We often come down with physical ailments such as headaches and stomachaches. Our minds can get weak, too. Sicknesses of the mind include greed, hatred, ignorance, arrogance, and suspicion. How do we rid ourselves of the sicknesses of the mind? I would like to offer four suggestions:

1. Do not be impatient in pursuing goals.
We all have desires and wishes. The important thing is to be able to control our greed and not fall into the trap of always wanting more. When we desire something, we should not be impatient and hasty in reaching our goals. For example, I wanted to set up a library. With this goal in mind, I started a book collection. I was convinced that if I did not give up, one day , be it in ten, twenty, or thirty years, I would reach my goal. Now, I have established a few libraries. I also wanted to set up a Buddhist museum. Slowly I collected various kinds of Buddhist artwork. I believed that my goal would materialize one day as long as I persevered and did not give up. Today, Fo Guang Shan has its own museum of Buddhist artwork. Thus, it is important that we are not hasty or impatient about reaching our goals. Greed affects many young people today; they are impatient and wish to own everything instantly. In doing so, their minds become sick.

2. Slow down when you are about to lose your temper.
When we are about to lose our temper, we should say to ourselves, pause, take five deep breaths, and think it over. This will give our minds a chance to calm down, and our tempers will not flare up. In this way, anger and hatred will vanish.

3. Turn ignorance around.
We are ignorant, deluded, and unreasonable when we cling to our own points of view. If we can put others first and act fairly, then we can turn our ignorance around.

4. Transform jealousy and suspicion into peace and harmony.
In our dealings with others, it is easy to become jealous and suspicious. When others gossip, we may become suspicious and think that they are criticizing us. It is just like the saying, When we feel a light breeze, we start to imagine an immense storm.

If we are suspicious, we will not trust anyone. We eventually will lose faith in our country, society, family, and good friends. Even our religious faith will suffer and will have no chance to sprout and grow.
How do we rid ourselves of greed, hatred, ignorance, arrogance, and suspicion? We should remember the following four points:

1. Do not be impatient in pursuing goals.
2. Slow down when you are about to lose your temper.
3. Turn ignorance around.
4. Transform jealousy and suspicion into peace and harmony.

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There is an old saying, it is easy to manage a country, but it’s difficult to manage one’s family. During the course of history, there were many famous generals and ministers who were very capable in managing their countries but failed miserably in their relationships with their wives and children.

   There have also been many people who took good care of their families but failed to take charge of their minds. Those people are at a loss for how to deal with their greed, hatred, ignorance, and false beliefs. They become enslaved to the emotions and desires of the mind. Thus, it is very important to know how to take charge of the mind.

   How do we take charge of the mind? I have four suggestions:
1. Know how to control the mind.
Our minds are active, like monkeys or thieves; we cannot let our minds run wild and loose. It was said that, It is easy to arrest the bandits of the mountains, but hard to capture thieves of the mind. There is a common saying in Buddhism that, All dharmas exist to heal all troubles of the mind. If there were not so many delusions of the mind, why would we need all these dharmas? We have to know how to control our minds and not to go astray.

2. Know how to cultivate the mind.
When a desk is broken, it can only be used once it is repaired. When clothing is ripped, it can only be worn once it is mended. When a roof leaks, the problem is fixed only once it is patched. When our minds are corrupted, they are filled with greed, hatred, ignorance, vanity, and arrogance. We need to mend our minds as well.

3. Know how to apply the mind.
Some people become slaves to their minds; they do not know how to apply their minds. We can become distracted by the desires of wealth, sex, fame, food, and sleep. When our minds are easily influenced by the external stimuli of form, sound, smell, touch, and perception, greed and hatred will often follow. Thus, we have to know how to apply our minds and not become deluded. 

4. Know how to understand the mind.
The Chan school of Buddhism urges all of us to understand our minds and see our true nature. When we can understand our minds every moment, then we can see our true nature and success will come easily. 

Thus, the ways to take charge of our minds are:
   1. Know how to control the mind.
   2. Know how to cultivate the mind.
   3. Know how to apply the mind. 
   4. Know how to understand the mind.

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 We often advise others to take care of their health, but we seldom think of nurturing the mind. Actually, nurturing the mind is much more important than taking care of our health. Our mental health can improve our physical health. How do we nurture our mind?
I have four suggestions to offer:

1. Use equanimity and willpower to nurture the mind.
We should be mindful of equanimity, compassion, and willpower. The mind is like a factory. If we are euonymus and determined, we will be able to do a lot of good for others.

2. Use prajna, or wisdom, to nurture the mind.
Without prajna, or wisdom, one is like a factory without raw materials, which undoubtedly would fail to produce any fine products. On the contrary, if one s mind is filled with the spring water of prajna, then one will always exude wisdom and blessings will follow.

