Whenever hurt comes to your body, accept it as the result of your karma.
Mind leads phenomena. Mind is the main factor and forerunner of all actions.
If one speaks or acts with a cruel mind, misery follows, as the cart follows
the horse. Phenomena are led by the mind. Mind is the main factor and forerunner
of all actions. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness follows, as
a shadow follows its source.
If we do not feel anxious about problems, our strength of mind can help us to
bear even great sufferings easily. We will be able to feel them as being light
and insubstantial like cotton. But if we harbor anxiety, it will make even small
sufferings intolerable. For example, while we are thinking of the beauty of
a girl, even if we try to get rid of desire, we will only be burned. Similarly,
if we concentrate on the painful characteristics of suffering, we will not be
able to develop tolerance for it.
Whenever problems come to us from beings or inanimate objects, if our mind gets
used to perceiving only the suffering or the negative aspects of them, then
even from a small negative incident great mental pain will ensue. For it is
the nature of indulgence in any concept, whether suffering or happiness, that
the experience of this hap- piness or suffering will thereby be intensified.
As this negative experience gradually becomes stronger, a time will come when
most of what appears before us will become the cause of bringing us unhappiness,
and happiness will never have a chance to arise. If we do not realize that the
fault lies with our own mind's way of gaining exper- ience, and if we blame
all our problems on the external conditions alone, then the ceaseless flame
of habitual negative deeds such as hatred and suffering will increase in us.
That is called: "All appearances arising in the form of enemies."