"But where would I find leather enough To cover the entire surface of the earth? With just the leather of my sandals, It's as if the whole world had been covered. Likewise, I am unable to restrain external phenomena, But I shall restrain my own mind. What need is there to restrain anything else?"
Bodhicaryāvatāra
The quote is about the importance of taming our own minds. The first part of the quote asks the question, "Where would I find leather enough to cover the entire surface of the earth?" This is a rhetorical question that is meant to highlight the impossibility of controlling the external world. There is simply too much of the world to control, and even if we could control it, it would be a futile exercise.
The second part of the quote says, "With just the leather of my sandals, it's as if the whole world had been covered." This is a metaphor that suggests that we can protect ourselves from the world's suffering by taming our own minds. Just as a pair of leather sandals can protect our feet from the harshness of the ground, so too can a well-tamed mind protect us from the harshness of the world.
The final part of the quote says, "Likewise, I am unable to restrain external phenomena, but I shall restrain my own mind. What need is there to restrain anything else?" This part of the quote emphasizes the importance of focusing on our own inner well-being, rather than trying to control the external world. The quote suggests that if we can tame our own minds, we will be able to find peace and happiness, even in the midst of a world that is full of suffering.
Here is an example of how we can apply this quote to our own lives. Let's say that we are feeling stressed and overwhelmed by the news. We can't control what is happening in the world, but we can control how we respond to it. We can choose to focus on the positive news stories, or we can choose to focus on the negative ones. We can choose to be compassionate and understanding, or we can choose to be angry and resentful. The way we choose to respond to the world will have a big impact on our own mental well-being.
If we want to find peace and happiness, we need to focus on taming our own minds. We need to learn to let go of things that we cannot control, and we need to focus on the things that we can control. We need to cultivate compassion, patience, and wisdom, and we need to use these qualities to respond to the world in a skillful way.
Focus on your own inner well-being. This means taking care of your physical and mental health, and it also means cultivating positive emotions like compassion and gratitude.
Don't try to control the external world. This is impossible, and it will only lead to frustration and stress. Instead, focus on responding to the world in a skillful way.
Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment. This can help you to stay calm and centered in the midst of difficult situations.
Remember, you are not alone. Everyone experiences suffering in their lives. The important thing is to find ways to cope with suffering in a healthy way. By taming your own mind and focusing on your inner well-being, you can find peace and happiness even in the midst of a world that is full of suffering.
Nanjig Rinpoche
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