It takes honesty and openness to cultivate this factor of investigation in our lives, to see clearly the different motivations that arise in the course of a day. As a simple example, notice your mind state as you’re about to sit down for a meal. Are you as settled back as when you’re doing walking meditation or listening to a sound, or is there a slight toppling forward in desire and anticipation? You can check to see what the attitude of the mind is at that moment. Or you might investigate your motivations before speaking. Are they coming from a mind state of lovingkindness, of
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