IN THE INTERESTS OF TRUE EMPATHY!

I always tell you not to look at the faults of others, don’t I? According to the view of Secret Mantra. when vou see a fault in others vou should understand that vou see this fault due to vour own afflictions. Afflictions see afflictions. Looking at the affliction itself. vou recognize. “The fault I see in this person is just an affliction. Where is this affliction? I can find it in my own mind.” So you look at your own afflictions and not at those of others.

Lord Jigten Sumgon said, “Not looking at the faults of beings’ body, speech, and mind, but seeing the good qualities in them, is the perfect liberation of the bodhisattvas.

Wheen I look at the good qualities in all the disciples my mind is pure. This pure mind can cause their mind to become pure. When I see others in an impure way, it is due to my own impure mind. It is like being obscured by darkness, like a dark cloud making a white cloud look dark.

Sakya Pandita said, “A noble being, like a jewel, never changes. By looking at the goodness in others they increase their own well water. An inferior being, like a sieve, is holding the bad, but losing what is good.” A noble being embraces goodness, they see the good qualities in others. An inferior being who sees the faults in others is like a sieve that collects just debris while the pure water is lost. Seeing the faults in others is a sign of one’ s own [negativity].

Therefore, do not look at the faults of others but look at their good qualities!

~ HE Garchen Ripoche, October 17, 2019, Taiwan

Translated by Ina Bieler

(Posted. by Drikung Dzogchen. Community Vermont, Facebook, 16 November 2025)