little laid back: we merely have to recognise – not too tight and not too loose.

This is connected with being care-free, and not care-less. Care-free allows everything to take place. Care-less means we are not bothered about what takes place.

When dealing with others, we need to take a few steps back to see a bigger picture, and not get bogged down with time. Sooner or later we will all ‘get there’! This is why the paramitas of patience, generosity, discipline, diligence, concentration and wisdom are so important.

 However, as the universe is infinite with infinite sentient beings, our work will never be completed. Some advance practitioners choose to go directly to the Buddha realms, and do not come back: it’s their choice.

Tony