EFFECTIVE METHODS FOR SUSTAINING INITIAL ASPIRATION
Master Jun Hong Lu: To avoid falling into a state of slackness, it’s best to maintain your initial aspiration. This means reflecting on the reason that thrusted you into the dharma gate, and reminiscing about the blessings bestowed by Bodhisattva.
The abundance of inspiration, peace, safety and happiness that you immerse in today is all owing to Bodhisattva’s blessings. Instead of complaining, you should focus on cultivating a sense of gratitude and keep moving forward.
There are three ways to keep yourself motivated: First, keep reading, specifically, you must study Buddhism in Plain Terms. Why so? Initially, I only asked you to recite Little Houses and the Buddhist scriptures. Subsequently, I brought Buddhism in Plain Terms into the picture in order to prevent you from regressing in your spiritual practice. That’s the first method.
Second, follow in the footsteps of those who are diligent and have never regressed in their practice. You will be able to derive a lot of positive energy from such people. In fact, by mingling with them, you will be constantly inspired to diligently perform meritorious deeds like distributing Buddhist books to others. This is of utmost importance.
Third, you must be at war with your negative behaviours, that is, you must break your bad habits, particularly laziness, including transgressions that you commit mentally such as greed and hatred. This is because these negative traits can induce slothfulness.
Those who are covetous will not persevere in their spiritual cultivation simply because they feel that it is not worth the while. On the other hand, those who harbour a deep resentment against others will even question Bodhisattva for not letting such people, whom they condemn for being vicious, die. In the mind of the ignorant, they will always think, “Why is it that Bodhisattva does not grant me the chance to win a lottery?”
Source: Wenda20160311 07:47, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
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