Buddha Dharma Helps Those Who.......
Shoshin
No one in particularNowhere Special Veteran
I have found that Buddhism is for the most part a hands on kinda spiritual approach, where one has to muck in and get their hands dirty in order to see results....
I guess in a sense The Buddha Dharma helps those who 'are prepared' to help themselves and Dharma practitioners also help those who help themselves by pointing the way (and often by leading by example )....
The Eightfold Path "Package"
1) Right/Complete Understanding/View
2) Right/Complete Thought/Intention
3) Right/Complete Speech
4) Right/Complete Action
5) Right/Complete Livelihood
6) Right/Complete EFFORT
7) Right/Complete Mindfulness
8) Right/Complete Concentration
We tend to get out what we are 'prepared' to put in, which comes to the importance of "Right Effort" ...
"As recorded in the Pali Canon, the Buddha taught there are four aspects to Right Effort. Very simply --
1)The effort to prevent unwholesome qualities -- especially greed, anger and ignorance -- from arising.
2)The effort to extinguish unwholesome qualities that already have arisen.
3)The effort to cultivate skillful, or wholesome, qualities -- especially generosity, loving kindness, and wisdom (the opposites of greed, anger and ignorance) -- that have not yet arisen.
4)The effort to strengthen the wholesome qualities that have already arise
On some days one might feel that they just can't be bothered to do what they know must be done in order to achieve a positive/wholesome result...
What have you found motivates you to make the effort when it comes to Dharma practice ?
Comments
Saṃvega.
Wikipedia
Thanissaro
I guess anxiety is as good as any motivator
"A strong desire sometimes mixed with doubt, fear, or uneasiness"
Struggles. When I'm struggling with something, making the effort really helps me.
Samvega links provided by @Snakeskin very appropriate to some of our lazy, many lifetimes, no rush, Dharma fantasists ...
However strangely enough, the search for early and repeated benefits from early efforts is an important motivator. That comes from the right effort and appropriate/skilfull means. Practice which we find and apply with a teachers help if available, much as the Buddha did.
Eventually it is true enough we enter a more effortless effort or have attuned our being to an open and free expression.
Don't skip. Know what is required and why, otherwise dukkha, death, illness, psychotic dakinis, mad lobsters and other unhealthy/bothersome arisings will disturb your complacent snoozing/coasting ...
You have been warmed (like a warning but with sizzle)!
I wish I could tell you, but I don't exactly know. It's like I see some lesson or piece of lore and suddenly a bell goes off in my head signalling "this is for you!" And I go charging off after it as if shot out of a cannon.
Sometimes I grasp a challenge, like losing 10 kg through mindful eating, which at the same time is supposed to cut some ties with being addicted to foodstuffs, and then I have a few attempts at it until I am successful.
And sometimes I'm inspired by the poetic or the mythic... the poem hsin hsin ming or "inscription on faith in mind" by Tseng'can is a particular favourite, I often come back to it and i usually see some new piece of meaning.
compassionate songs motivate my right intention in the morning.practice giving,tip a buck.my attitude is little things can go a long way.
Same @paulyso. I try to to lots of little things during my day to help people. I hand out compliments like candy. Compassion motivates me a lot more than liberation.
Many Pure Land Buddhists believe once they take refuge in Amida they will achieve liberation after this life. In all honesty I don't concern myself with that... the afterlife is unknowable. I guess I'll know if I'm liberated or not once I die. But I wouldn't bet on it. I believe Amida is with me always as per the sutras say. So he/she/they will be with me in death. Ispo facto.
If it ends up not being that way, I still wouldn't consider it a waste to focus on a compassionate figure.
kannon that is awesome.love your attitude.
Good motivation from @Kannon
... compliments like candy, smiles unlimited. Creating ripples of goodwill. Doing ever more good is a great way to live ...
Curiosity! There is always more to discover.
Curiosity is a good one.
Here is a rather lengthy but hopefully useful exploration for those who are curious ...
http://blog.paradigm-sys.com/curiosity-a-missing-ingredient-in-buddhist-meditation-practice-and-modern-psychology/