Reflection

Have you ever noticed that a mirror doesn’t care if you are ugly or beautiful. The bad hair day is completely within your perceptions and just as foolish as those days of delusional inflated self importance. The mirror never discriminates, whether you have triumphed with an arduous task or have just completed a miserable performance.
The content natural mind of wisdom functions as a mirror. It reminds us that what we perceive externally is a projection of our own person; it reminds us that in truth we are always immersed in ignorance. Reality never stands outside our person. From this perspective, the notion of insight is literal, it is sight from within.

Mirror like wisdom also helps us to be more forgiving and compassionate. When we remember that our judgments are just that - our own, we also realize that others judgments of us belong to them. It is easy to remain open to the other when there is nothing to defend in our person. And like the mirror, once we see ourself and walk away, the reflection doesn’t remain. When caught in the supposed external nature of personal projection an angry or resentful mind behaves as if the reflection still exists. A person will hold to anger because of attachment to perception. Is it any wonder that anger always turns into self loathing. Any person attached to non existent perception always looks like they carry a burden.

The fruit of the practice of realizing minds reflective quality can be immensely unburdening. When we are free to no longer be caught up in trying to control the perceptions and judgments of the other, our emotional and spiritual energy can easily engage loving and compassionate action.