3. Use meditative concentration and purity to nurture the mind.
Our minds often become agitated with high hopes, worry, judgments, and discriminations. We can purify the mind with right understanding, meditative concentration, and serenity by reciting the Buddha’s name. A jug of dirty, disturbed water can become clean and settled if we put alum into it. To purify our mind, we should use right thoughts, understanding, and recite the Buddha’s name. In this way, our minds will become cleansed.

4. Use emptiness and tolerance to nurture the mind.
Sometimes the scope of our minds is too small to accommodate anything. If our minds can be expansive like the boundless universe, we then could accommodate the world. There is an old Chinese saying that describes how tolerant we can be even in high positions: One can row a boat within the belly of the chief minister. It is only when we can accept those who are different from us that our minds can grow.

How do we nurture the mind?
   1. Use Equanimity and willpower to nurture the mind.
   2. Use prajna, or wisdom, to nurture the mind.
   3. Use meditative concentration and purity to nurture the mind.
   4. Use emptiness and tolerance to nurture the mind.

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There is an old Chinese saying that goes like this: What makes friendship valuable is the connection between hearts and minds. Based on the fact that it is not easy to have friends who can read your heart and mind, we know how precious this can be. On the path of cultivation, the connection of hearts and minds between masters and students is very important. It is only when masters and students can communicate their thoughts and ideas that the knowledge of masters can be transferred to students. This is what is meant by the phrase connection between hearts and minds. Thus, regardless of whether you are making friends or obtaining an education, the connection between hearts and minds is very important. How do we go about connecting our hearts and minds with our parents, teachers, and friends?
1. Establish common understanding.
   When we have common understanding, we can walk through life in unison. We can work toward the same goal and make progress together.
2. Establish common ground in ways of thinking.
   Many problems arise when we are divergent in our ways of thinking. It is very important to establish common ground in our ways of thinking.
3. Rely on each other in spirit.
   As long as two people have the opportunity to meet and become friends, they should also rely on each other in spirit.
4. Share both joy and sorrow.
   We should be able to share the comforts and hardships in our lives. During hard times, we should support and encourage each other.
5. Remain loyal to each other even in the face of death.
   Even when we are confronted with life and death decisions, we should not betray our friends for our own benefit or gain. We should remain loyal to each other.
6. Go through times of honor and disgrace together.
   We should share the joys of glory as well as shoulder the burdens of disgrace. We should commit to each other forever.
7. Develop tacit understanding.
   When we interact with our friends, we will gradually develop tacit understanding with them. This way our friendships will be strengthened.
8. Make no distinctions between self and other.
   We should try to treat others as we would ourselves, as if they are not separate from us. If we eradicate the duality of self and other, there is no distinction between ourselves and our friends. In this way, we can be united in heart and mind.

Regardless of whether we are making friends or connecting our hearts and minds with our teachers, we should:
1. Establish common understanding.
2. Establish common ground in our ways of thinking.
3. Rely on each other in spirit.
4. Share both joy and sorrow.
5. Remain loyal to each other even in the face of death.
6. Go through times of honor and disgrace together.
7. Develop tacit understanding.
8. Make no distinctions between self and other.

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 In Chan, we say, Everyday is a good day. We should strive to live each day to its fullest. If we fulfill this goal today, and continue to do so month after month, we will be able to live a fulfilling life year after year. How do we live each day to its fullest? I have four suggestions:

1. Speak thoughtful words everyday.
   How many thoughtful words do you speak to others every day? There was once a well known Buddhist practitioner in ancient China named Yuan Liaofan. He designed a chart on which he recorded both his thoughtful and thoughtless behavior. By doing so, at the end of his day he had an honest evaluation of his beneficial and harmful conduct. Everyday, when we encounter people, we can practice thoughtfulness by saying, Good morning! How are you today? or thank you! Or I am sorry. We can ask, Is there any way I can be of assistance? I’d like to help you. While visiting a family, we can always find honest ways to praise their home, their children, and their hospitality. Should we encounter a student, we can praise his or her teacher or school. When we meet a professional, our kind words may be directed toward his or her colleagues or supervisor. Establishing the habit of praising others with thoughtful words will make everyday a beautiful day.

2. Perform thoughtful deeds everyday.
   How many thoughtful deeds do you perform every day? If we see a mess, will we willingly pick it up and maintain a clean environment for others? If we encounter congested and chaotic traffic, will we help give direction and maintain safety? Wherever we go, there will always be ways to help people. The daily practice of performing thoughtful deeds is living life to its fullest.

3. Practice self- examination everyday.
   An ancient Chinese saying tells us, we should practice self-examination three times a day. We may ask ourselves: How many beneficial or harmful deeds did I perform today? Did I speak thoughtful and appropriate words today? Was I friendly and considerate today? Have I harmed others in any way? If we examine ourselves frequently, we can transform wrongful behavior into goodness.
   One who holds fast to right living is unlikely to change the basic principle of his or her conduct, and therefore will not be troubled by the perpetual and unsettling feelings of fear that arise in daily life.

