The true Buddha-dharma emphasizes real practice and skills and is not merely theoretical Buddhist studies. H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III has said that after you enter the door of Buddhism, you must cultivate yourself according to the dharma. Your three karmas of body, speech, and mind must correspond with the teachings of the Buddhas. Only then will you be able to become accomplished. Conduct that is not in accord with the teachings of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas must be corrected through concrete actions. You must make your conduct accord with the teachings contained in the Tripitaka and the states of morality, concentration, and wisdom.
Yet, correcting your words and conduct must be carried out within everyday worldly life. That is because everyday worldly life is the Buddha-dharma. There is no Buddha-dharma to accomplish apart from worldly or secular dharma. That is why you must use all mundane or worldly experiences to improve your self-cultivation. You must use worldly experiences to perfect your realization and conduct. If your basic worldly conduct is not proper, it is of no use to speak in a high-sounding way about emptiness or to speak boastfully and wish wildly.
However, we must have patience in learning the Buddha-dharma. You cannot completely understand the principles of the dharma in a brief period of time. You must go through the sequence of first hearing the principles from your vajra master, gradually acting in accordance with these principles, walking the correct path and so on. You must advance step by step. You cannot expect that your negative karmic obstructions that have formed over many past lives can be purified in just one day. The tantric dharma that we receive, when correctly practiced, will enable us to overcome our obstructions, purify our three karmas, and enable us to progress on this path. Do not waste time on activities that do not lead to liberation and becoming a Buddha. CLICK for “Precise Definition of Buddha-Dharma.” CLICK for “Evil Views concerning Buddha-Dharma.”
Excellent……..
This is exactly what I needed to hear. It’s difficult to set aside time to meditate, but cultivation is something I can do everyday in every encounter. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
I need to keep the ultimate goal in mind.