Stop now and look around you. Blink your eyes, and touch your own arm.
First: As long as you are still alive and healthy, the only fact is that you are healthy and alive right now—and you can perceive everything around you. Beyond that, there is nothing else that is truly real.
Second: As for what your mind thinks—what you’ll do tomorrow, who used to treat you badly, the things that have recently upset you, and the emotions that then arise—everything is just a play of your mind. It’s false.
All peace comes from the first point. Peace comes from knowing that if there is no physiological pain, then in truth you have nothing to worry about. Observe the world quietly, like a deity.
All suffering comes from the second point. Suffering arises because human beings live in a realm of illusory appearances; in a dreamlike state, they torture themselves.
This is the key to the peace and joy of life.
First: As long as you are still alive and healthy, the only fact is that you are healthy and alive right now—and you can perceive everything around you. Beyond that, there is nothing else that is truly real.
Second: As for what your mind thinks—what you’ll do tomorrow, who used to treat you badly, the things that have recently upset you, and the emotions that then arise—everything is just a play of your mind. It’s false.
All peace comes from the first point. Peace comes from knowing that if there is no physiological pain, then in truth you have nothing to worry about. Observe the world quietly, like a deity.
All suffering comes from the second point. Suffering arises because human beings live in a realm of illusory appearances; in a dreamlike state, they torture themselves.
This is the key to the peace and joy of life.