When we either correct others faults or pointing out others’ mistakes are usually people who are the ‘devils’ themselves too. Why? If we have not been experiencing the faults or mistakes before how would you able to spot through on others’ similar faults and mistakes? Isn’t that click? We need one similar devil to spot the other devil.
Yes, there are times people impose their will on others on what it should be and not base on their knowledge and understanding which no doubt may be limited. But I would say that he or she may have the better edge or knowledge and experience over others and they would stick their neck out to speak out, of course this will depend on his/her motivation and intent. If base on sincere motivation to help and guide each other for the betterment of oneself and many, it would be the best reciprocal action to create the cause in supporting each other. Hence, the crucial support sincere care and understanding for each other.
Anyway, no one is perfect with answers, methods or solutions to problems or situation. We do the best we can have and along the way we correct and improve. Definitely, there are times we may rise and fall along the way. Most importantly, we must know how to pull ourselves together and move on with an open mind and alleviate ourselves and not repeat them over and over again.
1. Has our spiritual work increased with time?
Oh yes! Why? Because I want to as I do not wish to be stagnant. Am not getting younger anymore
nor I may not have the similar opportunities again.2. Have our delusions like anger and jealousy decreased?
Definitely. Still there are remnants of it and striving to reduce them over time.3. Are we smiling more, opening up more to care for others?
Yes! There are times when we were too preoccupied with other matters on mind, our innate
underlying negativities self cherishing evil surfaced without mindfulness to arrest it that instant.
Guess, we have to continuously be mindful.4. Do we find joy in learning dharma even if we already know a lot?
Learning dharma is a never ending process. How can we say that we already know a lot? I dare
not. It is always a joy to continuous learning even is a repeating topic or lessons. 5. Do we have devotion to our Lama?
Transformation and practising dharma in accordance with the Buddha’s teachings and our Lama’s
instructions.http://www.thubtenchodron.org/BuddhistNunsMonasticLife/LifeAsAWesternBuddhistNun/how_to_rely_on_a_spiritual_friend.htmlSometimes we rely on the Lama because we don't want to think for ourselves. It is easier to think, "I'll just do what my guru wants." We may think this is devotion, but in fact it is just confusion. Devotion does not mean continuously following the teacher around and asking where to go, what to study, and even what to eat and what to wear. Real devotion is to practice pure Dharma in accordance with the Buddha's teachings and the lama's instructions.
We all have our inner wisdom, our inner guru. The role of the outer guru is to help us to bring forth our own Buddha mind. To some extent the guru can be considered as a parent, but only on a very high or subtle level, and certainly not on an emotional level. His job is not to take care of us like our father or our mother did.
Our teachers act as a mirror. When we seek advice, they show us exactly what is in our mind, like a mirror reflecting back what is there. They may give advice and help, but basically they are just there without projecting anything from their side. They perceive what we are projecting and show it to us. In this case, what our guru tells us to do is what we ourselves want to do, but we may not have the courage or wisdom to admit it to ourselves. At other times, the guru may tell us to do something, not because he actually wants us to do that, but because he wants us to learn how to use our own wisdom and become strong enough to make our own decisions. In this case, he is using skillful means to help us develop that inner wisdom. However, such skillful means may not be easy to understand unless we have gone through the experience ourselves.
