Emotional turmoil begins with an initial perception of a sight, sound, or thought, which leads to a feeling of discomfort. When you feel that initial tug: remain steady, relax into the energy you feel, stay with the experience, let the energy move through you without getting stuck.
Rather than shutting away the unpleasant aspects of ourselves, we must take them all out and examine them. Daily introspection brings harmony to all our facets. Those aspects that are not good can be dissolved, those that are advantageous can be cultivated.
If you seek people’s approval, you become bound to them. If you want their approval, share these teachings with them and you will be immersed in the blessings that flow from it, then do your work and step back, let it be. This is the path to serenity.
Knowledge that is vitalizing comes from discussing and practicing applications with friends about the truths of life. This way learning becomes many sided and takes on a cheerful lightness, rather than self-taught which is more one sided.
Quote: It is helpful to know the proper way to behave, so one can decide whether or not to be proper.