Practice ONLY when you get a raise?
Spiritual practice of any type is the improvement of one’s attitude, the improvement of one’s mind. A spiritual person must be characterized by the effort to become more compassionate, more kind, more nice, more forgiving, more patient.
What is the characterization of a spiritual person? We have to accept our responsibilities; we have to accept what has happened – that we have done it and not blame others anymore. And to make efforts to come out of our situation. That is spiritual practice.
Number one, acceptance of your situation on the basis of logic. Number two, to let go of attachment. To let go of the things that do not matter that much. I’m not saying to you, to shave off your head and, and wear this and run away with me to the monastery, that is not practical, but you can shave off ignorance, hatred and desire, and impatience and anger.
We should start these practices, not tomorrow, not the day after, not when you have more time, not when you get a raise, not when you retire, not when you have more free time, that day will never come. That is simple, lazy procrastination. We should start these practices today.
I love this! Very true and profound!! Thank you Rinpoche!
I wish you long life and happiness
_/\_
Rafael
Rinpoche,
If spiritual practice wasn’t personal and learned only through experience in the doing, if only the mind could be freed from bodily senses, if only there were more gurus in the world to spread the Dharma teachings to the many who has yet been given the chance to develop their spirituality, your words of teaching would have been better understood by those who wants to practice. Unfortunately, the spiritual journey is one we have to take on our own with help from others along the way.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for posting all the useful quote lately, they really have a lot of help to get out of my ignorant and full of attachment self. These realization will try to keep taming my foolish mind and my action and speech, will try my best to change. But, is so hard to face the situation and really painful to see the things we have done. I’m really sorry to people that I have harm and I do hope, the practice that start from now onwards can be benifit to others and not harm anything and anyone else.
Dear Any
I have seen you made effort on learning a lot well from pujas and I sincerely hope situation will change for you when you start to practice the dharma by taking baby steps one day at a time. We will continue to support you on this path but don’t give up on any effort you made so far.
From one of your Puja friend
“Action speaks louder than words…”
“Whenever I associate with anyone,
May I view myself as lowest of all,
And, from the depths of my heart,
May I cherish others as supreme!”
“You may be in Dharma, is Dharma in you?”
Whether we are full time, part time, volunteering or working outside, we should practice the Dharma regardless. Improvement of attitude and our mind does not need to wait for the situation to change ie when we are older, when the kids has grown up, when we have enough money or when we are have retired. We need to practice precisely because the situation may not change, we may not get to see the kids get older, we may never have enough money (who would?), we may die tomorrow.
The improvement of our attitude and our mind will lead to all that if we have the Karma for it. Hence, by practicing we give ourself a chance to achieve what we want and more importantly to improve our surroundings for our family, friends, colleagues to be happier (one less grumpy person hehe) and can actually have very positive effect in all that we do and come into contact with. In that way, we help ourselves and others. Just by changing ourselves.
That; to me is much better then going to gym, golf, good food etc. All that we do to make ourselves “HAPPIER”. We can still do all that, but if we just change our attitude, be kind, be compassionate, help others, be harmonious and change our mind set, we can be far happier and for a much longer time….
In the golden words of our guru, Tsem Rinpoche, “spiritual practice of any type is the improvement of one’s mind. I am not saying to you, to save off your head and, wear this and run away with me to the monastry, that is not practical, but you can shave off ignorance, hatred and desire and impatience and anger.” Therefore, spiritual practice actually helps us to connect to ourselves, our neighbours, the Devine and the Whole Creation! As our guru has urged us no further procrastination should be given, these practices should start off immediatedly. Procastination is one of the destruction threats to one’s progress in life and overcoming it is the most important steps to take develope our own personal growth.
i like this! Thanks TTR..
Dearest Rinpoche
Many Thanks for sharing this with us and changing many of our misconception on practices. It is hard for me to control my temper, my foul mouth and harsh words at times especially when i am lazy in my daily prayers it. Sometime it gives me the “shiok” feeling to use a bad language and it kinds of easy the heavy feeling off my chest even it didnt mean to use it on others especially in my vehicle due t rude drivers and/or express how I really feel. I will be more mindful each and cut my attachements to beauty and thinking I will remain young forever and convenience and procastination especially in my daily sadhana,,,.and try to be compassionate to my students and the ones who always care for me. thank you for the wake up call…..
Looking at the picture above, I kind of miss my previous job with a marketing company of pitching in the streets. It really helps me to move away from my comfort zone and always maintain a positive energy and moving on my feet and accept rejections, long hours, harsh weather and goal settings.. I can say I learn alot from Appco.
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