Softening the heart

Endeavouring to be correct hardens the heart

When dealing with others.

It imprisons us in a dark dungeon of ignorance.

A moment of a softened heart melts everything

And is the mark of a true warrior.

The heart softens by recognition of the hardness we are holding on to.

And seeing this is quite a shock.

I was once in a teaching when the lama related the story of Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche taking food from his mouth and handing it to another lama. We were asked, in turn, to say what we thought happened next. I – and everyone else in the room – was desperate to give the “right” answer! We all gave plausible suggestions, all revolving around pride – which, of course, was the answer. But the actual teaching was to recognise our own pride that wanted to have the right answer, and how that separated us from everyone else…teachers are really irritating!

There are no words to described a melted heart.

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