Leaky roofs and minds

With more vivid images, the Buddha's teachings about our choices, and laying them before us compellingly, continue in this second part of the "Twin Verses" shared in the last blog.

When I read these verses, they impel me to some serious self-examination, and also shed light on other people I know and what they experience.

As rain seeps through a poorly thatched roof, craving seeps into the untrained mind.

As rain cannot seep through a well-thatched roof, craving cannot seep into a well-trained mind.

The deluded, imagining trivial things to be vital to life, follow their vain fancies

and never attain the noblest, highest knowledge.

But the wise, knowing what is trivial and what is vital,

set their thoughts on the supreme goal

and attain the highest knowledge.

Those who are selfish suffer here and suffer there; they suffer wherever they go.

They suffer and fret over the damage they may have done, or have suffered.

But those who are selfless rejoice here and rejoice there; they rejoice wherever they go.

They rejoice and delight in the good they have done and experienced.

The self-centered suffer here, and suffer there, and suffer everywhere.

They brood over their mistakes and misfortunes, and suffer more and more

as they travel along the path of sorrow.

Selfless people are happy here, happy there, happy everywhere they go.

They are happy as they consider the good they have done.

They grow in happiness as they progress along the path of bliss.

Those who recite many scriptures but do not practice their teachings

are like a cowherd counting another's cows as their own.

They do not share in the joys of the spiritual life.

Those who may know few scriptures but practice their teachings,

who overcome all lust, greed, hatred, and delusion,

live with a pure mind in the highest wisdom.

They can stand without external supports, and they enjoy the rewards of the spiritual life.

My intention in response:

To examine my life to see where I am not practicing the wisdom of the scriptures,

and examine my thinking to see how that may be contributing to my failure

to integrate what I know with what I do.

To see with compassion for others and myself how we bring so much of our own suffering

upon ourselves by failing to distinguish what is vital from what is trivial in our use of time and effort.

To dedicate myself anew to living as unselfishly as I can,

and resolutely resisting the temptation to want things to go my way in the affairs of life.

What might your intentions be in response to the Buddha's wise teaching?