Working with Prejudice

Venerable Thubten Chodron guides a meditation to help us release fear and anger towards people whom we are prejudiced against.

Transcript

Think of somebody who represents the group of people, Or representative of a group of people that you have some dislike or fear of. And imagining them in front of you, See how they appear to your mind to be quite solid. Your concept of that person is, This is who they are, And those characteristics that you don't like about the group are just in them inherently mixed oneness. And so let's investigate to see how that person actually exists. They appear one way to us. See if they exist in the way they appear. So that person that you dislike or fear so much, Are they their body? Sometimes it might be their body that is the thing that makes us distrust and fear them. But just ask yourself if the person is the same as the body. And if you feel it is, Then try and find what part of the body is that person. Or what part of the body gives you the impression of that category of person that you dislike so much. So I'm going to push you pretty hard, And get back to this. Any other comment? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . And then examine their mind. And are they their mind? Can you find that person who has that qualities that you just can't stand in a certain group of people? Are they their mind? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Or perhaps the person is something other than either the body and the mind. Something separate from the body and mind that is just so disgusting. If so, What is that? What are you going to identify as being that person? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . So isn't that an object of compassion? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Reviews

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I love the steps to tease out our limiting thoughts

Very wise words. I will be following these steps each and every time. I can make a change, in how I see others. It’s not about wanting them to change, it’s about not reacting and conflicting against them, and how that behaviour or comment is approached and dealt with.
I feel more comfortable about it already.
Thank you.

Thank you 😊. I may not totally remove my bias towards the some people in my mind at this moment. I don't hate them but i clearly know i have fixed idea that they are like this or like that. Now, i see it with a wider perspective. For this, i thank you. 😊

Gratitude, quite helpful.