We meditate on this determination continually until we develop the spontaneous wish to liberate ourself permanently from the sufferings of countless future lives. This is the actual realization of renunciation.
Non-virtuous mental factors cause suffering and virtuous mental factors cause peace and happiness. Thus, if we wish to experience lasting peace of mind we must make a determined effort to eliminate non-virtuous mental factors and cultivate virtuous ones.
To cut down a tree we need a sharp axe held by a steady hand and wielded by a strong body. In the same way, to cut self-grasping we need the sharp axe of wisdom held by the steady hand of concentration and wielded by the strong body of moral discipline.
To cut down a tree we need a sharp axe held by a steady hand and wielded by a strong body. In the same way, to cut self-grasping we need the sharp axe of wisdom held by the steady hand of concentration and wielded by the strong body of moral discipline.
Patiently accepting harm with a positive mind gradually purifies non-virtue and sows the seeds of future happiness, but retaliating to those who harm us only sows seeds of future suffering.
It is true that to make authentic spiritual progress we need to develop confidence in our spiritual potential, and to acknowledge and improve our good qualities. However, we also need a keen and realistic awareness of our present faults and imperfections.
There is nothing more precious than our human life. Having been born as a human being we have immense freedom to accomplish almost anything we want. We can become a powerful politician, a successful businessman or woman, or a great scientist or artist.
We can start to integrate a mindful awareness into our everyday activities, and thereby gain stable confidence in the power of our practice to effect positive change in our life.
Since the merit we create when we make an offering accords with the nature of that offering, we mentally transform the whole universe into a Pure Land. We then imagine that we are offering this pure universe in our hands.
For much of the time, our body is just a vehicle transporting us around our life, needing regular servicing and maintenance. Our intimate relationship with it requires us to expend much attention and energy.