Of The Two Witnesses, Listen To Your Conscience

When confronted with different points of view of what is right, use this slogan to remind yourself that your own conscience is the main judge of your actions. Of course we can always learn from others, but finally each of us can only trust our own intuitive heart.

The whole thrust of the bodhicitta mind-training and Bodhisattva path is to be able to become naturally more loving and compassionate without expecting or hoping for anything in return.

Although your ego may want some form of positive reinforcement or reward for what you do or say, your innate Buddha-nature doesn't require that kind of acknowledgment. Whatever occurs is what occurs, and it is all positive. Even if a Bodhisattva is the last person on earth, he or she would continue on the way of awakening.

Gradually we learn to loosen our tightfisted grip on worldly values. We become more centered, balanced, straightforward, calm, and clear amid any temporary weather conditions - outer circumstances as well as internal emotional weather. We learn to both sit and stand erect, needing nothing to lean on. We stand up for ourselves and our beliefs and stand behind our words and deeds. We become masters of our own domain.

This is how we awaken our inner guru, our inner guide - the Buddha within, the secret master comfortably ensconced forever in our own heart cave. This inner guru is none other than truth itself - our own innate wisdom and heart center's noblest intuitive understanding and love.

When you invoke the gods or angels, when you pray, you are awakening this sublime being within yourself. There is no one else to rely upon.

- Awakening The Buddha Within by Lama Surya Das