Do Something About It

Lama Lakshey Zangpo

Spokane, WA
laksheylama@gmail.com

I am very happy to know that you all have been practicing diligently on your spiritual
path. Every time when we practice, whether here at a teaching session or practicing at
home, I ask you to always begin by reminding yourself to first check your own mind.
Every time you practice, not only meditation practice but any practice: check your mind.
Check your motivation. Take a look. Watch. Ask your self honestly, "What's my own
mind doing? What am I thinking? What have I been thinking? Am I planning? Am I
remembering? Am I thinking something virtuous, or non-virtuous, or something in
between, positive or neutral or negative?"
If you find yourself thinking something positive, something virtuous, then rejoice and
dedicate the merit of that positive virtue to the benefit of all beings. Rejoice and be
grateful and encourage yourself to continue engaging in virtuous thought. That's called
positive thought 1 . Say to yourself "I will keep up this positive thinking! May I keep up
this virtuous thinking! May I continue to keep up and develop in this way! May I make
progress in my development of virtuous quality!"
But sometimes, when you check your thought stream in that very same way, you might
see something that's not so positive but also not so negative ... just sort of neutral. Those
are a kind of thoughts and mental states that are, on the surface, apparently neither
negative nor positive. They are kind of dull or confused thoughts. You can work with
those too. You can intentionally transform neutral mind into positive virtuous thinking, or
you can replace those neutral thoughts with virtuous thoughts of any kind. Transform or
replace, but do something! Don't stand idly by while meaningless mind prevails. It's
especially beneficial if you can transform neutral thoughts into compassion, turning
ambivalent indifferent thoughts into compassionate attitude, towards oneself and towards
others.
And sometimes, when you are checking your mind stream, you will also find yourself
thinking negative thoughts 2 . At that point you are able to observe yourself engaged in
negative thinking. Negative thoughts are sometimes related to attraction, craving,
wanting, desiring, needing and grasping. Other negative thoughts are characterized by
ignorance, misunderstanding, and confusion, lost in fog. Or, the negative thoughts you
observe when you check yourself might even be mainly made up of aversion, aggression,
hatred, fear, and worry. These three kinds of negative thoughts based on desire,
ignorance, and aversion can occur alone, and in various negative thought mixtures.
1
positive thoughts are mental events that tend toward the realization of spiritual progress. These are thoughts, feelings, and
perceptions characterized by the intention to never hurt or harm, but rather to benefit self and others. They are altruistic mental events
free of wanting-desire, hatred-aversion, and ignorance-ambivalence, They are the thought embodiment of love and compassion.
2
negative thoughts are self-centered thoughts that do not tend toward the realization of spiritual progress. These are mental activities
that don't rule out hurting or harming, and are characterized by the three poisons: wanting-needing, hatred-aversion, and ignoranceambivalence, and are also contaminated with the eight worldly concerns.

If you are connecting with your own thinking, and you observe any of these kinds of
negative thoughts based on desire, hatred, and ambivalence, alone or in combination,
don't be disappointed. There's no reason to be upset. Instead, realize that in the long term,
for a very long time, you have been forming habits. At least since you were born, you
have thought and said and done things over and over and have repeatedly engaged in all
kinds of thinking and saying and doing, and in that way you have formed habits. Your
previous behaviors of mind, speech, and body have caused your habitual present
experience now. Your thought patterns have become deeply habitual, through repetition.
That's good news. Realizing that your deeply habituated ways of thinking are merely
habitual, focus your awareness, and intentionally transform the habitually negative part of
your mind into positive thinking, into something good, into something positive, into
something virtuous, into something related with loving kindness towards oneself and
others and both. Make a new habit. Transforming negative thoughts, in this way, into
thoughts of loving kindness, is very important.
In summary, be aware of the thoughts that play out in your mind stream. If they are
positive, rejoice and intend to continue in that good way. And if they are neutral or
negative thoughts, transform them into positive thoughts or replace them with positive
thoughts. Transform or replace, but do something. Remember to cultivate thoughts and
feelings of loving kindness toward all, and whatever you do, remember to benefit others.
That's all I ever ask of you. That's the minimum I ask of you. Look at your own mind.
Always remain positive and enthusiastic toward your spiritual practice. Very much look
forward to your practice. Continue listening to the teaching and continue to practice. Be
happy! Be enthusiastic! Be grateful! Look forward to the stages of realization. This is
very important.
These words were written from the first ten minutes of Lama Lakshey Zangpo's meditation class on
December 9, 2015 at Tsinta Mani Chling in Spokane Washington.