Awaekning in Life in All Circumstances

“Work is Dharma practice, and life is the field of merit.” This is a principle of Dharma practice that we must consistently affirm and establish in our daily lives and work, for it is through this principle that we lay a solid foundation for our practice.

We often harbor an overly perfectionistic and idealistic mindset, expecting to see the results of our work, attainments in our Dharma practice, and a perfect life— all within a short period of time. We tend to expect the fullest realization of our aspirations after having invested only a little effort. In the end, however, this only brings us immense suffering and grave disappointment.

I often say that, when undertaking any task, we must allow ourselves a little time and space. Every environment, organization, and individual has both strengths and shortcomings; none is perfect, and each goes through a period of growth. Wherever we may be, we cannot expect everything to be flawless. Thus, Dharma practice is the process of learning to regard imperfect circumstances as though they were perfectly acceptable. It is like space, which encompasses and accommodates all things without exception. The mind of a practitioner should likewise be like space, capable of encompassing all that is good and bad, all disputes over right and wrong, and our thoughts and opinions. We should engage with every karmic connection and dependent arising without discrimination and embrace all the circumstances and connections that come our way.

In our daily lives, we must strive to realize our own mind and primordial awareness. Once we have gained experiential insight, we should then bring order to our daily conduct in daily life, enabling ourselves to pursue the path of practice with peace of mind. We should not be half-hearted practitioners who set their sights too high, wasting time indulging in a host of beautiful but unrealistic ideas that amount to nothing more than wishful thinking. Instead, we must put our understanding into practice and approach the study of the Dharma with humility. Make daily life the place where you awaken; regard the community as a favorable condition for your growth; and consider every person you encounter a virtuous karmic connection.

We must be practitioners guided by rationality and discernment, consistently remaining vigilant regarding our conduct in daily life and sustaining an attitude of diligence and perseverance. We must distance ourselves from conceptual elaboration and frivolous indulgence. A playful, self-indulgent attitude is a major obstacle to Dharma practice. If we delight in frivolous entertainment and insist on acting willfully, we will create problems for ourselves and generate karmic obstacles to our practice. Therefore, every one must diligently apply themselves in three areas; the bodhimanda, their work and responsibilities, and pursuit of the Dharma practice.