Teaching in Virginia Beach, Ven. Chuc Thanh said to the sangha: “Do you like to enter into a house that has not been cleaned? We should clean our mind every day by reflecting on what we think, say and do so that tomorrow we will have less to clean up than we did today.”
This is an excellent suggestion for one’s daily practice. When you consider this teaching, keep in mind that a working definition of karma is “intentional thoughts, words and actions.” By spending a few minutes (perhaps in the evening before you go to sleep) reflecting on the effects of your thoughts, words and actions on yourself and others that day, you can identify opportunities in which you can improve.
(Venerable Thich Chuc Thanh is the Dharma Master at Dong Hung Temple. This quotation is part of a continuing collection from his dharma talks given in Virginia Beach, VA and Southern Shores, NC beginning in 2015. The quotation title and commentary are by temple member Mark Palamara.)