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A common issue that often comes up in the minds of aspirants of Truth is, "Of what value is sustained
practice? Is it necessary?" As a long-term Buddhist practitioner and
someone who has dabbled in Advaita Vedanta, I have come to see practice as
an absolute necessity. I find that in my own practice, it has helped me
achieve, what is the most poignant answer to the most revealing question
that the aspirant can ask his or herself. This simply being, "What is
it that I really want in life?" I have found that the answer to this
question, if one is completely honest with oneself, directly points to the
need to practice.
For instance, if you reply that you are
looking to free yourself of all your physical and mental discomforts, then
the realization of the unity of all of life will probably not rid you
of these on a completely permanent basis. Thus the pointer to the use of a
continued practice of some type to continue the endless removal of these
discomforts.
If on the other hand your response is
"I wish that all beings are at peace. I wish that all beings are
harmonious. I wish that all beings are happy," then you may begin to
see that one's own actions of speech and thought contribute a great deal to
the unhappiness and lack of harmony in the lives of those around us. Thus
the conclusion we may reach is that we would need to purify our minds and
hearts so that we may be more a vehicle of peace and harmony for others.
Here is where spiritual practice can, over time, change our closed-off,
selfish, me-oriented attitudes and conclusions to more of a considerate,
humble and patient attitude.
For me, spiritual practice means going
to a Buddhist temple once or twice a week, every week. There, I congregate
with my Sangha, the other temple goers. We develop a keen kinship with each
other. We develop simple but important skills, such as tolerance, patience
and sincerity, just by asking the master questions. These are the skills
that are sorely lacking in modern life. In a temple atmosphere everyone
displays a reserved, friendly attitude so it virtually guarantees an
excellent atmosphere to practice these qualities. What do these qualities
have to do with the Truth? Well — if after realization life goes on as
before, then even at that time we can use more patience, tolerance and
humility. More patience, tolerance and humility brings more happiness
whether we reach enlightenment or not.
May all beings achieve peace, happiness
and prosperity.
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