Kathok Rigzin Chenpo Rinpoche
Some of us practitioners find ourselves not making much progress. Our practice last year, this year and
probably next year seems static. Nothing much shifts. For some people, this can
even be said for their entire life of practice.
When we are in such a rut, what should we do? There are some favourable conditions
we can create if we are brave and make efforts.
Sometimes, we listen to the Dharma and understand very little, or we cannot absorb
the Dharma into our hearts when we contemplate it, or the practice does not seem
to make any improvements. In such situations, Lama Tsongkhapa and many other lineage
masters said that we must rely on the merit field to make changes.
Firstly, we need to think of the Guru and the Triple Gems. We should think of
their good qualities and pray to them frequently to receive their blessings.
This is the most important point — using the power of faith to break through the
bottlenecks in our practice.
Secondly, we need to accumulate merits and confess our negativities. Apart from our usual offerings and
charity-giving, there are special occasions at special timings and with special
objects of offerings that we can accumulate merits and make confessions. There are special times each year, month or
day when practitioners should perform special practices which help to boost the
power or strength of our Dharma practice.
If we practitioners do not have a mind of confession; if we constantly think
that we are right; if arrogance is not subdued, then there is absolutely no
hope for Dharma practice to progress.
The first rule in Buddhism is to make three prostrations when we come to
the shrine. The reason for this is to
subdue our ego or pride. This is our
first precept or rule. The act of
prostration eliminates pride, thereby removing all barriers between you and the
Triple Gems. Then it is much easier to attune to the Triple Gems.
Therefore, it is important to keep making confession and purification. Furthermore, you have to keep accumulating
merits. Without merits, nothing works.
When merits are insufficient, all the knowledge is of little use, it might
even become the cause of misconceptions or deviant views. Dharma knowledge then becomes no different from mundane knowledge. You can generate a very perverted view. This
is very possible. A small misstep at the start and you miss the destination by ten
thousand miles.
Sometimes one can understand a lot, but if merits are meager and purification
is lacking, all the knowledge becomes quite futile. Thus, accumulation of
merits and purification are very important.
Although I have said this many times, this point is so crucial to all
practitioners that I am repeating it again for the benefit of those who seem not
to hear it.
Next, in our practice, we must often observe our own minds and make necessary
adjustments to wrong ideas or conceptions.
This augments our wisdom and makes us open to realizations. This is very
important.
Otherwise, we find that no matter how we study, our knowledge and wisdom doesn’t
increase. No matter how we practice, our Dharma power doesn’t increase. Then it
is for sure that there is some flaw or mistake somewhere in us. So, it is really important to self-reflect
and make necessary corrections.
