Verse 31 of the 37 Verses of a Bodhisattva encourages each of us to know our faults. It reads,
If you don’t examine your own errors,
verse 31
You may look like a practitioner but not act as one.
Therefore, always examining your own errors,
Rid yourself of them—
This is the practice of bodhisattvas.
“You may look like a practitioner but not act as one.” Honestly, that could be the thesis statement of our time. Lots of people are parading around looking and pretending to be spiritual leaders, and far too many of them don’t have the life to back it up. But it’s not just out there; it’s also right in our own hearts. When we don’t know our faults, we inevitably become hypocrites. And that doesn’t put anything good out into the world. It’s so imperative that we live with integrity.
In other words, practice what you preach. And how do we do that? We bravely look at our faults. As Thubten Chodron says, “We must acknowledge our tendencies to justify, rationalize and defend our destructive attitudes and actions. The Dharma path entails continually turning the mirror back on ourselves.”
Self-awareness isn’t possible without self-reflection. And that means holding a mirror up to ourselves and being honest about what we see, even if it’s ugly.
As Dilgo Khyentse writes, “Intellectually, you can probably recognize right from wrong, and truth from delusion. But unless you apply that knowledge in practice all the time, there can be no liberation.” Not for you, and not for anyone else, either.
When’s the last time you took a really honest look in the mirror? Consider offering up some time for deep self-reflection today. Feel encouraged that when you know your faults, liberation often follows.
