Practicing being gentle with yourself helps awaken your genuine heart. This compassion, this clarity, this openness, is like something we have forgotten. Lightening up in your practice, sitting there being gentle with yourself, you are rediscovering something.
Once we feel we have sufficient knowledge and power, we must be careful and not let it get the better of us and lose our sense of inquiry into what is right. Use your common sense and be humble, do not brag about your power or use it unwisely, doing so will cause you suffering.
Chase after money and security and your heart will never unclench. If you seek people’s approval you become bound to them. Share with others these teachings and you will be immersed in the blessings that come from that. Do your work and step back, let it be, this is the path to serenity.
When unfriendly forces are advancing, retreat is the right course of action. We are not running away, but are offering some resistance, while planning for the time when the aggressive forces end. Anger and hate are not resistance, all resistance must be done in a thoughtful and considerate way.
Quote: Do not wait for change before you do something, do it now.