And the Welcome to the Joseph Goldstein Inside Hour.

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Last week we began the discussion of the pivotal second step of the noble eightfold path, namely right thought.

Because our views lead to the way we think about things.

And then our thoughts lead to actions with all their attendant consequences. It's important that we cultivate those thoughts and intentions that lead to our own happiness and

welfare and the happiness and welfare of others. So thought becomes the pivotal point in this whole

unfolding of our lives. As the Buddha said, Bicous whatever one frequently thinks and ponders upon, that will become

the inclination of the mind. I find that those few lines could become a reflection for one's whole life.

Just remembering that. Whatever one frequently thinks and ponders upon,

that will become the inclination of the mind.

So as you might remember, the Buddha defined right thought,

this step on the path as thoughts of renunciation,

free of sense desire, thoughts of goodwill,

which are thoughts free of ill will, aversion, and thoughts of compassion, which are

thoughts free of cruelty. So we've already spoken of the first of these, that is the rewards of renunciation.

So tonight I'd like to continue with the second part of right thought, which is the cultivation of goodwill of loving kindness.

The poet Wilka, in some beautiful language, captured the richness of this possibility,

this way of being in the world with others.

He said, once the realization is accepted

that even between the closest people,

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