For one who leads a virtuous life,
it is a natural law that remorse will not arise…
For one free of remorse,
it is a natural law that gladness will arise…
For one who is glad at heart,
it is a natural law that joy will arise.
Buddhists believe that living with integrity is the foundation for peace of mind and the happiness of a liberated heart. Compared with other sources of happiness, only integrity leads to "the bliss of blamelessness."
So, to bring about such bliss, we consciously cultivate integrity by mindfully listening our internal moral compass, realizing that the more we follow it the happier we will be.We all have a conscience and so automatically feel unsettled when we’re not in alignment with our values. Perhaps the problem is we don't realize WHY we are feeling unsettled because we don't make the connection. The practice of mindfulness can help by making us more aware of our inner wisdom, and so is a great ally.
Sometimes, as we become more aware we also realize how much we fall short from the ideal. So practicing integrity becomes a humbling process that is purifying. It also requires genuine compassion and kindness for ourselves once we begin to see the depths of conditioning that cause us to act with attachment, aversion or confusion, even when we know better. As Ram Dass says in Be Here Now,
"As you further purify yourself, your impurities will seem grosser and larger. Understand that it's not that you are not getting more caught in the illusion. It's just that you're seeing it more clearly. The lions guarding the gates get fiercer as you go towards each inner temple. But, of course, the light gets brighter too."
What do we do with the guilty feelings? There’s actually a Buddhist antidote for guilt. If you act unskillfully (notice they don't say 'badly'), it’s recommended to practice what is called "wise reflection" or "wise remorse." When you realize you've done something unskillful, rather than drowning in guilt, ask yourself, "What can I learn from the experience that will help me remember to act more skillfully if a similar situation arises again?"
And in the end, it is our intention to act with integrity that matters most of all. So we keep trying, keep learning, and keep reminding ourselves to act with integrity.
"I never had a policy; I just tried to do my very best each and every day. " -Abraham Lincoln
