Sometimes we get discouraged and say “Life is getting in the way of my happiness,” or “I’ll be happy as soon as…”

In this practice we study a concept known as the mutual possession of the 10 worlds. When we talk about the 10 worlds, we mean you can be in a state of immense suffering and pain where you can see no way out, or you can be in a completely enlightened space where all the worlds contradictions make perfect sense, or can be okay, or you can be selfish, or any number of things. The myriad possibilities of our moods are known collectively as the 10 worlds.

The mutual possession part means that at any point, no matter where my life is, it has the potential to manifest any of the other worlds instantly. This is important, because it means even in the midst of that total suffering, or that longing for something better, Buddhahood is right there too. And even more important than knowing they are right there together is knowing they are both right here, inside of us.