“Every person carries two kinds of hearts. Use the good one often, and you become a good person. Use the bad one, and you become a bad person.”
Driven by endless desires, we often find ourselves caught in fierce struggles, committing harmful actions and creating chaos. At times, we pause to reflect on life, realizing the frailty, selfishness, and ugliness of our desires. In those moments, we may resolve to follow a path of sincerity. But such resolutions often grow dull over time.
Even when we easily give in to desires and selfishness, a part of us still longs to break free from these attachments. Fortunately, as we age, our perspective broadens, and we develop the discernment to see how weak we are when faced with wrongdoing. In time, we gain the wisdom to reflect on the paths we’ve taken, recognize our mistakes, and find ways to repay the kindness we’ve received. Perhaps the concept of being a good person that my child once spoke of wasn’t only about thinking kindly toward others. Could the changing expressions I saw in the Buddha’s face have reflected the shifting state of my own heart at those times.
