410 Purity of Mind

“Purity of Mind”

The mind is easily defiled.
This is because we all have worldly desires.
The three poisons of the mind are greed, hatred, and delusion.
In Buddhism, these are the causes of unhappiness.

Greed within the mind manifests as covetousness or rapaciousness.
The three primitive desires are appetite, sexual desire, and the desire to sleep.
Without them humankind would perish, excessive amounts poison the mind.
Greed kindles the flame of worldly desires for false self-realization,
Using any means available to satisfy desires.
Hurting and abusing others also stems from greed.

Hatred within the mind manifests as anger and hatred.
It is said that the first step to Buddhism is not to be angry.
Do you easily flare up like boiling water or hold deep grudges?
If you experience such tendencies, hell is near.
Even when encountering unreasonable or oppressive situations,
Endure, persevere, and do not let poison reside in your heart.

Delusion within the mind manifests as ignorance and stupidity.
This is considered the cause of all misfortune.
Complaining and grumbling everyday,
Blaming anything that goes wrong on others or the environment,
Wandering through life without knowing right from wrong.
The only remedy is to learn the truth and reform yourself.

Life is a succession of four pains and eight sufferings.
It is because of this that the soul is refined and grows,
If we allow our hearts to be defiled, our souls will go straight to hell.
Always maintain an honest and humble heart,
And keep your mind clean and pure.