Seeing Beyond the Illness

Sometimes we think negatively about someone, seeing them as a bad person. But that is not the best way to relate to others.

Think of it like this: when someone is physically ill, we don’t say, “They are bad.” We recognise the illness as the problem; the person remains fundamentally good.

Similarly, mental afflictions like anger, ignorance, and desire are like illnesses. In the Dharma, it’s taught that they don’t truly exist as part of the true nature of our mind. They afflict us temporarily and can be diminished and discarded through practice.

So, we should relate to people with afflictions as those who are suffering from a condition. We must learn to distinguish the person from their afflictions.

1st October 2025, Thrangu Sekhar Retreat Centre, Nepal