My dear friends,
The final precept under the fourth point of Geshe Chekawa's Mind Training in Seven Points is:
The two witnesses are:
- The Witness of Others: Observations and feedback from other people about
your actions, words, and behavior. Others can see aspects of our behavior that we might
be blind to ourselves, providing valuable external perspectives on our conduct.
- External Perspective: Others can provide a more objective view of our behavior. They can see things we might miss or ignore about ourselves.
- Feedback and Correction: Constructive feedback from others helps us to correct our faults and improve our practice. It keeps us from becoming self-deluded or complacent.
- Accountability: Knowing that others are observing us can encourage us to uphold our principles and standards of behavior, fostering greater integrity and responsibility.
- The Witness of Oneself: This is your own inner witness, the
self-awareness and introspection that allow you to honestly assess your thoughts,
intentions, and actions. It is your own conscience and self-reflection.
- Self-Reflection: Regular self-examination helps us to be honest with ourselves about our motivations and actions. It helps us to stay true to our spiritual commitments and values.
- Inner Guidance: Our conscience acts as a guide, helping us to align our actions with our deeper spiritual understanding and ethical principles.
- Personal Growth: Self-awareness leads to personal growth, as we recognize and work on our own shortcomings. It also helps us to appreciate our progress and strengthen our resolve.
Using both witnesses provides a comprehensive way to ensure that our practice of mind training and ethical discipline is genuine and effective. Here's why they are crucial:
- Balanced View: Using both witnesses provides a balanced view of our practice, combining external feedback with internal reflection. This helps to avoid extremes of self-deception or undue self-criticism.
- Holistic Practice: It ensures that our practice is not only externally acceptable but also internally sincere and genuine. Both aspects are necessary for true spiritual growth and transformation.
- Authenticity: By valuing both witnesses, we strive to be authentic in our practice, maintaining integrity both in public and in private.
In the context of the Bodhisattva path, retaining the two witnesses of foremost importance helps to cultivate Bodhicitta, the mind of love, compassion, and wisdom. It ensures that our actions are aligned with our highest intentions, benefiting both ourselves and others. By integrating these two perspectives, we develop a more thorough and honest approach to our spiritual journey, fostering greater wisdom and compassion along the way.