22. Controlling the Six Desires and the Seven Emotions  

As the Inner Mind functions, the Conscience guides Thought, directing it to investigate and refine, controlling the six desires and seven emotions.

Evaluate each, discarding the harmful and retaining the virtuous. Abandon each one until nothing remains to be abandoned — this is the method of cultivating Thought and refining Mind.

The Holiness Đức Hộ-Pháp also taught regarding the cultivation of the Mind:

The method of disciplining the Mind, for the Mind reflects Heavenly Law.

•  Faith and wisdom are treasures; all else is to be discarded as worthless.

•  He who harbors enmity cannot maintain a pure and true Mind.

•  He who bears no resentment prevails over adversaries.

•  Hatred is humanity’s greatest sorrow; the wise abandon resentment.

•  Mastering one’s anger prevents provoking others.

•  Use virtue to overcome evil.

•  Use benevolence to overcome cruelty.

•  Use generosity to expand the narrow heart.

•  Use righteousness to dispel wickedness.

This is the Path of the Sagacious Sword of Compassion.

In particular, the Guardian instructs to relinquish anger and cultivate generosity to widen the narrow heart. This is a vital method of training Mind, Intellect, and Thought.

This is the process of assessment and abandonment — discarding all that is harmful until nothing remains. Then, the intellect becomes luminous, igniting the Mystic Vision Aperture, radiating brilliance, marking the transformation of Energy into Spirit.