How to Avoid the Mind Being Defiled by Phenomena

When we face conflicts and disputes, when facing the faults of others, and when we cannot empty ourselves of or avoid these states, and must resolve these human affairs, what should we do? We should engage in contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā) on the illusory and unreal nature of the states of human affairs, contemplating that all dharmas have no self, no person, no sentient beings, and no marks of affairs. If one must discuss human affairs verbally, it should only be at the level of the mind consciousness, making an objective evaluation, resolving matters in a reasonable manner and according to reason, without any agitation in the mind, without being dragged along by the plot of human affairs and becoming trapped in it, unable to extricate oneself. Otherwise, one would lose all the power of awareness and vigilance; the mark of self, the mark of person, the mark of sentient beings, and the marks of affairs would all manifest, and one would grasp them as real. The mind would be defiled by the marks of affairs, and the defiled karmic seeds would be stored in one's own tathāgatagarbha, with the future retribution to be borne by oneself — the loss would far outweigh the gain.

How could there be any wise person who stores the faults of others in their own mind, polluting their own field, burdening their future lives, and never attaining purity? When seeing the faults of others, turn the light around and reflect upon one's own mind; do not blame others without blaming oneself. Whoever cultivates, that person resolves it; who can cultivate in place of another, achieve attainment for another, while oneself bearing the karmic consequences? There is no such principle!