Applying Spiritual Practice

Applying Spiritual Practice

Chagdug Tulku Rinpoche.

Applying spiritual practice in daily life begins when you wake up in the morning and rejoice that you didn't die last night, in knowing that you have one more useful day, because how can you guarantee that you will have two?

You remind yourself of correct motivation. Instead of setting out to become rich and famous or to follow your own selfish interests, you meet the day with the altruistic intention to help others.

And you renew this sort of commitment every morning. You tell yourself:
"With this day I'll do my very best that I can. I will do right by other people as much as I am able.

During the day, check your mind thoroughly. How am I behaving? What is my real intention?

Reduce negative thoughts, speech and behaviour. Increase the positive.

When you look back on your day you may find that you were able to make others happy.
Maybe you gave food to a hungry bird, or practised some act of generosity, a key moment of patience.

Rather than becoming self-satisfied, resolve to do better tomorrow, to be ever more skilful, more compassionate in your interactions with others.

Dedicate the positive energy created by your good actions to all beings, whoever they are, whatever condition they are in, thinking:
"May this virtue relieve the suffering of beings, may it cause them short and long-term happiness.