4. Be more joyful everyday.
   If we are constantly worried and sad, this misery will show on our faces and each day will be difficult. However, if we can have pleasant feelings and live more joyfully while eating, sleeping, or visiting others, we will enjoy each moment of life. When we live each day with more joy, we can easily have a pleasant day.

Therefore, the four suggestions about how to live each day are:
1. Speak thoughtful words everyday.
2. Perform thoughtful deeds everyday.
3. Practice self-examination everyday.
4. Be more joyful everyday.

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What should our attitude be toward life?
1. Pursue spiritual needs in addition to material desires.
   Having acquired the materials needed to survive, we ought to pursue spiritual needs such as knowledge, education, and love. Having acquired the desired knowledge, we need to develop an appreciation of beauty, music, and painting, and thereafter engage in spiritual pursuits that will transcend all other needs. In short, we ought to pursue our spiritual needs in addition to material wants.

2. Engage in cultivation in addition to pursuing knowledge acquired in words.
   Putting knowledge into practice is far more important than acquiring knowledge only for the sake of knowing. We are able to interact and communicate with each other through the words of language alone. However, it is not sufficient to rely only upon the knowledge acquired through words to promote understanding among people. What is more important is our ability to put this knowledge into practice. For instance, we may talk about the four infinite states of mind: Limitless loving-kindness (maitri), limitless compassion (Karuna),Limitless joy (mudita), and limitless equanimity (upeksa).Are we able to put these four virtues into practice in our relationships with all kinds of people? Are we able to control our hatred and anger when we are in a rage?

3. Hold fast to the basic principles of right living and adjust according to ever-changing circumstances.
   In Buddhism, we often come across the following two common verses: "Though every phenomenon arises according to changing circumstances, its true nature remains unchanged", and "Though each phenomenon has an invariant true nature, the form of its arising varies with changing circumstances, free of all worries and obstructions at all times and not subject to the suffering of excessive desire".
   One who holds fast to right living is unlikely to change the basic principle of his or her conduct, and therefore will not be troubled by the perpetual and unsettling feelings of fear that arise in daily life.

4. Pursue Dharma joy in addition to worldly pleasures.
   Embracing and practicing Buddhism does not stem from the need to endure suffering but rather from the motivation to seek happiness. Therefore, in addition to pursuing worldly pleasures such as those derived from gardening, vacations, and amusement, more importantly we should pursue Dharma joy by broadening our horizons and learning and practicing the Buddha’s teaching. Worldly pleasures are temporary and short-lived in nature.
   On the other hand, Dharma joy is the result of pursuing the truth. It is the joy of peace and harmony, and is permanent and everlasting in nature.

Our attitude toward life is therefore fourfold:
1. Pursue spiritual needs in addition to material desires.
2. Engage in cultivation in addition to pursuing knowledge acquired in words.
3. Hold fast to the basic principles of right living and adjust according to ever-changing circumstances.
4. Pursue Dharma joy in addition to worldly pleasures.

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Have we ever reflected on how we conduct our everyday lives? It is essential to have some form of planning for our conduct. We need to plan ahead on household activities and other daily matters. These activities, properly planned, can be more effectively and efficiently completed.

   Conditions in life are unpredictable, everchanging, and impermanent in nature. The presence of one event is often matched by the absence of its parallel event; the opposite conditions of suffering and happiness,to have and have not, favorable and unfavorable circumstances, success and failure, and gain and loss are some examples. How should we conduct ourselves in handling the changing conditions in life?

   1. Accept the reality of changing circumstances with an unperturbed and peaceful mind.
When there is a change in circumstance, we need to accept it with an unperturbed and peaceful mind, no matter what happens,whether we gain or lose something or receive honor or insult. We should not be too concerned about success or failure, gains or losses, favorable or unfavorable circumstances, and whether we have or have not.

   2. Adjust our living according to circumstances.
We often experience both good and bad situations in life. We might be associated with the good or bad company of others. We might take advantage of others or be betrayed by them. In all of these situations, whether good or bad, we need to adjust the conduct of our living according to the prevailing circumstances.

   3. Cultivate a mind that is free from worry and delusion.
Emulating the Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva we need to cultivate and attain a mind that is free from all worries and delusions, a nondiscriminating mind that does not make any distinction between desire or love and dislike or hate. With such a mind we will be able to treat all people without prejudice, look at all phenomena with insight and clarity, and view all spheres of perception without delusion.

    4. Carry out our duties and responsibilities with joy.
We should not carry out our duties and responsibilities with feelings of resentment and reluctance. Instead, we should do everything with full joy and interest. By doing so we will naturally have a pleasant and enjoyable life.

   There are four guiding principles for living. They are:
1. Accept the reality of changing circumstances with an unperturbed and peaceful mind.
2. Adjust our living according to circumstances.
3. Cultivate a mind free from worry and delusion.
4. Carry out duties and responsibilities with joy.

(Sources: IBPS New Jersey)