He who receives kindness should never forget it, but . . .

“Try doing something for someone.

You can’t have two opposing sets of thoughts 

in your mind at one and the same time.”

This was a noted British anatomist’s response to a student who asked what the best cure for fear was. He then said that one set of thoughts will always drive the other out. Something we need to do. Trying to break negative thought patterns is very difficult, but this is what our practice seeks to do: replace what is wrong with what is right.

Our feelings, the way we feel, arise from what we tell ourselves. So we need to switch away from the bad—what is obstructing us—to the good. This good is also something that can pull our mind away from the negative. If we can replace a negative thought with a caring thought, we will have begun to turn our mind away from suffering toward happiness.

And with more of our thoughts arising from our caring for others, our mind will be more firmly rooted in happiness. 

Is this easy? 

Of course not. 

But it is possible and worthwhile? 

Definitely!

Instead of feeling guilty for past wrongdoings,

we need to let go of the guilt 

and chant “Amituofo.”

We’re supposed to understand causality—to know why bad things happen—and also not to blame others for our problems. With this understanding, we will be better able to create favorable conditions for our future. 

And so, in our practice, we don’t just forgive others, we also need to forgive ourselves. We were just as ignorant as others then. And still are. So we need to recognize that we have done bad things and that we don’t want to repeat them.

There is also no need to beat ourselves up over having done them. Each of us needs to let go. Not just of the things we like, not just the good stuff. We also need to let go of our guilt and self-anger for what we did in the past. The past is done and over with while the future is yet to be created. The present is where we do the creating, where we focus our energy. Be firm with yourself, not angry. 

And firmly—and mindfully— replace each negative thought with “Amituofo,” not just for ourselves, but for all beings.

All that we experience today . . .