Bravery and self-deception
Aug. 24th, 2011 09:17 pmOvercoming self-deception
The essence of bravery is being without self-deception. However it’s not so easy to take a straight look at what we do. Seeing ourselves clearly is initially uncomfortable and embarrassing. As we train in clarity and steadfastness, we see things that we prefer to deny – judgmentalness, pettiness, arrogance. These are not sins but temporary and workable habits of mind. The more we get to know them the more they lose their power. This is how we come to trust our basic nature is utterly simple, free of struggle between good and bad.
Pema Chodron
The essence of bravery is being without self-deception. However it’s not so easy to take a straight look at what we do. Seeing ourselves clearly is initially uncomfortable and embarrassing. As we train in clarity and steadfastness, we see things that we prefer to deny – judgmentalness, pettiness, arrogance. These are not sins but temporary and workable habits of mind. The more we get to know them the more they lose their power. This is how we come to trust our basic nature is utterly simple, free of struggle between good and bad.
Pema Chodron
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Date: 2011-08-25 01:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-25 06:31 pm (UTC)