Simplicity: Simplify Simply Simple
Avoiding evil, doing good and purifying the mind. Sounds simple and direct? Well, yes and no. To put it in a nutshell, it is simple and direct if the clarity, depth and consistency of what it means and how to go about it is fully realized. Otherwise, what it means and how to go about it will be misinterpreted, misperceived or misunderstood. Then clearly the purpose we aim to arrive at will never happen, ever.
I wish to highlight the phrase 'fully realized' because the conditioned tendency of our ignorant human mind is to focus, concentrate and emphasize on one aspect to the exclusion of almost all else in any given event, situation or person. Even if we so-called weigh up the pros and cons, extrapolate various potential outcomes or analyze the opportunities and challenges, it will lean towards a default bias of our self as the point of reference.
Recently, it was shown to me as an insight that even though I may be avoiding evil by observing and being mindful of keeping my precepts, there is still a tendency for doing good to not arise, even in the absence of ill intentions. For example, my desire for solitude will suffice substantially in avoiding evil. However, that will only be beneficial to myself in one aspect because it may trigger unpleasant feelings in others who wish to associate with me. I am not meaning that we ought to be people-pleasers but it is for us to reflect and ponder if there is a wiser way, a middle path that benefits not only me but others too.
There were a few other scenarios where it was shown clearer to me each time that avoiding evil is only half the truth. Doing good will require further learning by observation of trial and error in skillful means to complete the other half of the truth. Purification of mind happens every step of the way and not only after avoiding evil and doing good. This means that in order to avoid evil, awareness of what is beneficial and what is not beneficial, which conditions the understanding of what to do and what not to do will lead. And when doing good, it is also awareness of what is beneficial and what is not beneficial that conditions the understanding of what to do and what not to do to take precedence. Hence, all three processes of avoiding evil, doing good and purifying the mind are understood to arise simultaneously in one moment.
Only by this way, will the middle path be revealed once the full picture of how both sides relate to the last aspect of the triad. The context of where we fit in, our role, the previously hidden paths and true outcomes that align with how nature actually works, can be fully realized. Not by knowledge, thinking or imagination. Only through direct experience. Completeness is when there are no more doubts, confusion or irregularities about what are the consequences or effects of the causes introduced. This is because we now know that "when we take care of the cause, the effect will take care of itself."
Oftentimes I felt misperceived by the way I expressed my thoughts, not because I intended to hurt others, but because of a lack of wisdom in foresight of how others may react. But without having to second-guess every moment, there must be another way to go about it. So I thought if I were to tip my current scale not only to avoid evil but also to do more good at the same time as a forethought, then my approach to how I think, speak and act would be richer and more meaningful than merely to not cause harm alone. A wise teacher said to me, "when we leave a space better than how we found it, we are a blessing to others who may benefit from our wholesome deeds." Proactiveness really counts by the ripple effects that make a whole lot of difference from just standing at one end of the spectrum.
Initially, I understood the two different approaches as rooted in one perspective coming from a space of lack or inadequacy whereas the other from a space of abundance or exuberance. Lack or inadequacy, because the mentality could be of not wanting more problems when one is already in a barely able to keep the head above water, surviving mode. And abundance or exuberance is when we think we did well by working hard, deserving all the extra perks and so why not share some of them with others who are less fortunate? Now I know that this point of reference is the conceit of inferiority and superiority.
Which will then bring us to the third conceit of equality. Where we then imagine that the middle path is when everyone is the same. Hence, the right to equal status, opportunities and resources. Yes, from the same playing field of ignorance. But no, when we realize that conceit is still conceit, no matter how we try to shift the perspective and gift wrap it prettily with a bow on top. Because the only constant in any of them is that it is still coming from the same point of reference, which is our self. That is why, regardless of how we weigh up the pros and cons, extrapolate various potential outcomes or analyze the opportunities and challenges, it will always lack a sense of completeness.
True completeness, satisfaction or contentment can only be from another level of playing field. The middle way is not literally the middle point between the two extremes of the same playing field. It is above and beyond it. Even though delusions may trick us in a way to feel safe, secure and assured from the sense of constancy with our point of reference, when questioned, we begin to see flaws, errors and worse, inconstancies with what we believe to be constant. Thus, the saying, "all betrayals are merely self-betrayal" will ring true as a very important life lesson for many of us on this journey.
Truth, a bittersweet pill in the beginning, is love, compassion, altruism and equilibrium all rolled up in one. It is the effect, and the cause is the understanding of mind nature as it is. Nature is the universal law of conditionality. The only ignorance we need to resolve is the ignorance of ignorance. By observing, contemplating and realizing what ignorance is, how it works and how it ends, we can truly transcend beyond the happiness of ignorance to the highest happiness of liberation from ignorance. Join me on this journey at WISE to gift yourself the education of a lifetime that ends the sense of lack, inadequacy and incompleteness of life.
In grace,
Khan Hui Yee
18 November 2025