Process and Goal in Practice
Sojong Reminder 11/2021 from Anam Thubten
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Dear Dharma friends,
While scrubbing the stains in the kitchen sink, there is a sense that what one is doing is "a means to an end" - to make the sink sparkling clean again. Similarly, thousands of people are driving on the highway each day, not because they have so much time on their hands that they’re having a joy ride, but because they’re going to work to earn living. Though this is also an activity that is a means to an end, people often don’t find it rewarding in itself. Rather, it can feel like they’re doing it without a choice in order to pay a bill or put food on the table. Still now and then, some people figure out how to turn these activities into fun, joyous tasks.
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Unlike the mundane chores mentioned above, practicing dharma is already both the process and goal at the same time. Nirvana (awakening/Buddha-hood) is often regarded as the very attainment that one should be striving to achieve in this life. It’s often called “the fruition”. It’s helpful to have these objectives in mind as a destination for where we want to go. Without these goals, we might not have the motivation to continue to evolve. For many people in the Buddhist traditions, these goals are not only an integral part of their path, but they’re a powerful motivating force for practicing dharma. Therefore, we might like to have transcendent goals in mind, such as enlightenment. Enlightenment is not static, and one can have one’s own interpretation of it. Such a goal is also in the spirit of the Bodhisattva whose commitment is to actualize awakening for the benefit of all.
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On the other hand, while holding these aspirations in mind, we should realize that the practice we’re doing in everyday life is also already the goal. Even without reaching some mind-blowing spiritual attainment, every moment we practice the dharma there is change happening in us that might not be obvious right away. Such change is the goal as well as the fruition. This perspective can allow us to see that the practice and goal are inseparable, and that we could have a deep appreciation for our own practice whether it has been easy or challenging.
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During this Sojong, let’s take the time to recognize the various levels of change in our consciousness through practicing dharma: the circle of our compassion has expanded more than ever, our ability to hold external situations in equanimity is stronger than ever, and maybe we’re not caught-up in our internal drama as often as we used to be. Let’s acknowledge that these changes are the true fruition, and hold appreciation for our continuing journey and aspirations.
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With palms joined,
Anam Thubten
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