One thinks, “I am the center.” This refers to how you live your life, not depending on the conduct of others. Regarding “afflictions,” the ideal state is when we are born. We don’t have the idea of possession, “This is mine.” We don’t know what’s inside and what’s outside. It’s a chaos-like state. We all originally exist in that way. On top of that basic condition we put society and different ways of life. If one departs from one’s own way… At first, you don’t know your own way, so you look outside. There is a story of a bent old man who offered jade to the Emperor, saying, “This is the best kind of jade.” But the Emperor refused to believe him, saying, “This is common rock!” and had the old man’s arm cut off. A few years later there was a new emperor, so the old man tried again to give him the jade, but again he was punished. The third emperor, instead of punishing the old man, polished the rock and found it to be true jade. He trusted enough to polish the rock. This is a metaphor for Buddha nature. When the emperor was busy with the affairs of the nation, he didn’t listen to the man with the jade. If you say to the world, “Pay attention to your Buddha nature,” not everyone listens. I, myself, when I don’t pay attention, begin to wonder if I am just a blind bastard! But Buddha nature is not jade, or common rock, it is more like the soil which nurtures plants or is made into pots. Even when you are doubting, you do not lose it. Instead, you come to the end of your delusion and you are saved, you see your true nature. It is like a condemned man who has a chance to see the priest, someone who really believes you, who truly reflects yourself. The problem is how to trust in others, teachers, parents, friends. If you can trust, there is no need to choose your direction… If one finds fault with the world, he is evidently at fault himself… That statement is very strong. If you see the imperfectness of others, you are saying you are missing something, the same thing you believe they lack. So a world comes between you, there is no kindness or positive feeling. If we see that ourselves and others are very similar, there is nothing to say. On the other hand, when we cannot accept criticism, it comes from misunderstanding and mistrust. Usually, we think, “I am perfect,” so when criticism comes, you feel, “I am not like that!” If you are the one being criticized, it is better to hear it as a gift. In Chinese, “transcendence” is “world among” meaning to open and go out, and to go in, too. Psychologically, this means to practice openness, not to cling to limited views. As you remember, since the Sixth Patriarch left the Fifth Patriarch, Shen-hsiu took the place of the Fifth Patriarch.