We should mind our own business 

and not the business of others.  

This advice from Great Master Yinguang speaks to us of gossiping, a habit we all indulge in far too often. Consider what you talk about. The book you just read, or what you heard someone did at the party last night? A project you’re working on, or your co-workers? 

When we gossip, we indulge in speculation and we spread rumors. But even if what we say is true, is it our business to talk about it? Would we be uncomfortable if the person overheard what we said? We can tell ourselves that that person will never know. But the one we told knows. Perhaps this person will think less of us for gossiping. Most likely, we will have planted negative thoughts in our listener’s mind. How? Rarely is gossip about wonderful things. Ultimately, gossip spreads perceived wrongdoings. 

Instead of talking about what others have done, we need to focus on our own behavior and correct our faults before we become an item of gossip.

Affinities, and love, can span many lifetimes.

Bodhisattvas fear causes; 

unawakened beings fear results. 

Understanding that every cause has a consequence, bodhisattvas strive to avoid creating evil causes while generating good ones. This two-pronged approach provides the right conditions for these awakened beings to continue along the path to enlightenment. 

Unawakened beings, on the other hand, are like children who commit a misdeed but hope not to get caught. When their bad conduct is discovered, they may blame others. Or they may become defensive. They do not realize that such reactions are yet more causes, causes that will incur yet more painful results and more suffering. 

To stop fearing the results, we need to live wisely in the present rather than trying to escape the past. How? By being continuously alert to what we do—to the causes we are creating. Without an adverse cause, adverse consequences will not occur, and we will have saved ourselves from any associated suffering.

Fill the silence—with silence.