Why is it necessary to eliminate selfishness and desires in cultivation?

Why is it necessary to eliminate selfishness and desires in practice?

A person who cannot control their emotions must remove selfishness and prejudice to achieve inner peace. One should always think positively, avoiding getting stuck in ignorance and pushing responsibility onto others while pretending to be unaffected. In reality, such a person is no different from an ordinary person.

When dealing with others using human emotions and personal desires, what one observes is merely the superficial appearance of things. It’s important to understand that the mindset of ordinary beings is characterized by “discrimination, treatment, and criticism,” speaking harshly and picking on others’ “small faults, minor shortcomings, or little mistakes.” When one has such a mindset, it must be adjusted.

Practice involves eliminating the “self of personal desires” through purification to return to the “true self” (the genuine self). The true self is one’s nature—pure goodness without evil—and can rid itself of all disturbances from personal desires! The focus of practice is on removing personal desires; as one practices more, they become less self-centered.

Until one completely detaches from the self and stops thinking solely for oneself; those who cling to the self are deluded; it does not mean that through practice one becomes more self-centered or continues to calculate for oneself. Clinging to the self means being attached to selfishness.

Being attached to oneself means being selfish. To practice while being attached to oneself is misguided! This reflects a fundamental expression of human nature and represents the greatest confusion for practitioners; it must be corrected immediately. As the saying goes: “When the human heart does not die, the path will not arise.”

Our hearts are like fierce beasts—constantly restless and uneasy. The thoughts within never cease; they are always chaotic. If we wish to achieve inner peace, we must maintain awareness at all times, training our minds to be aware of every moment’s arising and passing.

Do not follow delusional thoughts; do not be led by sensory perceptions. Learn to guard your own heart as much as possible—settle inwardly and observe your heart: Is it light? Is it maintained in tranquility? Do not cling based on likes or dislikes.

The intertwining emotions of love and hate will keep us perpetually unstable. Therefore, we must reduce various desires so that our hearts can settle into a life of moderation; then we become masters of our own lives.

So when we face harm from enemies or suffer great setbacks, do not point fingers at others for faults. Once we clearly understand the unchanging principles of cause and effect, we can face all life’s adversities with ease and freedom!

Dropping human emotions and personal desires allows us to engage in effortless practice. We must understand: “Heaven and earth exist without desire; thus they endure.” Humans live briefly due to excessive desires and mixed thoughts; they may die in vain under “desires” and “greed.”

When there is greed in our hearts—root it out! When there is resentment or unfairness—cut it off! If a person’s thoughts are impure, their actions will naturally be improper. If one cannot change or correct themselves, various sufferings will arise.

The most frightening aspect of practice is when “negative thoughts occupy all space in one’s mind.” If this happens, how can there be a path within? “If the field of one’s heart does not grow weeds of ignorance, then flowers of wisdom will bloom.” If one can maintain purity without contamination in their mind state—if they awaken their inherent nature—they can express complete wisdom.

The greatest fear in practice is: “Pulling out weeds from others’ hearts while allowing weeds to flourish in one’s own.”

The focus should be on one’s own heart; this heart is most important as it governs one’s entire being. Therefore, one must stimulate their inherent nature—their true heart—to ensure that it embodies only goodness and love. By cultivating goodness and love through practice, barriers between oneself and others can be broken down further while refining one’s spiritual clarity (wisdom) allows for liberation from all hindrances,

enabling one to dismiss all internal chaos or external disturbances without fear—even demonic disturbances pose no threat because such fearlessness entirely depends on affirming one’s spiritual clarity. Spiritual clarity (wisdom) acts like a torch illuminating right from wrong—it dispels delusions leading towards tranquility through calmness,

and opens up the eye of understanding through meditation while focusing generates wisdom which fuels diligent advancement that reduces personal desires so that one may hold their mind within an impartial middle way thinking aligned with an “upright intention.”

Sacrifice for others brings respect through virtue—virtue resides lowly—the humbler you are, the more respect you earn. Virtue lies in selflessness—being able to share credit while taking responsibility for mistakes upon oneself.

In practice: “Recognizing mistakes leads us towards wisdom,” “Seeing into another’s heart isn’t important; what matters is seeing what exists within your own.” Approach everything around you with simplicity and joyfulness.

Seeing people – reflect upon yourself.
Seeing people – reflect upon your discipline.
Seeing people – reflect upon your caution.

The growth of practitioners requires countless trials before achieving growth again and again; thus someone who understands practice should avoid clinging too tightly to external circumstances but instead show tolerance like an ocean that embraces rivers—it becomes great by accommodating many things while bringing joyfulness and convenience to others.

Open your heart’s door; reveal everyone’s inherent bodhisattva nature. The bodhisattva heart “is like cool gentle moonlight,” which doesn’t impose pressure yet brings infinite warmth & kindness. Beings fall into cycles of birth & death due solely because of delusions & attachments hence only by learning how let go can barriers within our minds be broken down.

It’s essential to realize that human thoughts, emotions feelings along with life processes reflect directly from within our hearts hence Zen teaches: “All phenomena arise from mind,” meaning enlightenment requires cultivation through stillness & meditation awakening innate qualities (spirituality) allowing minds become tranquil & balanced eventually revealing brightness & wisdom!

by- Phoenix Mountain Compassionate Phoenix Palace