We should emulate this mirror-mind and maintain, with concentration, a clear, peaceful presence, without subjective judgments and personal concerns. Realize, however, that judgments and discernment must still be made. If enlightened beings could not discriminate, they would be no different than mindless idiots. Although true discrimination is only possible when we are free from self-attachments, we can still, to the best of our ability, discriminate and discern how things really are using the principle of non-attachment. It may be an intellectual approach, but it is still a good practice to apply to all methods, as well as to daily life.

Keep foremost in mind the practice of compassion. Until we are enlightened, we can only aspire to operate from a position of non-attachment. Some people who do this may become insensitive to the needs and feelings of others, saying and doing things that cause emotional suffering. They may further justify their actions as non-attachment, expecting others to think and feel the same way. I have observed that some people are afraid to experience their own feelings directly, and mistake this for detachment. This is simply piling delusion on top of delusion. It is neither proper practice nor acceptable Buddhist behavior, and it misrepresents the Dharma.

Buddhadharma exhorts us to steadfastly face ourselves, no matter how uncomfortable it may be to do. Can we expect others to live by the Buddhadharma if we cannot do it ourselves? As Buddhists, we should try to ensure the welfare and happiness of others, knowing that our perceptions and thoughts come from our self-centered, limited view, still tinged with ignorance. Whatever clarity of mind we think we have, it is still relative to another person’ s lack of clarity. It is highly subjective, and the other person may feel the same about us. Also, from an enlightened point of view, our allegedly clear view may be as opaque as the other person’ s view.

Self-nature