Mental Immunity

It is wonderful to read Dalai Lama's excerpt from The Book of Joy. Below is my reflection to it:

There is a wise saying: Prevention is better than cure. This wise saying can be applicable to physical pain as well as to mental and emotional pain. When we have physical pain we take pills to reduce the physical pain. A better way to deal with the physical pain is to find out what causes physical pain and to take actions to prevent it coming, by taking preventive measures to create physical immunity. Likewise, we can prevent or avoid our mental and emotional pain by knowing what causes difficult and destructive thoughts and emotions. And that way we cultivate our mental immunity. I have been suffering from physical pain for quite some time. In order to reduce my physical pain I take pain reducing pills. I also have consulted experts to discover the cause of physical pain and do whatever is prescribed to reduce the physical pain. I also apply other ways for managing my physical pain such as relaxing breathing and Yogic stretchings. I have learned not to dwell on painful thoughts and not to get obsessed with these thoughts. The same way I deal with mental and emotional suffering.
I follow three steps:

• Recognize and accept suffering.
  
• Inquire the cause of suffering with a kind , loving and compassionate attitude, and respond, not to react.. How do I relate to my suffering makes a vital difference. I have learnt not to react but to respond and do whatever I can to create a calm and nourishing environment in my body-mind complex.
  

Awareness, acceptance, creating a kind and compassionate attitude, patience and practicing non-judgmental mindfulness and meditation help me create a healthy mental disposition.
Namaste!