Dear friends, hello everyone! Today, I’d like to discuss with you the second part of the “Sixteen Matters of Great Compassion” — “Breaking the Four Inversions.” These four inversions are the root of our mental delusions and the starting point of a life filled with suffering. If we can see through their illusory nature, we can liberate ourselves from them and move toward peace and clarity.
Let’s begin with “greed.” All forms of greed arise because our minds are tainted and pulled by external influences. Take, for example, bulimia nervosa — it appears as an obsession with food, but at its core, it’s a deeper inner void at work. This greed isn’t something we can see through overnight. Consider the early versions of Full Self-Driving (FSD) systems: at first, they couldn’t instantly detect problems or make correct decisions. Yet, after years of training, they can now, in most cases, identify issues and respond accurately in a split second. How is this achieved? Through repeated training and practice — familiarity breeds skill! The same applies to our minds. Through consistent observation and refinement, we can cultivate a sharp and awakened heart.
So, how do we transform ourselves? The key lies in establishing new, correct perspectives while letting go of old, mistaken ones. For instance, many people think, “I’m tired, I need to rest,” when they feel fatigued — this is an old, erroneous view. But if we shift our perspective and tell ourselves, “Fatigue is a normal reaction to building strength,” this becomes a new, correct understanding. When we persistently replace the old with the new, over time, our mindset naturally shifts, transforming a life of suffering into one of joy.
Let me offer an example to illustrate the illusory nature of our thoughts. Imagine someone chasing you with a torch, intent on setting you ablaze. You run for your life, overwhelmed by fear. But when real flames actually approach, you’ll notice that the “fire” in your mind — the anxiety and terror — has already vanished. In that moment, you’ll realize: the fire of the mind is illusory. It’s wild and bewildering, yet it holds not a shred of real existence! Once we grasp this, we can free ourselves from the entanglements of our inner world.
Now, let’s dive into the “Four Inversions.” What are they? Simply put, they occur when, due to ignorance, we mistake truth for falsehood and cling to illusions as reality. Let’s examine them from four angles and explore how to transform them.
First: Seeing the Permanent as Impermanent. The nature of emptiness is an eternal, unchanging truth. Yet, inverted minds see differences — like day and night — and conclude, “Emptiness is impermanent.” They’re deceived by appearances, unable to grasp the essence beneath.
Second: Seeing the Impermanent as Permanent. The Earth constantly turns, seasons change, day shifts to night — this is impermanence in action. But inverted minds insist, “Nothing’s changed,” clinging to surface stability while ignoring the reality of flux.
Third: Seeing Suffering as Joy. Addictions to harmful habits, like overeating or indulgence, bind the heart like shackles — this is suffering. Yet, inverted minds call it “pleasure,” sinking deeper into it without awareness.
Fourth: Seeing Joy as Suffering. Discipline — guarding our actions and ceasing harmful thoughts — prevents mistakes and brings true peace. But inverted minds say, “Discipline is suffering; it stops me from doing as I please.” They mistake freedom for indulgence.
Beyond these, there are four more inversions:
Fifth: Seeing the Pure as Impure. A healthy person’s urine is cleaner than the water in rivers, lakes, or seas, yet inverted minds deem it “impure” due to prejudiced views.
Sixth: Seeing the Impure as Pure. Cravings for food or lust, when examined deeply, reveal their impure nature. Yet, inverted minds cling to them, believing they’re sources of pure delight.
Seventh: Seeing the Self as Non-Self. The true “self” is our clear, luminous nature. Yet, inverted minds declare, “There is no self,” denying their inherent essence.
Eighth: Seeing the Non-Self as Self. The ever-changing body and mind are not the true self, but inverted minds cling to this fleeting form, insisting, “This is me.”
Dear friends, these inverted views are like reflections in a mirror — they seem real but collapse under scrutiny. If we’re willing to pause and look within, we can see the truth. When truth dawns, the fire in our hearts naturally extinguishes, suffering fades, and what remains is inner peace and joy.
In closing, transforming our lives isn’t difficult — it hinges on awareness and practice. Starting today, let’s replace misguided attachments with correct understanding and ignite the lamp of wisdom in our hearts. In doing so, we can all live awake and joyful lives!
Thank you, everyone!
