Are you looking for ways to stay motivated and inspired on your spiritual journey? Look no further than this second part of the series on sustaining and strengthening your initial aspiration.
Based on the wisdom of Master Lu, we’ll explore powerful practices that will help you remain unswerving on your spiritual path, no matter what obstacles come your way.
We’ll show you how to deepen your commitment to the dharma through practices like reminiscing on the blessings of the Bodhisattva, strengthening your power of vow, and cultivating a heart of gratitude.
With these techniques, you’ll be equipped with a diamond-like determination and a Bodhi mind, putting you in good stead to face potential tests.
< Unleashing the Incredible Power of Vow >
I. How to maintain our initial aspiration?
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
a. Strengthen Our Power of Vows
STRENGTHEN YOUR POWER OF VOWS TO PROTECT YOUR INITIAL RESOLVE
Master Jun Hong Lu: You must strengthen your power of vows to protect the impetus that propelled you to make those initial resolutions. (要加强自己的愿力，保护好初发心的力量) What does strengthening your power of vows mean? It means to regularly recollect the time when you gave rise to your initial resolve.
At the early stages of your Buddhist practice, you were extremely pious (虔诚) and kind as you knelt before Guan Yin Bodhisattva. But, look at yourself now, and how sloven you have become (整天吊儿郎当的). Not only have you stopped performing recitation, you are resentful and no one seems to please you.
Think about it, aren’t you vastly different from the person you were when you made your initial resolve? This goes to show the importance of protecting your initial aspirations. You should regularly think, “How did I pray to the Buddha for my first time? I was touched when imploring the Bodhisattva at that time”. This is what is termed as the initial resolve. You will be charged with energy if you can always recollect your initial resolve.
Many people hope to be admitted to university but they fail to cross the hurdle. In their initial resolve, they tell themselves, “I must get admitted. I mustn’t bring disgrace to myself”. They wake up at 5am daily to study, only to slack off a month later. When this happens, they should question themselves about the reason behind their initial vows.
If you can always think, “I must make my parents proud. There are so many children in the school and everyone is putting in his best effort. I must not fall behind”, you will feel motivated and driven, making it possible for you to continue to get up at 5am daily. This is why you must stay true to your initial aspiration and never lose it. When you complement this with diligence in your Buddhist practice, only then can your kind intentions and thoughts, and meritorious blessings proliferate.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Volume 10 Chapter 14
b. Act prudently from beginning to end
ADOPT THE BEGINNER’S MIND
Master Jun Hong Lu: The ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu once said, “Be cautious, as you were in the beginning” (慎终如始). This means you should be very mindful till the end just like how you had been in the beginning. This phrase tells us, the disciples, that we must treat the beginning of all endeavours in life as the foundation and continue with this spirit all the way till the end.
Those with determination as strong as a diamond and possess a Bodhi mind (菩提心) are the ones who will remain unswerving from the beginning to the end (始终如一). This echoes the popular saying of Lao Tzu, ‘Be cautious, as you were in the beginning’ that advises us to be mindful all the way, just like how we were in the beginning.
Let me give you an example. A normal employee of a company gets promoted to the managerial level. Despite his promotion, he still sees himself as an ordinary staff member just like when he first started with the company. This manager will ultimately be very successful because his attitude and working style are preserved as he maintains the attitude of an ordinary worker.
Even if he ascends to the most important position of a CEO, he will stay rooted to his humble beginnings. He understands the antecedents and consequences (前因后果) and will not gloat over a temporary achievement of attaining the position of a CEO. He would not be haughty and satisfied with it. Neither will he allow his success to get to his head.
This is what it means by ‘holding on to your beginner’s mind’, the essential quality that leads to great accomplishments (不忘初心，才能方得始终).
At any point in life and regardless of social status, one should always maintain the same state of mind that kick-started his journey all the way to the end because this is where success awaits.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Episode 77, 23 May 2020
c. Treading on Thin Ice (如履薄冰)
CULTIVATING THE MIND IS AKIN TO TREADING ON THIN ICE
Master Jun Hong Lu: As we practise Buddhism and cultivate our minds, we must keep in mind that cultivation is akin to treading on thin ice. It is a fitting description, as the path of cultivation is difficult, and we must remain vigilant throughout.
While novice Buddhist practitioners are easily led astray, all the earlier efforts put in by a veteran practitioner can amount to nought with just the slightest negligence. This isn’t just a reminder for beginners, but for all Buddhist practitioners.
It is through constant self-reflection that we can triumph over the various demons that lurk within and around us, as only then can we achieve our goals in our Buddhist practice.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Buddhism In Plain Terms, Volume 1 Chapter 4
d. Reminisce the bitter, cherish the sweet
HOW DO WE STAY ROOTED TO OUR ORIGINAL ASPIRATION IN OUR BUDDHIST PRACTICE?
