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“And how many times have you tried to clean your mirror?” the guru asked.
“I have tried to clean it at least eight times and in a different way each time. But after each time, the mirror only gets blacker and the dust on its surface is harder than steel now and you cannot tell that there was once a mirror beneath the surface, it is so thick and black,” the disciple replied.
The guru thought for another moment. “Student, you cannot clean your mirror this way. Otherwise, your mirror will attract everything, like a magnet attracts iron. But if you have right faith, right knowledge and right practice, then your mirror can be kept perfectly clean."
“Since your mirror is always attracting black particles of dust, you are not using the right technique for cleaning it because your knowledge is false and your faith weak. But if you are meditating for greater awareness and watching everything that you collect from your actions-all feelings, all thoughts and sensations-then you can clean your mirror with simple soap and water, perfectly, everytime.
The disciple followed the guru's advice and never had difficulty again in keeping his mirror absolutely clean at all times.
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