Surely Dharma Practice is a No Brainer?

3 easy steps to make the best use of this precious human body and achieve your full potential

We have the perfect vehicle, the greatest teachers and all the resources we are ever likely to need. We would be crazy not to use them to set ourselves free.

“This perfect, unbelievably rare human rebirth is a one-time opportunity to practice, receive teachings, and actualize the path” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

The gift of Dharma is freely available to us all if we choose to use it.

You can give up wasting your precious time and dedicate yourself to something worthwhile and lasting — to achieve happiness, liberation from suffering and benefit all fellow sentient beings from this day forward.

Dharma is not a great mystery, it simply means a complete change of attitude — that’s what will really bring you inner happiness. I believe everyone is capable of transforming themselves for the better and is entitled to enjoy happiness.

One of the best things to come from this pandemic and lock down for me has been the opportunity to practice and receive teachings from His Holiness The Dalai Lama and other great Buddhist teachers via video link.

In receiving recent blessings I was asked to play it forward and so I would like to encourage you to start practicing Dharma today in these 3 very easy steps:

1. Look at and change your attitude

Work to overcome the ‘self-cherishing’ nature of your ego mind which places your own needs over those of others. Eliminate the three poisons of ignorance, anger and attachment by practicing the virtuous actions of love, kindness and generosity. You can practice this throughout every day and with everyone you come into contact with.

“Cherishing the self is the source of all suffering, so cherishing others is the source of all happiness” — Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

2. Learn how to meditate

Take time out and reflect to observe and know the mind - what it is, how it works and how to use it. No need to sit for hours in silence and stillness. Start with ten or fifteen minutes of quiet self-reflection to calm the mind. Extend the time gradually and explore various techniques online if you are interested to take it further.

3. Read dharma books and listen to great teachers

So much is freely available to read and watch online. You Tube is a great resource for watching our greatest living teachers bring the words to life by injecting their personalities, humour and wonderful anecdotes. These teachings show us how to skillfully combine the method and wisdom which will enable us to make good life choices.

It’s not a mystery! Everyone can practice Dharma 24 hours a day and make good use of this precious opportunity of a human life.

Since we know that the results of our actions, through cause and effect, will become our karmic imprint in this and our next life — there is no time to waste.

As Shantideva reminds us in ‘A Guide to the Boddhisatva’s Way of Life’ (the boat to cross samsara):

Relying on the boat of a human body, Free yourself from the great river of pain! As it is hard to find this boat again, This is no time to sleep, you fool!

If we motivate every action with the wish to be free of ‘the great river of pain’ (samsara- the suffering of this life) and to achieve liberation for all sentient beings we will be happy knowing that we have this opportunity and can achieve our goal of developing ourselves to our ultimate potential.