In this age of degeneration, both the environment and its inhabitants, or the container and its contents, are filled with the effects of unskillful actions committed in the past. Both natural turmoils and ignorance, the cause of suffering, now flourish. Famine, drought, floods, and ecological calamities abound in many parts of this globe, and the beings living here are afflicted with numerous problems and dangers stemming from greed, hatred, and aggression. These problems are conducive to all types of sickness, mental anguish, physical conflict, and so forth. Yet all such unfortunate occurrences result from a deep reason and cause, for we are directly receiving the fruition of unwholesome deeds that we, in this and previous lifetimes, have collectively committed. The result is that we are born into this specific era and these conditions of life and are all suffering together.

For those who are unfamiliar with the process of thought transformation, these difficult circumstances are a great burden and appear to be extremely unfavorable to the practice of spiritual development. However, for those transforming their outlook, especially by cultivating the awakening mind, these situations become an encouragement for the accomplishment of the practice. Whenever we face any problem or hardship, we should try to view it in the following manner: "These difficulties and ailments that I now have to endure have not arisen without any reason but are deeply rooted in my self-cherishing attitude. This has always been with me such that I have clutched at myself as if I were the most important and precious thing in the world. Because of this I have already committed many unskillful deeds, and now, when I experience obstacles, I am reaping the fruit of this non-virtue."

Just as when we throw a rock straight up, it falls back and hits us, so too when we encounter adverse circumstances, we are experiencing the results of past unwholesome actions done because of attachment. In another text on thought transformation (The Wheel of Sharp Weapons) it says that by committing unskillful deeds we create a sword that returns to cut us. Therefore, instead of being despondent, we should be grateful and joyous that the trouble has returned to attack and thereby demolish the self-cherishing attitude that was originally responsible for it.

Take, for example, an occasion when someone unjustly assails us for no apparent reason. Although most people would respond with anger, those who are cultivating the awakening mind would recollect thoroughly the assailant's kindness. He is neither harming nor abusing us but is helping us by demonstrating that the results of our past unskillful deeds are these very problems we are facing now. We should inwardly thank him for such kind teachings because now we shall know we must be careful not to create any further causes for such results. Those who harm us are like a teacher showing us the effects of our actions. His Holiness the Dalai Lama often says that our enemy is our greatest teacher, for not only does he provide us with a perfect opportunity to test the strength of our mental development, he also shows us clearly the faults of our past unwholesome actions.

Moreover, when confronted with such an interference, we should think that even though we are facing this great obstruction, many other beings must be enduring far worse. We should, therefore, produce the sincere wish to take upon ourselves their trials and sufferings. Then, although it may look to others that we are in difficulty, through our internal response to adverse circumstances, we shall in fact be pursuing a great practice of Dharma.<

Copyright Brian Beresford, 1977, 1996. Excerpted from Advice from a Spiritual Friend, with permission of Wisdom Publications, 199 Elm St., Somerville MA 02144 U.S.A, www.wisdompubs.org