My dear friends,

The fourth point of Geshe Chekawa's Mind Training in Seven Points is titled "A Lifetime's Practice". The first precept under this point is:

These "five forces" – essential principles that guide our lives towards spiritual development and the Bodhisattva path – are:

1. Motivation (Intention): The pure motivation of aspirational Bodhicitta - the mind of love and compassion that seeks enlightement for the benefit all sentient beings. By consistently reinforcing this motivation, we align our actions with our spiritual goals, ensuring that our practice remains focused and purposeful.
2. Familiarization (Cultivation): This force is about familiarizing ourselves with positive mental states and wholesome actions through consistent practice. By repeatedly engaging in virtuous activities, such as the six perfections (paramitas) and the ten skillful actions (kusala-kamma), we develop these qualities more deeply. This continual cultivation transforms the mind and establishes a stable foundation for spiritual growth.
3. The White Seed (Positive Energy): This force emphasizes the accumulation of merit through virtuous deeds, positive thoughts, and beneficial actions. By planting and nurturing "white seeds," or seeds of virtue, we build a reserve of positive energy that supports our spiritual journey. These actions help purify negative karma and create conducive conditions for further progress on the Bodhisattva path.
4. Abandonment (Repudiation): This force involves the abandonment of harmful attitudes, negative emotions, and unwholesome behaviors. By consciously letting go of anger, attachment, ignorance, and other detrimental states, we create space for positive qualities to flourish. This process of repudiation is crucial for overcoming obstacles and achieving a clear, compassionate, and enlightened mind.
5. Prayer (Aspiration): This force is about making sincere prayers and aspirations for the well-being of all sentient beings and for our own spiritual progress. By dedicating one's practice and merits to the benefit of others, we reinforce our commitment to the Bodhisattva ideal. These prayers help cultivate a selfless attitude and strengthen the resolve to achieve enlightenment for the sake of all:
   I dedicate all merit I may have obtained to the benefit of all sentient beings.
   May all beings have happiness and the causes of happiness.
   May all beings be free of suffering and the causes of suffering.
   May all beings never be separated from the joy that is free of sorrow.
   May all beings dwell in equanimity, free of attachment and aversion.

Together, these five forces work synergistically to transform our lives and minds. They help to develop and maintain the qualities necessary for progressing on the Bodhisattva path, such as compassion, wisdom, and altruism. By integrating these forces into daily practice, we can effectively blend our lives with spiritual development, leading to greater inner peace, clarity, and the ability to benefit others.