The dust of grudge-bearing is to bear a grudge against someone who has offended you or who has kept you from getting what you desire, to spite someone because of something said, or to bear ill will without looking at one's own faults or lack of virtue.

To bear a grudge toward someone for interfering with your plans; to bear a grudge toward someone for some supposed unkindness or act that was intended to benefit you but which you took as a disservice, even considering someone's innocent blunder as a malicious act; to bear a grudge toward others without reflecting upon your own faults; or to think ill of others and bear a grudge toward them without realizing the truth that whatever happens has its cause in yourself--these are the dust of grudge-bearing.

When someone is promoted to the position to which you had thought you would rise, you are inclined to bear a grudge toward him for standing in the way of your advancement and for thus blighting your honor and interfering with the fulfillment of your wishes. But, it is in accord with the divine will for you, rather, to reflect upon the lack of virtue, power, and knowledge on your part and to think that he has more wisdom and power than you. There are many other examples of this sort.

You might think as follows: "If he had said it in this way, things would be all right; but just because he said it in a way like that. people are thinking ill of me." Then you might think him unkind and bear a grudge toward him.

You might take offense at someone's advice given in good faith when you made some mistake. Then you might consider his advice to be insulting, bear a grudge toward him, and think of looking for his mistakes to give him tit for tat. One is apt to bear a grudge because of such simple misunderstandings. This is a mental attitude and cannot be seen, but piles up like dust and influences the human body.

In the Mikagura-uta, it is taught:

Suffering comes from your own mind.
So you should reproach yourself.

Mikagura-uta X:7

It is in accord with the divine will to reflect upon one's own usage of the mind without blaming others.

(The above is an excerpt from Dust and Innen, first published in September 1982. Quotations from the Ofudesaki and the Kakisage have been replaced by the revised, current translations.)