If we want to live in a beautiful world, we must give up the fault-finding mind. The more we give up faulting-finding, the happier we will be. Our relationships will also be more harmonious. We can decide what kind of world we want to live in-- a beautiful world or a world full of faults and problems.

 

To celebrate the 100th episode, I am giving away a 30 minute phone call with me to talk about your practice (or anything you would like) and a mala I made and blessed. For a chance to win, go to www.JoAnnFox.net and enter your email between March 14th -  March 21, 2021. Winner will be announced on March 21, 2021 on the podcast, social media, and notified by email. Good luck and thank you for listening! 

 

Beauty and faults are not inherent in a person. Beauty and faults originate from our mind. Beauty is in the proverbial eye of the beholder and so our faults. Moreover, what you see in another person they show you back. What they show you back, they begin to believe about themselves. If you start to see beauty in another person, they will start to see it in themselves.

Are you looking in their garden or are you looking in their garden?

 

If you need to deliver some criticism, check this first:

* What is the motivation behind it?

& Deliver it when you’re calm

 

It’s easy to see the faults of others,

     But hard to see one’s own.

One sifts out others faults like chaff

     But conceals one’s own,

     As a cheat conceals a bad throw of the dice.

 

If one focuses on others’ faults

     And constantly takes offense

One’s own toxins flourish 

And one is far from their destruction. (253)

--Buddha, The Dhammapada

 

Buddha has phrased this in such a kind way; he isn’t saying we’re bad people because we have a habit of criticizing others. He says it’s easy to see the faults of others but hard to see our own faults. It’s so important to be able to know what’s in our mind—this is the meaning of being mindful. The first step in changing any habit is to be aware of it. First we become aware of how a habit like anger or jealousy robs us of our peace and happiness, and only then do we have the wisdom and motivation to change. What are compared our mind and our potential to a diamond lying in the dirt. Encrusted in dirt and dust, 

 

Links and References

Buddha.The Dhammapada. Translated by Gil Fronsdale. Shambala, Boston and London, 2011, pp.65.