Caller: Master, could you enlighten us on how we can stay rooted to our original aspiration (保持初始心) in our Buddhist practice and cultivation? If we lose touch with it, how can it be regained?
Master Jun Hong Lu: If one loses touch with his original aspirations, obviously for him ‘the pain is forgotten where gain follows’ (好了伤疤忘了痛). A person’s initial aspiration generally arises when he is going through a lot of suffering in life.
For example, when life throws him a curveball or when he becomes a target of incessant condemnation which include problems with family, marriage, health, bankruptcy, disobedient children etc, in the wake of these challenges, out of a sudden, he realises, “Hei, I must seek the blessings and protection from Bodhisattva. I must make vows, perform life liberation and recitation”.
This is when one’s conviction is the strongest and he is determined to find the path to liberation. This is also a time when one is the most pious (非常虔诚的). However, when things start to turn for the better and everything is slightly back on track, he may gradually take things lightly again. Recitation becomes optional, so is praying to the Buddha as his original aspiration starts to fade.
How do we regain this conviction? We must often look back and ponder this ancient Chinese saying, ‘Reminisce the bitter, cherish the sweet’ (忆苦思甜). Essentially, it means that we must always recollect our past troubles and struggles, all the more so if we are currently leading a happy life. We must always look back on the past and think about the pain we have been through.
Caller: That is to ‘be prepared for danger in times of peace’ (居安思危啊).
Master Jun Hong Lu: Yes, be prepared for danger in times of peace. In fact, you must always stay rooted to a ‘normal state’ (常态). What does that mean? No matter what the circumstances are, be it good or bad, we must think that it is part and parcel of life and you adopt the attitude where you stand aloof from what is happening.
As far as you are concerned, regardless of the gravity of any given situation, it wouldn’t result in any major emotional upheaval in you.
Source: Wenda20141212 00:53, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
e. Start now not tomorrow
NEVER SLACK IN SPIRITUAL CULTIVATION
Master Jun Hong Lu: Go ahead and slack off in your spiritual cultivation – wait till you are confronted with challenges, and you will then cry your eyes out! If you want to spare yourself the tears, you’d better start to work hard NOW!
Source: Wenda20200209 33:28, Master Jun Hong Lu’s call-in radio program
Story
STAY DILIGENT IN YOUR BUDDHIST PRACTICE TO KEEP IGNORANCE AND BEWILDERMENT AT BAY
Master Jun Hong Lu: Let me share a fable with you. Once upon a time, a horse and a donkey came to know that Buddhist monk Tang Sanzang would be travelling to the West to retrieve the Buddhist scriptures.
Reasoning that it would be a long and exhausting journey riddled with challenges, the donkey said, “I’m not going”. The horse, on the other hand, said, “I will go”. And off the horse went with Buddhist monk Tang Sanzang.
After overcoming countless difficulties, they successfully retrieved the Buddhist scriptures. Upon returning, the donkey probed, “Brother, has it been an arduous journey for you?”
The horse replied, “While I was away to retrieve the scriptures, the distance that you had covered was not any shorter than mine. Not only were you blindfolded, you were constantly being lashed by humans. As a matter of fact, I am a diligent horse, and having gone through this round of trials and tribulations, I’ve become a thousand-mile fine steed”.
In reality, the actual fatigue experienced has nothing to do with our physical but mental because true fatigue stems from our ignorance and bewilderment. The moment bewilderment sets in, many people will enter into a state of confusion which is tantamount to being ignorant simply because you have yet to see through the reality of things, and are still attached to the perception of form (着相). This will cause you to sink deeper into confusion over time. Hence, those who hope to keep confusion at bay, they must stay diligent in learning Buddhism, performing recitation and mind cultivation.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s Public Talk, Milan, Italy, 23 September 2017
f. Have a heart of gratitude
THE BEGINNER’S MIND IS ABOUT BEING GRATEFUL TOWARDS SENTIENT BEINGS FOR BEING PRESENT IN OUR LIVES
Master Jun Hong Lu: We must always cultivate a sense of gratitude, which will help us maintain a calm and peaceful mind. As Buddhist practitioners, we should never forget our beginner’s mind, which is to be grateful towards sentient beings for being present in our lives.
Our daily growth and development are inseparable from everyone. From the first day we enter this world, we rely on the care of nurses and mothers. As we grow, we depend on the guidance and support of our teachers, parents, friends, superiors, and all the people we cross paths with in various aspects of life. Therefore, we should be grateful towards them for being present in our lives.
Just like today, the volunteers have to prepare meals for more than 1,000 people here and it is hardly an easy task.
Keeping to your original aspiration leads you to success (不忘初心，方得始终). Remember, those who are willing to bow down to others will never meet with a rebuff, and those who are willing to compromise will never regress. Last but not least, contentment comes to those who are not in pursuit of worldly things, and happiness is within the reach of those who cherish others.
Source: Master Jun Hong Lu’s World Buddhist Fellowship Meeting, New Zealand, 8 November 2019
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