Take charge of the Mind

            ~Part two from 《The Six Paramitas 》(The Six Perfections)

 

There is an old saying, it is easy to manage a country, but it’s difficult to manage one’s family. During the course of history, there were many famous generals and ministers who were very capable in managing their countries but failed miserably in their relationships with their wives and children.

There is an old saying, it is easy to manage a country, but it’s difficult to manage one’s family. During the course of history, there were many famous generals and ministers who were very capable in managing their countries but failed miserably in their relationships with their wives and children.

How do we take charge of the mind? I have four suggestions:

 

1.  Know how to control the mind.
Our minds are active, like monkeys or thieves; we cannot let our minds run wild and loose. It was said that, It is easy to arrest the bandits of the mountains, but hard to capture thieves of the mind. There is a common saying in Buddhism that, All dharmas exist to heal all troubles of the mind. If there were not so many delusions of the mind, why would we need all these dharmas? We have to know how to control our minds and not to go astray.

2.  Know how to cultivate the mind.
When a desk is broken, it can only be used once it is repaired. When clothing is ripped, it can only be worn once it is mended. When a roof leaks, the problem is fixed only once it is patched. When our minds are corrupted, they are filled with greed, hatred, ignorance, vanity, and arrogance. We need to mend our minds as well.

3.  Know how to apply the mind.
Some people become slaves to their minds; they do not know how to apply their minds. We can become distracted by the desires of wealth, sex, fame, food, and sleep. When our minds are easily influenced by the external stimuli of form, sound, smell, touch, and perception, greed and hatred will often follow. Thus, we have to know how to apply our minds and not become deluded. 

4.  Know how to understand the mind.
The Chan school of Buddhism urges all of us to understand our minds and see our true nature. When we can understand our minds every moment, then we can see our true nature and success will come easily. 

Thus, the ways to take charge of our minds are:

 

   1. Know how to control the mind.   2. Know how to cultivate the mind.
   3. Know how to apply the mind.     4. Know how to understand the mind.