Question asked by tan
Dear pastors,
If my motivation to practise dharma is just to avoid being bullied by others, to have genuine friends which I can interact freely, get a good relationship with a pretty girl, to be smarter so I can do my job properly. Is it okay if these are the motivations when I do prayers and chanting and prostration?
Dear Tan,
Your motivation, when doing prayers, chanting and prostrations, should be “higher” than those mentioned in your question. In our prayers, we must first take refuge in the Three Jewels, and generate Bodhicitta. Our motivation should be: “May I be a better person, avoid the ten non-virtues and replace them with virtues, eliminate the three poisons and abandon the eight worldly concerns, may all sentient beings be happy, may they be free of suffering and the causes of suffering, and may I be of benefit to all sentient beings. If your goal is the highest, then all the other smaller goals are encompassed.