What we habitually do, we become.

What we habitually think, as well.

Remember how you were told not to slouch when young? Our parents were helping us form habits for the future. If we failed to listen then, we might well find ourselves hunching over today. For example, when working on our laptop. Or walking with our body ever so slightly curved, head tilted slightly, and eyes downcast. Suitable for not tripping over something, but not helpful when crossing a busy street!

Our mind works the same way.

If we have a habit of turning to negative thoughts, like those of grievance, self-pity, low-esteem, our minds will become increasingly used to such thoughts. And gradually, imperceptibly, become changed by them.

Just as our body can in time become bent over, our mind can also begin to warp, to view all that it perceives negatively. And, without our even noticing, our mind slowly closes to all that is upright and well thought out.

We need to stop overthinking life and just . . .

“Tranquil and peaceful, they are free of desires” means that the bodhisattvas in the Pure Land are tranquil and contented, and have no desires. We may wonder whether the vows of Buddhas and bodhisattvas to help all sentient beings are a desire. The first of the four great vows is to help all of the innumerable sentient beings and every one of Amitabha Buddha's forty-eight vows is to bring about the liberation of all sentient beings. These are aspirations, not desires. A desire is wanting something now and attaching to the outcome. It is not the same as an aspiration. Aspirations contain no attachments. Without attachments, Buddhas and bodhisattvas patiently aspire to help all beings.

Explanation of the Infinite Life Sutra

Pure Land Translation Team