Explore/Chapter 2 - Confession of Negativity: Difference between revisions
From Bodhicitta
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Confession does not mean just simply absolving ourselves of the bad actions we have done. It involves a full understanding of why what we did was negative and the heartfelt promise to not engage in these actions in the future. We put them aside but at the same time continue to improve by trying to prevent them from occurring again. Confession is also not done in the way of wallowing in self-absorption of past actions. It is a practical acceptance that we did wrong, but this is turned into a positive process which has an element of encouraging us to improve in the future. | Confession does not mean just simply absolving ourselves of the bad actions we have done. It involves a full understanding of why what we did was negative and the heartfelt promise to not engage in these actions in the future. We put them aside but at the same time continue to improve by trying to prevent them from occurring again. Confession is also not done in the way of wallowing in self-absorption of past actions. It is a practical acceptance that we did wrong, but this is turned into a positive process which has an element of encouraging us to improve in the future. | ||
We confess these negativities to the | We confess these negativities to the buddhas, the bodhisattvas, and our gurus. But this is not asking a savior to wash away those sins with the wave of the hand. This process involves a clear awareness of what we have done and heartfelt regret at the harm that those actions may cause. | ||
But we may feel lazy to carry out this process of confession everyday. We feel that since we will be around for a long time there is nothing wrong with leaving negativities unconfessed. Śāntideva chides us and reminds us that death can be just around the corner: | But we may feel lazy to carry out this process of confession everyday. We feel that since we will be around for a long time there is nothing wrong with leaving negativities unconfessed. Śāntideva chides us and reminds us that death can be just around the corner: | ||
