Many people are thinking like this, “How do I know if my practice has improved, or if it is correct? If my meditation is working?”
by Khenpo Tashi
As we can see here, as the Buddha taught in the texts, in the Tantras, in the Shastras, as His Holiness Penor Rinpoche advises here. And how I will also advise. Of course, check our mind. How is our mind? Is it the same as before? After practicing, what is the state of our mind?
Reducing the Three Poisons
When we do prostrations, or mandala offering, or whatever, these are the ways to accumulate merit. Yes. But the most important is what is happening in our internal state, in our mind.
Our emotions, desire, anger, confusion, pride, jealousy, three poisons, how much they are reduced in our minds, that’s how effective our practice or meditation is said to be.
Increasing of Positive Qualities
Then, loving compassion, how much it has increased in our mindstream. Also, the renunciation for Samsara, the faith and trust in the workings of cause and effect, the confidence in past and future lives, the confidence in a path to Liberation, in the Sublime Dharma as the path. Also, confidence in the Buddha’s excellent qualities, and the faith in the Triple Gems. How much have all these expanded (in our mind)?
- The forming of greater and greater compassion for the sufferings of sentient beings in the cyclic Samsara
- Through the strength of this (compassion), feeling stronger renunciation for the sufferings of the ocean of Samsara
- Then, through the strength of this renunciation, wishing to be of benefit to mother sentient beings.
So these types of compassion (based on renunciation) are growing and expanding.
Through the strength (of this compassion), for the benefit of all mother sentient beings, one wishes to achieve the Completely Perfect Buddha’s state, saying, “I must obtain that! I cannot afford not to obtain that!” Saying like this. This is the mind of renunciation, and that should be growing and expanding further.
Then, with such a certainty, one practices and accomplishes the Buddha’s state, saying, “I will work hard to accomplish this path.” Through the strength of this, one wishes, “I want to separate all mother sentient beings from the endless ocean of recurring suffering. I cannot afford to ignore them!” This is the Mind of Enlightenment, or Bodhicitta.
So, these thoughts are growing and flourishing in our mind. Then, the strength and power of these factors are also growing. If that is one’s practice, then one must remain there.
Only For Show?
If these do not occur, then whether you practice hard for 3, 6, 15 or 30 years, however much antidote you apply… you can collect a great number of mantra. But, if your mind has not changed, if compassion, renunciation, faith, wisdom do not increase in you, then, we can say that one’s practice is only just for show. Just for appearance’s sake. Like how, outwardly, one can look like one stays long in retreat, but nothing has changed in one’s mind.
These things, such as compassion, renunciation and faith, they should lead to an unfailing trust in the Triple Gems, excellent Taking Refuge, excellent Compassion. Through these, our compassion, wisdom, confidence and devotion to the Triple Gems must expand and flourish further.
Summary
So, if we ask, “Am I doing the (Buddhist) practices right? Are the practices benefitting me? (The answer is) Look at your own mind. Bring your attention inside.”
If these do not happen, then more diligence, more effort are needed. Also, think about renunciation. Think more about the sufferings of Samsara, the sufferings of the beings of the Six Realms.
Then, if we are lacking Bodhicitta, we must contemplate the sufferings of sentient beings. We must contemplate the Four Immeasurables again and again in our minds. Then, the desire to practice, to separate our mother sentient beings from sufferings, will arise. This is how to generate Bodhicitta.
Afterwards, we call to mind the Buddha’s qualities, the Dharma’s qualities, the Sangha’s qualities. Then, we recall the unfailing and undeceiving Dharma teachings. We then promise to accomplish the unfailing Dharma teachings within our mindstream. That is the same as promising to generating the Bodhi-mind and obtaining liberation, isn’t it?
So, that is it. With regard to engaging the teachings, practicing the Dharma, whether our practice is good or not, whether we are benefiting from it or not, it can be tested when our mind is purer.
Always, the main points are –
- if there is renunciation and compassion, or not, in one’s mindstream,
- one generates more Bodhicitta,
- and if there is genuine faith and devotion towards the truth of liberation and teacher