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BOOKS EXCERPT | EASTERN HORIZON 63

BOOK EXCERPT

chase around out there. You’re the source. It’s in your That’s the withdrawal from the source of hostility: the
mind. Turn towards the mind.” All you need is just a unwise focus on the fault. The unwise focus on the fault
fairly quiet environment and a handful of techniques, of you, of your life, of your future, of the people around
spiritual exercises to take along with you. you, of societies, of political systems, of thought systems,
of the weather, of everything. The Buddha just says,
Then he briefly explains the impediments to the good “Don’t go there.” Just bring the mind back, say, “Stop
life. What is it that ruins our life? What is it that mildly that.” See if you can just walk through the day without
distresses us? What can lead to profound problems? your mind fixing on the fault of a sight, of a sound, of a
Only these: aversion, and desire, and confusion. What smell, of a taste, of a touch. Then you have a lot more
can you do about that? First, just listen to that idea and time, and you find yourself a lot less stressed, with an
realize that’s the source of it. Don’t ignore that. That’s incredible sense of freedom. You’ll feel, “I’m off the hook.
the arising of wisdom. Secondly, to find out what you Could it really be possible I’m allowed to walk through
can do about these things, he says you can take just a life like this? Is it true I really don’t have to wear ruts in
handful, just a few teachings. The most problematic my cortex anymore? Am I allowed to do this?”
emotion, the one that hurts the most is hostility, anger,
aversion in all of its forms. But the Buddha, with a very Yes, you are, and then you’ve set yourself up for
kindly smile, says, “Don’t you worry. It’s the easiest something really beautiful. By the way, you might be
one to get rid of.” Aversion is easy to get rid of mostly asking, “Am I allowed to have a beautiful experience?
because it feels so bad. You’re all ears when it comes to Shouldn’t I have to pay for it? Maybe there’s only a few
freeing yourself of bad feelings, unpleasant experiences. people allowed to have this, but am I? Is an ordinary
First of all, you may not realize that you have an option. person without any qualifications allowed to have a
You don’t have to actually critique everything. You don’t beautiful experience, without winning the Nobel Prize,
have to have an opinion about everything. Everything or being first in my class, or making a lot of money? Am
you see, everything you hear, everything you smell and I allowed to?” The Buddha says, “Yeah, you gotta get past
taste and touch, everything you think. It’s very common that one.” Don’t even think about whether you should or
for people to keep asking themselves, “What’s wrong shouldn’t, whether you’re deserving of it or not. You’re
with that? Is that good or is that bad?” That habitual not in any position to have an opinion on it. Just find out.
process of looking for the fault is where your suffering
lies; so realize that you don’t have to have an opinion Bloom: Buddhist Reflections on Serenity and
about these things. Let sights be sights, let sounds be Love excerpt from Section 2, chapter 9 “Opening the Eye.”
sounds, smells, tastes, touches. Let the flow of thought Reprinted with permission from Sumeru Books.
just be that. Don’t invest in it. Just allow that world to be
and realize you’re off the hook. You don’t have to have Source: www.buddhistdoor.net EH
an opinion about everything. You don’t have to comment
on everything. It’s just as it is. It’s way too much work to
have an opinion about everything.