INTROSPECTIONItis useless just looking at the enlightened Master without introspectingyourself! Probe into your own dark spots, the suspicions, themistakes, and the aspects covered by your ego. Only then can yousee your inner Master!
..... Allof you should reflect and quickly rectify your faults, if any.If you do not rectify it today, you have to do it tomorrow orthe day after anyway. The longer you delay, the more serious thetrouble, because the interest multiplies. The bad habit will becomestrong and entrenched, then it will become more difficult forus to eradicate.
..... Aperfect person knows his good points and shortcomings. He subduesthe shortcomings, puts them aside or controls them properly, tobe used only when necessary. The good points he will continueto develop, to benefit others and himself. Such is a perfect person.
..... Whenyou observe any goodness in yourself, develop it. When you observeany bad points in yourself, rectify them. Look at the positiveaspects. It is not enough to just rely on meditation alone.
..... Anythingthat is wrong will remain wrong a hundred years later, if youdo not rectify it. It won't become right just because you do notsee it. Therefore, we must correct our mistakes. Just like whenyou are wearing clothing inside out, no matter where you are,wouldn't you try to wear it the correct way round? You cannotsay that since you have been wearing it this way, and have travelleda hundred kilometers, "Why bother changing now?" Ifyou don't change it, it will remain inside out.
..... Theheart is important, not the superficial actions. Many people pursuespiritual practice, but some say, "I have practiced so arduously,yet I have gotten nothing in return." Possibly they havenot been sincere enough. We should not blame God, we should notlose faith in the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, nor should we doubtour Master. Instead, we should introspect to see whether we haveany places or knots that have not been untied. If we have greatsincerity, all results will come to us. Even when sometimes wethink we are not sincere, still we have to persist in practicing,and rectify it bit by bit. One day the world will give us thesincerity. Sometimes, we are ill, we are in agony, in pain orin a bad mood - all these unhappy situations will wake us up.Therefore, we still have hope.
..... Tobe honest to yourself means to be honest to everyone.
..... Comfortyourself, then everyone is comforted, if you feel comfortable,then everyone feels comfortable. It is the greatest meritoriousoffering.
..... Befrank with yourself. Be careful, otherwise you will be cheatedday after day. It is like the patients who don't know, and refuseto believe that they are ill. We pursue spiritual practice forourselves, not for gaining the other's respect.
..... Weshould be aware of where our illness lies. Others may be ableto correct us several times, but we must know where our illnessis, and save ourselves quickly. If we cannot save ourselves, thenconsult books, or find someone to help us, instead of doing nothing.If our fault is not rectified, we have to come back next time,with or without following an enlightened Master. It is becausewe cannot forsake that corner, and keep clinging to it, usingit as a weapon to make things difficult for others or to win theirattention. Then, we have to come back!
