“Practice makes a man perfect.” ~Anonymous~
Whether we have spiritual or mundane priorities in our lives, we need to know the correct methods and flawless knowledge that can lead us to accomplishment in order to achieve these goals. We can obtain these tools for success by relying on genuine teachers. Through their guidance we become enlightened and know everything, which can take us to the victorious land of glory.
However, the journey to success doesn’t end just there. To know the correct instructions is exactly like having a map to one’s aspired destination. Knowledge is the beginning of a journey. One should not become complacent about the progress; instead, one must put those instructions into practice. Training is similar to actually walking towards one’s desired destination.
According to my observation, most of the people who claim to be spiritual hardly practise the dharma that they already know. I am also not an exception. Our thirst for theories is deeper than an abyss. On the other hand, our detestation of practice is stronger than the awful smell of a rotten corpse.
Yet, we want to be liberated from this deceptive cyclic existence of life and death, and attain the state of Nirvana―free from all suffering. This is just like wanting to reach the peak of Mount Everest but not starting to climb at all. On the contrary, we like to be very eloquent in explaining each and every detail of the path to Enlightenment. Alas! Our wish and attitude contradict one another.
Many hundreds of years ago, Lord Buddha through his great compassion taught us numerous ways to be free from suffering and its causes. The purpose of his teaching is to benefit sentient beings in limitless ways and ultimately lead us to the state of perfect Enlightenment, unending great bliss. Throughout his doctrine, he has repeatedly emphasized the importance of practising dharma rather than just listening to and memorizing it. He said, “I have shown you the way to attain liberation but it depends on your diligence.”
Indeed, it is true that hard work pays off everywhere. Even to be successful in this mundane society, we need to work very hard. As we say, “Rome was not built in a day.” This is a universal law for reaching the end of the line. Thus, it’s time for us to wake up from this hypnotism of passiveness and strive towards the supreme goal through practice.
Through the power of the Buddhas’ blessings, with our heart soaked in compassion for the sake of all beings, may we truly practise the supreme dharma.
By Sangay Rabten
Padma Mani Translation Group
