佛法告诉我们，一切言行发之于心念。依循着这样的教诲，我开始建立起自我省察的习惯。我察觉到如果心中有自私的念头，言行举止就会只为自己着想，我也将成为一个具有破坏力的人，不但自己因为贪得无厌而受苦，其他人也会因此受到伤害。自私障蔽心眼，让我们无法体会到周遭人们的感受。透过观照自己的念头，我开始能觉察心中的我执，进而学习停止长养我执，因此能感受到平静安详的心境。

　　慈悲观的薰习，让我对因习气而受苦的人有较高的容忍度。以前我总是很容易被他人的粗鲁对待，与无理取闹所触怒，但是现在我会思惟着，或许对方的行为，是来自于被烦恼和不安所困扰的心。这样的考量让我能用更包容的态度，来面对无法约束负面情绪的人。

恒修慈忍心自在

　　慈悲法门也教导我们，杀生害命的行为是由于心中充满毒素。过去我总是将昆虫看作令人嫌恶的东西，而非与我们同等的生命。有一天，我在母亲的家中看见一只蜘蛛，立即在心中产生一阵突如其来想杀害它的冲动。在那一瞬间，我觉察到这种突发性的冲动是极度负面的恶念，如果我任凭恶念操控自己，最终我将对杀生感到麻木，并且视为理所当然。

　　学习静坐和修习慈悲观之后，我也能够走入自己的内心世界，重新检视从孩提时代，就已经养成的不良习气。我了解到自己错误的行为和自私的想法，也和孩提时代生长在缺乏纪律和自制的环境当中有关。当我怀着慈悲心来看待自己，就能够产生谅解，因而从多年来的自我折磨中释放出来。

　　我知道自己仍有一辈子的功课要修；然而，我的心已经从焦虑和沮丧的困境中解脱，因为我已经明白：痛苦来自于不受羁绊的念头。我将会继续自己的道业，并帮助其他人也踏上这条修行之路。

　　(Buddhism has showed me that everything that I do or say starts from a thought from within me. According to this teaching I have developed the habit of self-reflection. If my mind is in selfish thought then everything I say or do will only be for the benefit of me. This is a destructive existence that only leads to the self suffering of never being satisfied and the suffering of other people; selfishness blinds the eyes to the feelings of the people around you. By practicing awareness I have experienced a peaceful state of mind by being able to recognize my ego and learning how to practice not feeding my ego.

　　Compassion Contemplation has also helped me improve myself through the practice of being more tolerant with people who may be in deep suffering. In the past I would become quickly offended if another person was to treat me rudely or insult me for no reason, but now I am able to consider if this person’s behavior is motivated by a troubled mind, this consideration has allowed me to be more forgiving towards people who may not be able to control their negative impulses.

　　Compassion has also showed me that there is poison that leads to killing an insect. I used to see insects as a nuisance and not an equal creation to myself. One day I saw a spider in my mother’s house and I experienced a quick impulsive thought to kill this insect, at that moment I was able to recognize that this impulsive thought was extremely negative in nature and if I gave into this negative impulsive emotion it would desensitize my mind to the act of killing another being.

　　Since beginning my practice of meditation and the study of Compassion Contemplation, over time I have been able to mentally step back within myself and see the negative habits I have developed since childhood. I have realized that my erroneous habits and selfishness were related to the environment I grew up in, which lacked discipline and structure. With a compassionate mindset I have been able to learn how to be more forgiving with myself which has liberated me from years of self abuse.

　　I realize I still have a lifetime of lessons to endure, but now that my mind has been liberated from depression and anxiety simply by showing me that all that suffering was from my own undisciplined thoughts, I am willing to continue my practice and help others along the way.)