Geshe Pema Tsering’s Advice for Daily Practice

On waking we should train ourselves to cultivate thoughts of aspiration to practice Dharma to reach enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings.  This then becomes a habit and is the first thought that arises in the morning.  There is no end to the benefits of giving rise to cherishing the welfare of all other sentient beings.  A good motivation makes our work and life in general meaningful as well.

The formalities of a daily practice are taking Refuge, which gives rise to Boddhichitta, along with the Seven Limb Prayer; naturally other prayers of personal significance may be recited as well.  Then depending on the time available engagement in spiritual activities such as offerings, confessions, prostrations, mantras and study generally follow.

Seven water bowls are the traditional offering on an altar but other objects can be offered as well. The most important factor is that offerings are made wholeheartedly.  It is very beneficial to offer water bowls; water is used in many different ways to wash to drink cook and so on. Also as water is relatively plentiful we do not develop miserliness to it.

While making prostrations we should aspire to accomplish the same realizations as the Buddha.  With hands together, fingers touching, thumbs inside facing up, representing method and wisdom, place the hands on crown of the head, forehead, throat and heart representing the exalted actions of a Buddha, body speech and mind.  Focus on the wish to benefit sentient beings in the ways that the enlightened ones do.

Whether one physically prostrates or not the creation of reverence in the mind is the most important factor.

Suggested mantras are Chenrezig, Tara or Manjushri.  When we recite the mantras of or think of deities such as Chenrezig, Tara or Manjushri we should not think of attaining their qualities but focus on their accomplishments and their boundless abilities to work and help sentient beings.  Our motivation is more important than the number of mantras recited.  It is good to do 100 or 1000 but even 1, 2 or 3 are beneficial if down wholeheartedly.

Study, reading and contemplation are very important aspects of a daily practice as well.  If there is no need to work, e.g. weekends, study as much as time allows.  Study and contemplation are the prerequisites for meditation.  At this point, as beginners, we cannot achieve single pointed meditation so we should engage in analytical meditation that flows naturally from studying of Dharma.

It’s up to each individual to decide precisely what to include in their daily practice depending on what one is capable of doing, but we should always try to arrest any thoughts that are concerned with the happiness of this life only.
Finally, it is important to take whatever virtues we have created and dedicate them so these virtues will be the cause of attaining enlightenment for the sake of benefiting all beings.

It is vital that we should not view spiritual practice as just morning practice.  We should try to take refuge throughout the day, making aspirations and dedications, bringing our awareness back to and focusing on the mind.  This is not difficult or time consuming and over time it becomes an integral part of our thinking.

Transcribed by Chrys Dombroyannis