Seeing a monk circumambulating around a stupa one day, Dromtonpa addressed him: “Doing circumambulation is good, but it would be better to practice Dharma.”

The monk thought, “Perhaps it would be better to do prostrations.” Seeing the monk doing prostrations, Dromtonpa said to him, "It is good that you are prostrating, but it would be better to practice Dharma."

When the monk tried reciting prayers and meditation, Dromtonpa repeated the same words again. Finally, the monk asked Dromtonpa, “So what should I do?” Dromtonpa replied, “Turn away in your heart from this life!”

Dromtonpa repeated three times, “Turn away in your heart from this life!”

Lama Sopa Rinpoche

Three Steps That Prove It Is Possible To Get Rid of the Afflictions

1. The afflictions are not an innate part of the mind

If the afflictions were the nature of the mind, it would be impossible to remove them without removing the mind itself. For example, plastic is the nature of a plastic bottle: if the plastic is removed, the bottle itself is also removed.

But, the afflictions come and go (for example, anger arises and after a while it disappears) but the mind itself is always present so the afflictions can't be the nature of the mind. The afflictions are like dirt in water: when the dirt is removed, the water remains because dirt is not the nature of water.

Since the afflictions are not the nature of the mind, there is the possibility of removing them.

2. The afflictions arise due to causes

If the afflictions arose randomly/without any cause, there would be no way to stop them from arising. But the afflictions don't arise randomly. For example, upon seeing/thinking of a beautiful person, attachment arises. It doesn't arise randomly. Therefore, if it is possible to stop the causes of the afflictions, the afflictions will stop arising.

3. The afflictions are not in accordance with reality

The afflictions are caused by exaggerating the good/bad qualities of an object. For example, when thinking of a beautiful person, we only think of their good qualities and exaggerate them. Due to this exaggeration, attachment arises.

This is proven by the fact that when we think of their bad qualities, such as their body being full of blood, pus, vomit and faeces, the attachment dissipates.

Therefore, if it is possible to see reality as it really is and stop exaggerating the good/bad qualities of objects, the afflictions will stop arising.

"Think about death and impermanence for a long time. Once you are certain that you are going to die, you will no longer find it hard to put aside harmful actions, nor difficult to do what is right.

After that, meditate for a long time on love and compassion. Once love fills your heart you will no longer find it hard to act for the benefit of others.

Then meditate for a long time on emptiness, the natural state of all phenomena. Once you fully understand emptiness, you will no longer find it hard to dispel all your delusions."

~ Geshe Potowa

(Quoted in "The Words of my Perfect Teacher")

Altruism: ‘Who will do it? I will do it’

Seeing them in the light of great affection

Everything is the nature of emptiness and selflessness

I met a traveller from an antique land,
Who said—‘Two vast and trunkless legs of stone
Stand in the desert. . . . Near them, on the sand,
Half sunk a shattered visage lies, whose frown,
And wrinkled lip, and sneer of cold command,
Tell that its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless things,
The hand that mocked them, and the heart that fed;
And on the pedestal, these words appear:
My name is Ozymandias, King of Kings;
Look on my Works, ye Mighty, and despair!
Nothing beside remains. Round the decay
Of that colossal Wreck, boundless and bare
The lone and level sands stretch far away.’

—Percy Bysshe Shelley

Inappropriate attention

Great compassion