Each day of our lives, we are faced with countless matters that occupy our thoughts, and more often than not, these cause our minds to become clouded and disturbed. As Buddhists, we must therefore continually remind ourselves that we are to strive to keep our minds clear and pure at all times, throughout the entire day.
This is a principle of great importance. Whenever something arises that clouds the mind, one must cease immediately. The moment awareness arises, one must stop oneself without delay — for to do otherwise is to incur a loss.
What reason could there possibly be to allow our minds to remain in a state of disturbance? For when the mind is clouded and defiled, wholesome thoughts cannot arise. Thoughts of merit, goodness, and constructive action become inaccessible.
Furthermore, the mind thinks ceaselessly — not for a single moment does it stop. Therefore, if we do not check ourselves, if we do not apply the brake when we find ourselves drifting into troubled and murky thoughts, the mind will continue thinking such thoughts without end. In doing so, we accumulate demerit within ourselves; we increase our own suffering; we bring about our own destruction.
It is therefore the duty of every person to be vigilant and to maintain a clear and pure mind at all times. One must understand that this world operates under the Law of Karma. All matters that cause the mind to become troubled are the very gateways through which unwholesome karma flows — and it will continue to flow into our minds in ever greater measure.
4 January 2016
