Slogan Twenty

Of the two witnesses, hold the principal one.

From the Lojong for the Layperson booklet:

                It is natural when we begin something new to want feedback on our progress, and we generally look to other folks to provide it. But this slogan teaches the only “witness” who can truly know whether we’re being genuine or phony is us, not other people. No one else knows what our existence is like, or what is going on inside us. People might give compliments or criticism, but we should not regard their opinions as more important than our own. It is our responsibility to see our life as clearly as possible – assets and liabilities – and act on what we see. The principle witness is not there to condemn or congratulate, neither does it judge us as worthy or unworthy. It is simply an honest, objective look at the way we relate to others, and whether the degree of our self-absorption has changed.

Photo: Lightning whelk above a collection of other seashells. 

          Imagine being on a game show, being presented with the following doors* and told to choose one. Behind one is a broken-down jalopy, another has a sack of garbage, a third has a box of thumbtacks, and the last has enough money to pay all your bills for a year. Which door would you choose?

 Is your choice influenced by the image carved into the door? That's the conundrum that this slogan points out. While it's good to listen to the opinions of others, no one else can see what's behind our door. They base their ideas on what they outwardly perceive. Yet there's no way for them to tell what is actually motivating us or whether we're even being honest. I am the only person who can look within and determine whether I'm being sincere in my spiritual practice, or if I'm just trying to impress other people. As the primary witness, I've got the inside scoop on what's behind that particular door.

*These doors were hand-carved by sculptor Ron Ramsey.