Observe these two, no
matter what.
People generally marry with
the expectation that their vows will at least last longer than the honeymoon.
But what happens when she realizes his idea of cleanliness and order doesn't
match hers, or when he discovers she can't cook like mom? Hopefully their
commitment to love will go deeper than any petty disagreements or challenges
that arise. This slogan refers to the vow of refuge and the vow of the
bodhisattva taken by those who choose to formally dedicate themselves to
Buddhist practice. The vow of refuge involves accepting the Buddha as an
example to follow, the dharma as truth, and the sangha as their community of fellow practitioners. The vow of the
bodhisattva is a devotion to the welfare of all sentient beings. For those of
us with an informal practice, these vows might simply mean a commitment to
continue working on ourselves and helping others. As Norman Fischer explains,
"Live your life with your eyes and heart wide-open. No matter what."
Photo: Blooms of a geranium and a
begonia held in the hand of a Buddha statue.
How well do you make and maintain personal commitments,
dedicating yourself to a cause or activity? I’m very good at making them, but
keeping them is not as easy. My “I” eventually thinks it deserves a break,
which usually leads me to abandoning my commitment altogether. I was recently
reading an article by Thupten Jinpa in which he spoke of turning intentions
into motivations. He described an intention as deliberate, “an articulation of
a conscious goal,” while he explained a motivation was “the desire to act
accompanied with a sense of purpose.” My intention might point me in the right
direction, but it is my motivation which will get me moving and provide the
fuel to keep me going. What could possibly motivate my intention to develop
wisdom and compassion while devoting myself to the welfare of others?
Suffering. Buddhist teachings and practices are a map that points the way to
freedom.
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