Don’t Become Discouraged

Many people expect to understand Buddhism or transform themselves easily – through a short spell of intensive practice, etc. But that is unlikely. We have been wandering in samsara since beginningless time, concretising strong habits for continuous wandering. Thus, it is extremely difficult to eliminate these habits in a short time.

We can’t let this deter us though, or become discouraged. Each step we take leads us in the right direction and will make our situation in future lives that much better. To become discouraged is a sign of not understanding the Dharma. We should look at the Buddha and how long he had to strive and the challenges he endured to reach the final result of enlightenment. It took him three incalculable aeons.

If we hear that and become discouraged, well, what is the alternative? To not work to improve ourselves, to not persist in trying to understand reality and resign ourselves to continuously suffering life after life without end? That would be foolish when everything we do that is virtuous, every practice of the Dharma that we engage in improves us now, improves our prospects for future lives and leads us toward the final result, where we are free from suffering and endowed with the abilities to help free others.

Excerpt from the last day of teachings at the Thrangu Sekhar One-Week Retreat, in May 2024