Same Dog, Two Worlds

A dog barks at you. Passive mode: manas tags it as "directed at me," irritation arises. Active mode: you observe "this dog barks at everyone — nothing to do with me." No irritation. The difference isn't the external object — same dog, same bark. The difference is where your manaskāra points. Inappropriate attention centers on "me." Appropriate attention centers on seeing reality as it is.