Dromtönpa
once saw a monk doing circumambulations and intuitively knew he was
doing them for a worldly motive.
He remarked, “It’s good to do
circumambulations, but it would be better to practice.”
Later he saw the
same monk making prostrations. “Prostrations are good,” he said, “but
it would be better to practice.”
Αfter some time, the monk began to do
meditation and Dromtönpa again remarked that doing retreats was
laudable, but it would be even better to practice.
Finally the monk, who
by this time was thoroughly perplexed, inquired what he meant by the
word practice.
Dromtönpa answered that it meant letting go of our preoccupation with this life and developing true love and compassion.
If what we do is for this life, it is a wordly endeavor, no matter how much it resembles a spiritual practice.
If we don’t overcome that concern, we aren’t true practitioners.
If we don’t overcome our concern for the well-being of our future lives, we don’t have a real wish for freedom.
Dromtönpa answered that it meant letting go of our preoccupation with this life and developing true love and compassion.
If what we do is for this life, it is a wordly endeavor, no matter how much it resembles a spiritual practice.
If we don’t overcome that concern, we aren’t true practitioners.
If we don’t overcome our concern for the well-being of our future lives, we don’t have a real wish for freedom.
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