Secret Instruction of Mind

Khenpo Karten Rinpoche

Dharma holds us back and protects us from falling into the abyss of the three realms of samsara and eventually brings us to the safety of a Buddha’s state of omniscience. 

Dharma is not principally verbal or physical practice, but a practice of developing our mind; this is very important.

As said in Entering the Conduct of Bodhisattvas (by Bodhisattva Shantideva):

“An instant of mental clarity results in rebirth as Brahma and so forth.

Physical and verbal actions, being lesser, do not yield such results.

“All recitation and austerities that are undertaken,

even if pursued for great lengths of time,

if done with a distracted, wandering mind

are therefore said to be meaningless.

“If one does not know this secret instruction about mind,

even Dharma of supreme meaning

done with the wish for happiness and to destroy suffering

only leads to suffering and tormented wandering (in samsara).”

Therefore, before beginning the actual practice, it is very important to adjust your motivation.

Buddha said in Sutra, 

“The intention of the action is what determines the strength of virtue or non-virtue, not how large or small the action appears to be.”

Thus, as said, whether an action of body or speech is virtuous or non-virtuous is determined by its underlying motivation (positive or negative), not by the action's external form. The external appearance of the act is not the most important factor.

Therefore, before beginning the practice it is extremely important to adjust your motivation.

(Note: Brahma is a god in the heavenly realms)