Abandoning negative places.

 This is the advice given to Bodhisattvas, and may be understood in many ways.

 In the ‘Thirty Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva’ it says:
Abandoning negative places, disturbing emotions subside.
Being free from distraction, the practice of virtue spontaneously increases;
With brightened awareness one feels confidence in the Dharma;
To adhere to solitude is the practice of the bodhisattva.

 We are ‘house holders’ so we have to be skilful in this practice. The mind is a very sensitive instrument, and is subject to being ambushed by likes and dislikes at every moment – Mara activity! Negative places – or rather, people – can arouse those negative emotions in us.

 Abandoning negative places simply means dropping attachments and expectations. As the Buddha said:

Do good
Do no evil
Train the mind.

 If one is stable in practice, then mingling meditation experience in daily life becomes part of this practice, but we have to be aware of exchanging a light heart for a heavy heart. We do need space just to be, and replenish energy. The world is will always be in turmoil. We do what we can, depending on our capacity. Compassion, empathy and intelligence are our tools.

 To those who are ‘happy’ we need compassion
(happiness being a temporary state).
To those who are ‘unhappy’ we need empathy
(unhappiness being a temporary state).
For intelligence to work, we need to be unbiased.

NB. This is excellent advice and to be trusted. The Dharma may be understood in many ways and levels depending on our capacity. From the Dzogchen perspective, the negative emotions are seen as wisdoms, so there is nothing to abandon in the first place! This illustrates the Dharma working for all, and also shows how Dharma practitioners can argue at cross purposes…it does happen! 🙂