Contemplation (four)

The ripening of practice has it’s own time table and that is where patience and taking the long view really helps the practitioner. There is no fast track and nobody who can do the practice for you. We have a saying, Buddha’s do but point the way, you must go alone. That’s alone in the sense of doing ones own practice, doing something about oneself. This takes a considerable level of sustained effort, it’s the same for everybody what ever form life is taking.

Each morning, in our particular tradition, we re state our resolve to continue by reciting a verse aloud before the kesa is put on. It is a statement that brings one out of the mists of past and future to a vow to practice within the already enlightened Universe, today. For just this one day.

How great and wondrous are the clothes of Enlightenment,
Formless and embracing every treasure.
I wish to unfold the Buddha’s teaching,
That I may help all living things.

To be resolute and to wake up and remain awake carries spiritual merit, however that is not enough. It is the rising up and walking on, and keeping on walking on, that counts. For all of us, practice and enlightenment which are not two, are given expression in being the best person one can be. This is real gratitude.

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2 thoughts on “Contemplation (four)”

  1. Your words have a particular resonance for me at present. What else can be more important than to try to be the best person one can be? This seems to sum up so many of the challenges in this life. As someone with perfectionist tendancies I seem to see failure at every turn and end up frustrated. I should try to wake up more often to the wider ‘truth’ and be less attached to what seems important at that time. your blogg is good inspiration.

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