Unshackle the Mind

Our habitual tendencies creep out of nowhere when we don’t integrate Dharma into our life and work. What are “habitual tendencies”? To put it simply, habitual tendencies are a waste of life and time on meaningless comparisons; distinguishing goods and bad; issues with people, conflicts, and gossips instead of applying Dharma in life. If we could let go of stubborn ideas, relax, and immerse in the vast ocean of emptiness – our minds could acquire comfort and joy.

Dharma practice is to become awakened from confusion. By taming our minds, we can transform habitual tendencies into the bliss of emptiness. Put all your fluctuating ideas and interpersonal conflicts into the melting pot of emptiness. Learn to relax from attachments. As soon as we notice the slightest worry, we must relax and let it go. This is freedom or Mahamudra. Letting go of attachments is a type of mind training, which is a liberating method of mind.

Mind training isn’t limited to time or space. It should be a constant application in daily activities of walking, standing, sitting, reclining, and all actions. Relax our stubborn ideas, gossiping, and comparing. We must be very positive to work with every idea that comes across our minds – this is Dharma practice. We’d easily lose bodhicitta if we let ourselves engulfed by afflictions, attachments, and greediness. In moments like this, we must alert ourselves to clear the clouds for the sunshine of our nature to come forth. Every awakening is clarity, letting go, the transformation of consciousness into wisdom, and the transformation of afflictions into bodhi. That's why we must practice Dharma so to live a life free from worries and anxiety. Our minds would be free at last.

Too often, our minds are occupied by delusional notions. We grasp on afflictions to give ourselves a hard time, worry ourselves, and numb ourselves. Our ignorance aggravates amidst of these afflictions. Our spirituality collects the dust among these matters where they roll like snowballs. The freedom of our minds is restricted. Could we blame others when we are the ones troubling ourselves? This is the result of ignorance.

How should we unshackle our minds then? Firstly, we must build up a proper view so we can resolve afflictions into emptiness. We are standing on the shore of ignorance where we don't know how to make our way across to the other shore of awakening. Dharma practice is to abide in emptiness. What things constitute ignorance? All forms are emptiness, which includes all phenomena, people, events, and matters. Everything that changes is impermanent and delusional. 

Such a realization is emptiness. Should every dependent origination be emptiness in nature, what else can't we let go? Our affinity towards family, people, and events are shackles of feelings. Like a hook, we are dragged by afflictions and attachments. We struggle to be free from the entanglement. How can we be free? To become awakened and live a bright life like being under the sun. As long as we remain unawakened, we're living a dark and dull life. Knowing this, we must be mindful at all times to apply Dharma practice. That way, we can practice anywhere. Bodhimanda is within you all the time.