The cultivator must always watch his mind, must be aware of his feelings otherwise he may fall into a state of severe irritation even during or immediately after prayers! To be reciting holy sounds in one instant and then to burn away the merits through anger of thoughts, harsh words and bodily actions, what kind of a cultivator is he?

To recite the six syllables of the “Om Mani Padme Hum” is to commit oneself to the path of compassion which is supposed to cause one to reduce all kinds of non-virtuous inclinations and actions so one may proceed with the perfection of the six paramitas. Having perfected the paramitas is to have freed oneself from the six existences so that advancement through the various stages may be possible. One must know the path that he is following. There is no use in just reciting prayers and hope that he will be cleansed of his defilements this way. It is not easy to practice. It is painful to practice. It is necessary for one to have to go through the sufferings of being cleansed before one is able to come out a pure being and this will require patient understanding and the will to be rid of defilements which crowd the mind and cause so much unhappiness to oneself.

There is no easy method of self purification. The lives of the Bodhisattvas are filled with sufferings. But they do not suffer in ignorance, under the spell of others and other causes. They suffer with understanding and wisdom. They have understood what suffering is and how painful is the fire of ignorance. They are therefore called the victorious ones, having overcome all the scares that bind them to samsaric existences, having fought numberless battles which caused them great pains of body and mind. But they have emerged as an enlightened being, like steel which was once iron which had other impurities that have been removed by the fires during the process of purification. For those who have succeeded, they know what is before and after, and being compassionate and know that even the painful process of purification is in itself kindliness to the beings, they must develop ways and means to lead others through this purification process, to reach the other shore!

Everything is mind created. Every act arises out of a thought. So guard the mind and be ever mindful of the thoughts and know that the mind must be freed from its poisons. Do not allow anger to rule your life, do not enjoy ruling others, do not entertain false views that will lead one to delusion. Merits are hard to gain, to practise that which is good is extremely rare so that no one is filled with boundless merits, so why waste what have been gained? Stay calm them and know yourself!

Friday, 26th April 1985 (3rd Moon 7th Day)