My dear friends,

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

This precept is a reminder of the immense potential that each of us possesses on the spiritual path, which is often underestimated due to the influence of the eight worldly concerns: gain and loss; praise and blame; fame and disgrace; pleasure and pain. These concerns can cloud our vision and prevent us from recognizing the vast capabilities inherent within us, especially when it comes to cultivating love, compassion, and wisdom.

The Eight Worldly Concerns and Underestimation of Ability

The eight worldly concerns are rooted in a self-centered orientation that prioritizes personal comfort, reputation, and security over spiritual growth. This preoccupation with transient, external factors can lead to a sense of inadequacy or doubt, making it difficult to believe in our ability to progress on the path or to benefit others. For example:

• Attachment to gain and aversion to loss: We might fear that dedicating ourselves to spiritual practice will result in material loss or missed opportunities, leading us to underestimate our ability to balance worldly responsibilities with spiritual aspirations.
• Attachment to praise and aversion to blame: Concern over how others perceive us can make us hesitant to fully engage in practices that might seem unconventional or unpopular, causing us to underestimate our ability to practice sincerely.
• Attachment to fame and aversion to disgrace: We might underestimate our ability to act with humility and integrity if we are overly concerned with maintaining a certain image or status.
• Attachment to pleasure and aversion to pain: The discomfort of meditation or the challenge of confronting our own faults might seem overwhelming, leading us to doubt our ability to persevere.

Addressing Underestimation Through Love, Compassion, and Wisdom

To overcome this underestimation, it is essential to cultivate love, compassion, and wisdom. Each of these qualities plays a role in dispelling the illusions created by the eight worldly concerns and in empowering us to recognize our true potential.

Love and Compassion

Love and compassion are the antidotes to self-centeredness, which is the root of the eight worldly concerns. When we cultivate genuine love and compassion for others, our focus shifts from our own desires and fears to the well-being of others. This shift in perspective reveals the boundless capacity we have to make a positive impact, regardless of external circumstances.

• Expanding our concern for others: By developing love and compassion, we see that our ability to benefit others is not limited by material resources or social standing. The simple acts of kindness and understanding can have profound effects, and we come to recognize that our inner wealth is far more significant than external wealth.
• Embracing challenges with compassion: When we encounter difficulties, viewing them through the lens of compassion—both for ourselves and others—can transform these challenges into opportunities for growth. This helps us to see that we have the inner strength to endure and overcome obstacles.

Wisdom of Emptiness and Dependent Arising

The wisdom of emptiness and dependent arising directly addresses the self-grasping ignorance that underlies the eight worldly concerns. Self-grasping is the mistaken belief in an inherently existing self that needs to be protected and enhanced. This delusion fuels our attachment to the eight worldly concerns and leads to the underestimation of our abilities.

• Understanding emptiness: Emptiness refers to the absence of inherent existence in all phenomena, including the self. When we understand that the self is not a fixed, independent entity, but rather a dependent arising—conditioned by myriad causes and conditions—we can begin to dismantle the fears and attachments that limit our sense of capability.
• Seeing interdependence: Recognizing that everything arises in dependence on causes and conditions allows us to see that our abilities are not fixed or limited. They can be developed and expanded through the cultivation of positive qualities and the creation of conducive conditions. This realization fosters confidence in our potential for growth and transformation.

Conclusion

By shifting our focus from the eight worldly concerns to the cultivation of love, compassion, and wisdom—particularly the wisdom of emptiness and dependent arising—we can overcome the tendency to underestimate our abilities. Love and compassion free us from the confines of self-centeredness, while the wisdom of emptiness reveals the true nature of the self and the boundless potential that arises from this understanding. In this way, we come to see that our ability to progress on the spiritual path and to benefit others is far greater than we might have initially believed.