Negative thoughts—

so many opportunities for a Dharma lesson!

As soon as you notice such a thought, it is an opportunity for a mini Dharma talk. Let’s say you’re angry. 

Lesson: Anger makes me cranky, not happy. It only plants seeds for more anger in my future. Current enmities stem from past enmities. If I add fuel to this fire, they will be even worse in the future.

Ask yourself where it is coming from. Might the anger be stemming from jealousy? If so, that’s another Dharma lesson. 

Lesson: He has the right conditions for what he did. I don’t. So what might his conditions be, and how do I create them? 

Or, maybe the negative thought arose from fear. Fear of you or someone you care about losing something. Yet another opportunity! 

Lesson: Whatever happens to me and whatever I have are determined by my previous karmas. No one can take from me what I have destined for myself. Both good and bad. As soon as we detect a negative thought, we flush out its source.

Applying the appropriate Buddhist principle, we give ourselves a Dharma talk. In this way, we replace negative thoughts with positive ones.

We should see others' good points, not . . .

When others unexpectedly hurt us 

with their words,

return kindness not pain.

Most of us have experienced a trusted friend or a loved one say something so unexpected that we’re stung. Caught off guard, we struggled to respond. 

Perhaps, in trying to react compassionately, we figured that something must have upset the person for her to have spoken so unkindly. And in doing so, she carelessly planted seeds for her future suffering. Not wanting to make things worse, we might have even tried avoidance! 

Instead of dreading another occurrence, we can dedicate merits from our practice to her. Today, after dedicating our merits to adorning the Pure Land, repaying all kindnesses and relieving all suffering, we can add a special dedication to the person causing us distress. Dedicating merits to someone to help them find happiness and live a peaceful life can dramatically change our perspective. 

How so?

It’s hard to remain upset with someone when you just wished for her to find peace and happiness.