Become as resourceful in inspiring yourself to enter your own peace as you are at being neurotic and competitive in the world.This quote from a world-renowned Tibetan Buddhist teacher has special resonance for me since, like many people, I'm very skilled at generating countless neurotic, self-defeating, resentful and otherwise unproductive thoughts. I don't have to work hard to produce them -- they come naturally. Although I'm not proud of this fact I'm no longer particularly ashamed of it either. It simply is what it is. Sometimes when I catch myself engaged in such "stinking thinking" I'll laugh and say out loud "get out of my head, you crazy person!"
– Sogyal Rinpoche
One reason I like to admit this fairly straightforward assertion is to allow people to narrow the distance between themselves what they imagine therapists (or any healers) to be. Human frailties effect everybody, and the willingness to continually work on self-improvement is a task that should never end and always pays off benefits.
I find I am very resourceful in finding ways to show disrespect for myself or harbor a fleeting or lingering resentment to another human for the flimsiest of reasons. I heard once that you can judge a person by what makes them angry, and by this measure many of us show ourselves capable of great pettiness.
So I've had to learn to be as resourceful in "inspiring myself to peace" as I am at being neurotic. Mohandes K. Gandhi said "My most formidable opponent is a man named Mohandas K. Gandhi. With him I seem to have very little influence." Knowing this helps me feel like I am in good company as I develop my resources against my most tenacious of adversaries: my own ego.
This quote is therefore very welcome and instructive. It can take a lot of devoted practice for serenity to emerge more naturally and remain for increasingly longer periods of time. The way to become more gentle and compassionate toward self and others is the same way to get to Carnegie Hall: practice, practice, practice!
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