How can one get rid of bad habits?

Lama Ole’s answer:

For one thing, the three pillars have to be present on all levels. The first pillar is information. You need to understand the situation and know where you want to go. The second pillar is meditation. This means creating space so that mind can manifest its radiant power and what is not needed can trickle away. The third pillar is holding the view. You decide to not make the mistake again, no matter what happens.

You can check your mind in the same way that you first recognize water by the ducks swimming on its surface, even before you see the water itself. Through certain emotions and tendencies, you can observe your mind and find out how far you have already come, how much your mind still sticks to this or that concept or how much free space you already have.

What can we do to avoid falling back into old habits again and again?

Lama Ole’s answer:

The mind is like a huge bowl of pudding: If you hit one side of the pudding, then it takes a while until the other side starts to shake. The impressions we store in mind need some time before they come out again. But you can watch these processes from the outset to train the attitude of wanting to benefit others with the wisdom you’re developing. This way you can help others while helping yourself.

In everything that happens, we can tell ourselves, “Such things happen to all beings. I want to get to the bottom of it all and apply my insights for the benefit of others.” In this way, your biggest difficulties can become your greatest strengths. If you think of yourself you have problems; if you think of others you have interesting work to do. It’s as simple as that! Whoever constantly acts for the best of all beings will be able to do more and more.