My dear friends,
The nineteenth precept under the seventh point in Geshe Chekawa's Mind Training in Seven Points is:
This simple precept echoes across spiritual traditions, urging us to cultivate humility in our actions and intentions. In the sixth chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus provides a profound teaching on this very subject, advising his followers to practice their righteousness in secret, without seeking the approval or admiration of others. This counsel is deeply aligned with the Bodhisattva path, where the focus is on inner transformation rather than external validation.
for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven."
- Matthew 6:1
On the Bodhisattva path, the practice of ethical discipline, generosity, and other virtues is not performed for the sake of recognition. Instead, these actions are cultivated to purify one's mindstream, to develop compassion, and to contribute to the well-being of all sentient beings. Jesus' teaching here reminds us that when we act with the intention of being seen by others, we are feeding the ego rather than nourishing the soul. The "reward" that Jesus refers to can be understood as the inner peace and spiritual growth that arise from acting in alignment with our deepest values, rather than from external accolades.
as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets,
so that they may be praised by others.
Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms,
do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,
so that your alms may be done in secret,
and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
- Matthew 6:2-4
The concept of giving without seeking recognition is central to the Bodhisattva's practice of generosity (dāna). When Jesus advises us to give in secret, he is pointing towards the importance of pure intention. The act of giving is sacred when it is free from the taint of self-aggrandizement. From the viewpoint of the Bodhisattva path, this means that the merit generated by such an act is not diminished by attachment to the self or the praise of others. Instead, the merit is dedicated to the enlightenment of all beings, an act of selfless compassion that is witnessed by one's own inner awareness—what Jesus calls "your Father who sees in secret."
for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners,
so that they may be seen by others.
Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
But whenever you pray,
go into your room and shut the door
and pray to your Father who is in secret,
and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
- Matthew 6:5-6
Prayer, in the context of both Christian and Buddhist practice, is a form of communion with the divine or one's own inner truth. On the Bodhisattva path, this could be likened to meditation, where the practitioner turns inward to cultivate Bodhicitta, the awakened heart and mind. Jesus' instruction to pray in secret aligns with the practice of cultivating inner silence and stillness. When prayer or meditation is done for the sake of public recognition, it loses its transformative power, becoming a mere performance. However, when done in solitude, it nurtures the soul and strengthens one's connection to the divine—the inner witness that is always present, always aware.
for they mark their faces to show others that they are fasting.
Truly I tell you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
so that your fasting may be seen not by others
but by your Father who is in secret,
and your Father who sees in secret will reward you."
- Matthew 6:16-18
Fasting, like any spiritual discipline, is most effective when it is performed with sincerity and inner focus. Jesus cautions against making a show of one's spiritual practices, for the ego thrives on such displays. On the Bodhisattva path, the practice of fasting can be seen as a means of purifying the body and mind, reducing attachment to sensory pleasures, and deepening one's compassion for those who suffer. By advising us to "wash your face" and present ourselves normally, Jesus emphasizes the importance of humility and the internal nature of true spiritual progress. It is not the outward display that matters, but the quiet inner work witnessed by one's own conscience—the "Father who sees in secret."
In all these teachings, Jesus directs our attention away from the approval of others and towards the cultivation of inner virtue. This aligns perfectly with the Bodhisattva's commitment to practice for the benefit of all beings, free from the chains of pride and ego. By focusing on the inner witness—our own capacity for self-awareness and introspection—we can ensure that our actions are rooted in genuine compassion and wisdom, rather than in the fleeting rewards of worldly recognition.