My dear friends,
The seventh precept under the seventh point in Geshe Chekawa's Mind Training in Seven Points is:
This precept refers to three essential conditions that support and nurture one's progress on the Bodhisattva path. These three causes are foundational for anyone who wishes to develop and sustain the mind of enlightenment, or Bodhicitta, and to engage in the practice of mind training (Lojong) effectively.
1. A Qualified Spiritual Guide
The first cause is having a qualified spiritual teacher or guide. In the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, the importance of a teacher cannot be overstated. A spiritual guide is essential for several reasons:
- Transmission of Teachings: The teacher provides the necessary teachings, instructions, and initiations that cannot be acquired through study alone.
- Correct Understanding: A teacher helps clarify misunderstandings and ensures that the student grasps the teachings correctly.
- Inspiration and Guidance: The teacher serves as a living example of the teachings, inspiring the student to continue on the path with faith and dedication.
How to Attain This Cause: To attain a qualified spiritual guide, one should search diligently, evaluating potential teachers based on their knowledge, practice, ethical conduct, and compassion. When a suitable teacher is found, it is important to establish a relationship based on respect, trust, and sincerity.
2. A Supportive Environment and Conditions
The second cause is having favorable conditions for practice, which include both external and internal environments:
- External Conditions: These involve living in a place where the teachings are available, where there is peace and stability, and where one has the time and resources to practice.
- Internal Conditions: These refer to one’s own physical and mental health, as well as having a balanced life that allows for dedicated spiritual practice.
How to Attain This Cause: To create a supportive environment, one may need to make practical changes, such as relocating to a place more conducive to practice or adjusting one's lifestyle to allow more time for meditation and study. Internally, one should work on cultivating a calm and balanced mind, free from excessive distractions and negative emotions.
3. Correct Practice and Motivation
- Correct Practice: This means engaging in the practices of mind training, meditation, ethical conduct, and study in accordance with the teachings. It also involves maintaining mindfulness and vigilance in everyday activities.
- Correct Motivation: The motivation behind all practice should be the altruistic intention to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings. This is the essence of bodhicitta, the heart of the Bodhisattva path.
How to Attain This Cause: Correct practice and motivation are attained by continuously refining one’s understanding of the teachings, applying them in daily life, and cultivating the altruistic intention (bodhicitta). Regular reflection on the nature of suffering, the impermanence of life, and the interconnectedness of all beings helps deepen one’s motivation.
These three principal causes contribute to the Bodhisattva path by providing the necessary foundation for the development of bodhicitta and the cultivation of the six perfections (generosity, ethical discipline, patience, effort, meditative concentration, and wisdom). With a qualified guide, a supportive environment, and correct practice and motivation, a practitioner can overcome obstacles, deepen their understanding, and maintain steady progress on the path to enlightenment.
By attending to these three principal causes, practitioners ensure that their spiritual practice is effective, balanced, and aligned with the ultimate goal of benefiting all sentient beings.