THIRTY

離

THE LUMINOUS MIND

CONCERNS: The untrained mind is always active, occupied with something even when there is nothing to be done; maturity comes to those who learn to cultivate a steady, peaceful, independent mind, a mind which does not cling to anything; such a mind radiates more light and less heat; we call such people “enlightened” or “illuminated.”

1. If we firmly establish a serious inner focus before any undertaking, we exercise the greatest influence possible on the outcome.
2. Action taken from a continuously refreshed and hopeful mind will be correctly balanced and thus favorable.
3. How do we face life and death, light and darkness, summer and winter, progress and obstruction? How do we relate to the end of anything? Are we helpless and complaining or do we see the naturalness of these cycles and take advantage of what is possible when it is possible? Are we able to come in touch with the eternal element that lies within our transitory experience? Our freedom and our happiness depend upon our penetrating this issue.
4. When we are too intense or extreme, we consume ourselves and shorten our span; what flares up violently dies down quickly.
5. Real change requires that we sincerely regret our mistakes and indulgences and then settle with clarity upon the correct course from now on.
6. This is a propitious time to correct whatever inner tyrants we have allowed to dominate and control our lives and disrupt our inner harmony.

COMMENT: Since we dwell within the environment of our minds, we should be wise enough to cultivate them with the loving care of a mature gardener for whom no detail or element is insignificant, weeding out what does not contribute to our overall harmony and nurturing that which does.