My dear friends,

The tenth precept under the sixth point in Geshe Chekawa's Mind Training in Seven Points is:

Let us consider the causes of this afflictive emotion, also known as "bearing a grudge"; its effects on our spiritual development on the Bodhisattva path; and its antidotes.

Causes of Grudge-Bearing

1. Attachment to the Self: The root cause of grudge-bearing is a strong attachment to the self, or ego-clinging. When our self-image is threatened or hurt, we tend to harbor resentment.
2. Misunderstanding of Impermanence: Forgetting that all things are transient and subject to change can lead us to cling to negative experiences and hold grudges.
3. Lack of Compassion and Empathy: When we fail to see the suffering and ignorance in others' actions, we are more likely to take offenses personally and bear grudges.
4. Ignorance of Interdependence: Not recognizing the interconnectedness of all beings and events can cause us to view others as separate and blameworthy rather than seeing the larger context.

How Grudge-Bearing Hinders Progress

1. Obscures the Mind: Grudges cloud our mental clarity and create agitation, preventing us from developing concentration and insight.
2. Blocks Compassion: Holding onto grudges limits our capacity for compassion and loving-kindness, essential qualities for a Bodhisattva.
3. Fosters Negative Karma: Bearing grudges perpetuates negative mental states and actions, leading to the accumulation of negative karma, which obstructs spiritual progress.
4. Impairs Relationships: Grudges damage relationships, hindering the cultivation of harmonious and supportive connections essential for collective progress on the spiritual path.

Antidotes to Grudge-Bearing

1. Cultivating Bodhicitta: Developing the mind of enlightenment, or bodhicitta, involves nurturing compassion and loving-kindness for all beings, which naturally diminishes the tendency to hold grudges.
2. Practice Forgiveness: Forgiving others and oneself is a powerful practice to release the hold of grudges. This can be facilitated through meditation and reflection on the nature of suffering and ignorance.
3. Reflecting on Impermanence and Emptiness: Meditating on the impermanent and empty nature of all phenomena helps to dissolve rigid attachments and aversions, including grudges.
4. Tonglen Practice: This practice involves taking in the suffering of others and sending out compassion and love. It directly counters the self-centeredness that fuels grudges.
5. Mindfulness and Self-Reflection: Regular mindfulness practice helps us to recognize and address the arising of negative emotions and grudges before they solidify.
6. Empathy and Understanding: Making a conscious effort to understand others' perspectives and the conditions that lead to their actions can reduce feelings of resentment and foster compassion.
7. Gratitude and Rejoicing: Practicing gratitude and rejoicing in the happiness and virtues of others can shift our focus away from negativity and grudges towards a more positive and inclusive mindset.