How do our minds perceive the external world? There are two directions: one is towards the direction of ignorance, whereas the other is towards the direction of proper perception, liberation, bodhicitta and wisdom of emptiness.
The direction towards ignorance is suffering, whereas the direction towards the wisdom of emptiness is happiness.
These are the two directions in infinite lives – infinite suffering and infinite happiness, just these two directions. That’s it!
Global Lamrim 2, Lecture 0017 BW Monastery 吉祥宝聚寺 — Lecture No. 0017
What determines the direction towards suffering or happiness in our infinite lives?
Whether a situation is beneficial or harmful depends on how our minds perceive the external world. There are two directions, our minds perceive either towards the direction of ignorance or towards the direction of proper perception, liberation, Bodhicitta and wisdom of emptiness.
The direction towards ignorance is suffering and the direction towards the wisdom of emptiness is happiness. So these are the two directions in our infinite lives, just these two directions, there isn’t a third direction.
Then what determines the direction that we are heading? When craving concords with ignorance, it will develop into all kinds of non-virtuous deeds relating to greed, hostility and ignorance. One the other hand, when the right view concords with a yearning for virtue, right faith and right understanding, these will composite as a karmic deed that distance one from cyclic existence. One can then be aligned with the supramundane path.
So these two directions are determined by our mind. If it is craving that concords with ignorance then it will develop into non-virtuous deeds and end up with afflictions and suffering. But if the mind has this right view that concords with the yearning for virtue, right faith and right understanding, then this will create the karmic seed that will lead to infinite happiness, liberation from cyclic existence. This supramundane path requires us to completely rely on the guidance and instructions from excellent teachers. There is one more requirement - one must completely abide by the teachings.