Practice letting go now without hesitation. 

When it becomes a habit, 

we will find letting go at the end of our life easy. 

We hear it often: “Let go.” Of what? Everything.

Our personal views. Our likes and aversions. Our greed, anger ignorance, and arrogance. And in time, our body.

Maybe, having already let go of a few attachments, we’ve realized that we do indeed feel less burdened. But letting go is proving to be a real struggle. Not yet a habit, it was neither natural nor easy. But with practice, it can be. This is vital because if we have trouble letting go now, imagine what we’ll be going through at the end of our life.

The more we practice something, the more proficient we become. We need to keep reminding ourselves that letting go is not depriving ourselves. It’s knowing what’s really important. Attachments and fleeting pleasures? Or the attainment of infinite wondrous benefits? Practice letting go now.

So when Amitabha comes to guide us to the Pure Land we do not hesitate, for we will already know how to let go. 

Hold phenomena in your hand . . . (Click image for video)

Care about the person, 

not their heedless comment. 

As beings trying to awaken, we strive to be patient, accepting, and caring. Along with many other qualities, all of which are equally invaluable. And equally difficult to do.

If we are fortunate, we will know others who, like us, are working to improve themselves.

Like us, they often fail. Like us, they speak without thinking.

And just like ours, their careless words hurt.

But don’t let them. We can love and care about others while letting go of the heedless things they say. Odds are they’ve spoken hurtful words many times. The sad reality here in samsara is that, caught up in an emotional moment, we usually respond with harsh words. Chaotic thoughts careen through our minds, and we cannot catch our words fast enough before they are uttered. Others do the same thing. So why should we get upset over what they heedlessly said? They probably didn’t think about what they were saying.

And would be very grateful if we didn’t think of them either.