Okay, so, last time I was talking about developing faith and devotion to the Mahayana as a factor
that leads to the realization of our Buddha Nature, or should I say the understanding
of our Buddha Nature so that our Buddha Nature can be transformed into the Dharmakaya, the
Truth Body of the Buddha. And so, then the question arises, "Well,
how do we cultivate devotion to the Dharma and, specifically, to the Mahayana?" So,
one way to do this is by seeing the benefits. So, for example, in Chapter One of Guide to
a Bodhisattva's Way of Life which Khensur Rinpoche taught here several years ago, ... .... ...
Anyway, in Chapter One it talks about all the benefits and advantages of generating the altruistic
intention. And, when you read the chapter, it's so inspiring, you know, because it
really shows you how, you know, having a thought that cares about others, and a mind that is
really focused on developing our own potential for the benefit of others, can relieve so
much stress and anxiety in our own mind, you know? And, how it acts as a strong factor
in purifying our negative karma. And, how it acts as a salve for all the pain in the
world, you know? Because if we're able to generate that bodhicitta mind and realize
emptiness, and become a Buddha, then there's so much good that we can do for so many living beings.
So, you know, reflecting on the benefits of
bodhicitta, not only the long term benefits when we're a Buddha, but sometimes that
seems like so far away, you know. How am I going to get there? But just even the short
term benefits, you know. If I have bodhicitta in my mind, my life's going to be purposeful
and meaningful. And I'll be able to purify a lot of negative karma very quickly
because, you know, the bodhicitta is focused on the welfare of all
beings. And so, any action you do with that mind because it's so expansive in how many
beings it's aimed to benefit, becomes very, very strong, you know.
Similarly, any virtuous activity we engage in, it creates very strong merit, very powerful
merit. We become such a, a more nice person, a nicer person. We become a nicer person?
That sounds corny, doesn't it? But we just become nicer, don't we? You know, I mean
if we have that thought aimed at the welfare of others and wanting to develop ourselves
in that way, then we're so much more cooperative with other people. We get along better with
other people. We solve problems rather than create them, you know? And so, even now, just
in terms of practical ways, bodhicitta's beneficial. In terms of our Dharma practice,
it's beneficial. In terms of our long-term aims and the long-term welfare of others,
it's beneficial. So when we really spend some time contemplating
this in our meditation, then the mind, you know, starts having some faith in that, some
confidence in that. And becomes inspired and aspires to develop that mind, okay? And then
you can see how, when you have that devotion to the Mahayana Dharma, then you automatically
want to practice, okay. And, of course, the chief thing we want to practice is, you know,
we have to do a whole lot of preliminaries to this. But to, you know, understand the
nature of reality, which is the same as the natural purity of our mind, which is the Buddha Nature.
Okay? So, that's how it becomes a factor that leads to the development of
our Buddha Nature.