(Photo by Alvin Tan)
When we speak of spiritual cultivation, many people would say, “I am too early for that! I have a family commitment and need to fulfill my family responsibilities before I can start engaging in spiritual practice.”
There are also some who say the opposite: “It is already too late for me! I would not have gotten married and started a family if I knew the benefits of spiritual cultivation earlier. Now I cannot let go of my family.”
The fact is, spiritual cultivation is not the “sole privilege” of the monastics. If those who have left home to enter into a monastic life do not understand the true meaning of spiritual cultivation, they will not be able to get rid of their mental afflictions, too.
The goal of spiritual cultivation is to thoroughly understand one’s mind and to awaken to one’s intrinsic (Buddha) nature. What this means at a deeper level is that we need to cultivate our mind and refine our personality. Hence, spiritual practice is about cultivating our minds and refining our inner personality while correcting and regulating our outward behaviour. And this is something everyone can do, not just monks and nuns.
There is a Chinese saying that goes, “Men’s hearts differ, just as their faces”. We can say this in another way: “Men’s habitual tendencies differ, just as their faces.” However, our hearts and minds have the same innate nature, as everyone has the same kindness and great love as Buddhas and Bodhisattvas. But different people behave and react differently due to their differing habitual tendencies and perspectives on life. This is why we need to put in effort to cultivate our mind and refine our personality.
What is the difference between our mind and our intrinsic nature? Lay people term it as “mind”, while the enlightened see it as the “nature” of living beings. Our mind and intrinsic nature are actually one and the same. But when our pure, innate nature becomes tainted by worldly desires, it turns into a mortal mind. Spiritual cultivation is about putting effort into cultivating the mind to eradicate greed, anger, ignorance, arrogance and doubt.
People would often say, “It is good enough that I have a kind heart. Why should I engage in spiritual practice?” But how do we ascertain and measure kindness? For example, when you see someone injured at the roadside as you are driving, you may think, “I wish to help that person very much. But what if he accused me of knocking him down and my kindness were not reciprocated. Wouldn’t I be asking for trouble?” Do you consider such a thought as kind or unkind?
True kindness can only be attained through refining and polishing one’s personality and character. We must cultivate to a level where we can take the initiative to help whoever’s in need without any hesitation. Spiritual cultivation refers to the efforts we make to unleash our beautiful innate nature of goodness. Hence, everyone should put serious effort into cultivating their minds and refining their personality as well as behaviour, regardless of whether they have a religious faith or not.
Nurturing the seeds of kindness
Spiritual cultivation is not about escaping reality or isolating ourselves from the crowd. The goal of cultivation is to forget about our personal gains and losses, and not to be attached to whether or not we will attain spiritual liberation. Instead, we should focus on whether or not we can help living beings be relieved of their suffering as this is the way of a spiritual cultivator.
Each of us has a physical body that enables us to move around and a pure conscience in our heart. If we can make full use of our innate wisdom and ability to do good to serve the masses, we will certainly be able to benefit people in our society with our efforts.
Not being calculative about one’s gains and losses, and putting the interests of living beings as priority are the true principles of the Dharma. If we are able to practise the teachings we have learned in daily life to benefit others and ourselves, our hearts will be filled with joy.
Attaining such Dharma joy requires a long period of spiritual cultivation, and we must be determined and persistent in our efforts. We should seize the opportunity to plant the pure seed of kindness into the field of our mind and provide it with sufficient sunlight, water and air so that it will grow strong.
We should also make good use of karmic conditions and take care to maintain kind thoughts. With positive karmic conditions and seeds of kindness, we will develop an unwavering resolve to practise spiritual cultivation and not lose interest in our practice.
Extracted from “Sheng Huo De Zhi Hui”《生活的智慧》
Translated by the Tzu Chi Singapore translation team
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