The qualities that the Buddha developed on the night of his awakening, or leading up to his awakening, are qualities that we all have in a potential form: mindfulness and alertness; heedfulness, ardency, and resolution. These things can be developed. If we think that were here just to accept the way we are, were not accepting the fact that we could develop these qualities. Acceptance is something you have to learn to do in a skillful way. Accepting just where you are and thinking, Thats all I have to do; Im perfectly fine as I am: Thats unskillful acceptance. It dooms you to a miserable life. If, however, you accept where you are as a starting point, accepting that you also have these potential qualities for awakening, thats the skillful use of acceptance. ~ Thanissaro Bhikkhu
Posted on: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 06:47:03 +0000