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by Brother Gallax
In the career world, we could hardly avoid being affected by various kinds of working environments and situations. If the situation happens to be what we have wanted such as good business as well as projects that happened to be a success, we would hope that this kind of so-called prosperous event would continue to happen. On the other hand, if the situation happens to be what we had opposed such as customers causing troubles as well as uncooperative team members, we will tend to be upset and annoyed, hence having evil thoughts that will bring about bad speeches and evil actions. If we perceive carefully, a situation good or bad is defined by our own mind. If we feels like it, then it will be a favorable situation. Vice versa for the unfavorable situations. We often would omit this mind which is responsible for our actions, speeches, and thoughts.
The importance of mind
The mind that I’m mentioning here is our consciousness. The mind affects each and every one of our actions. Often our mind would happen to react to situations without us being aware. That’s why at the most times we tend to be absent-minded. According to the Yamakavagga Chapter of the Dhammapada, it is said that the mind precedes all mental states, the mind is our chief, and we are all mind-wrought. If a person speaks or acts with an impure mind, suffering would follow just like the cart wheel that follows the foot of the pulling ox. If a person speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness would follow just like the attaching shadow. At many times, because we are too attached to someone or something, we tend to get worried and anxious easily. In actual, it is the mind that are causing us to be so attached. Hence, our actions, speeches and thoughts tend to get impure, causing so much worries and sufferings. To avoid our mind from being affected by the happening situations and for the circumstances to transform according to our mind, first we should deal with our mind, hence become the master of our mind. Below are some steps that could help us to be mindful:
1) Mind transformation
In this process, we need have a deep understanding on the law of dependent of origination. By observing the law, we would easily carry out mind transformation. As situations that happened had their cause and conditions, and does not happened independently, hence favorable situations may not end up with good result after all and unfavorable situations may not end up with bad results after all. This could be a blessing in disguise after all. Therefore, we could say that transformation is a way for us to be positive-minded.
2) Practicing the Four “Its”
This is a way of dealing with realistic problems promoted by Master Sheng Yen, the founder of the Dharma Drum Mountain. The Four “Its” mentioned here are “Face It”, “Accept It”, “Deal With It” and “Let It Go”. Because situations happened had become reality and can’t be undone, so we need to “Face It”. Because all the situations that happened were due to their cause and the conditions, therefore we need situations that happened were due to their cause and conditions, therefore we need to “Accept It”. As we can improve and make situations result in a better way, we need to “Deal With It”. As we have tried our best and could not control how the outcomes of the betterment will be, we need to “Let It Go” and act according to conditions. In my opinion, this Four “Its” is a simpler version of the “Four Noble Truths” as propagated by the Buddha at the First Turning of Dharma Wheel.
3) Cultivation through Mediation
Meditation might be a very boring way to cultivate mindfulness. In reality, this is the most effective way to deal with our seemingly wild mind. Meditation is not just simply sitting meditation. Besides that, there is walking meditation as well. Meditation’s main purpose is to enhance our concentration. As we have strong concentration, we would have keen awareness, hence getting mindful will not be a hard task.
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In fact…
There is nothing that does not act according to the law of dependence of origination, as well as our mind too. If one could be mindful and able to be the master of his own mind, then the mind could be easily purified. Therefore, we would be able to gain the true happiness and free from suffering., in the path of career, if we could control our mind, then we would not be affected by external causes regardless of whether it is favorable or unfavorable.
Instead of talking about the walk, we should walk the talk as well.
Instead of talking about the walk, we should walk the talk as well. Perhaps we could not perfectly practice mindfulness, but at least we start to deal and adjust our minds. Upon practicing, it’s normal to have worries and anxieties as we are still clouded with attachments, we are still learning from the Buddha. We would notice that our worries and anxieties would reduce day by day. Therefore, stop reacting to circumstances and start adjusting to the conditions.
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