Practice is a long term result and eventually, we will become our practice. Training, however, is required like in any profession for many years before one is allowed to practice. This is part of the message I understood today as part of a Chod initiation given by by His Holiness the Ninth Khalkha Jetsun Dampa Rinpoche.
There is no magical or quick fixes to routine, constant practice. We all struggle with my practice from time to time, like everything in this world, nothing is permanent, and everything is constantly changing, including our ability to sit. We are not enlightened Buddha’s, thus we are not yet perfect. This must be understood, smiled upon and accepted. Smiling upon your imperfect nature, softens your heart, which is in itself a form of Metta practice.
To become a medical practitioner, we spend years in school focusing and getting good marks. We then spend 4+ years in university/college getting a degree, then we require PhD’s, internships and many other forms before practice finally begins.
Spiritual practice is no different. A lot of training and effort required over many years to reach a point where the practice comes from within you. We need to spend the time now, cultivating, working on ourselves, so that one day we will become our practice.
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I like this idea of smiling upon one’s imperfect nature. In a meditation I use “may I accept myself just as I am” one is encouraged to touch oneself lightly on the cheek, like a mother to child and/or upon the heart.
-Mikael
http://www.mikaelaldridge.com
Becoming my practice is a beautiful image that will stay with me as I put in the effort. Thank you Wade, for your wise words.
You are so right in citing the importance of Spiritual Practice. In my blog yesterday (http://waterlearner.blogspot.com/2007/06/when-going-get-tough.html) I had, coincidentally written about my situation of spiritual theories that I have heard or learnt being put to test.
One thing I come to realise for people who are in touch with spirituality is that … at times, we could fall into the trap of using such theories to demand a standard of behavior from others, and other times, into a state of being too harsh on ourselves.
Alas! We are still mortal beings made of blood and flesh still struggling in Samsara. With our deep aspirations to evolve to a more enlightened state, let us be more gentle on ourselves if time and circumstances put us in a stagnant state.
Great post.
I have long struggled with the “idea” of building motivation for practice—- well now I am coming to a realization that this is the wrong approach.
In fact what is needed is practice in spite of “motivation” or other such whims. I like your example of the study and discipline required for a medical practitoner.
I should look at Zazen this same way. Sit regardless of the myriad excuses that may arise. Pick a time and simpley do it!! I’m paraphrazing from a great post that Brad Warner wrote recently at his Hardcore Zen Blog – - and this post helped to drive the point home even further.
Having said all of this your point of embracing our human foibles is a great balance for this. . .as humans it is only natural that we make mistakes and have some resistance to practice; so fullying appreciating ourselves means understanding that side of our beings as well.
Wade,
You are so right about practice. I watch myself do the silliest things sometimes; knowing that the most important thing I could be doing is meditating or reading something spiritual. I wonder…what’s up with that?..in my mind. I should be practicing, I think to myself. Thanks for expressing this gentle reminder so eloquently.