QUESTION
Dearest Venerable Robina.
I hope this email finds you well in all ways, strong and happy.
At times my spiritual practice is like trying to spark up a two stroke lawnmower manually without reading the instructions. I have an array of practices I lean into to get me through my day. I recently began to attend Al Anon meetings to depersonalize and to understand how to step out into the communities I belong to. I pray to a higher power that is Buddha and Vajrasattva and sometimes an angel. Sometimes I struggle with a feeling of being lonely as I choose my practice over being with people.
I write to you as a way to connect to the teachings again, as I chose you as a teacher when I began to practice the daily purifications.
Thanks for receiving me.
Much love
K
ANSWER
Dearest K,
Happy to hear from you!
It’s hard to keep a steady practice in our lives — to keep our lives steady too!
So keep it simple, go one step at a time, know that you’re a work in progress.
And stick to people who’ll support you, nourish your heart, let you be who you are. We need to make these choices.
And don’t forget to rejoice in your goodness, your efforts, okay! We forget this; we always point out our rubbish. But we need to have a balanced picture of who we are.
Tell me about your practice, if you like.
Love to you,
Robina
QUESTION
Hi Robina.
Thanks for your love.
My practice is more “off the mat” than on. I practice loving kindness towards everything except myself at times. It is informal, but heartfelt. It can be improvised.
I sit for 15 minutes and dedicate to all beings.
I carry the Lama Zopa Daily Purification short Vajrasattva practice book with me in my bum bag.
I have awareness of my mind, of impermanence, of dying, of the teachings.
I have all the seeds, and even when I forget to water them, they are there rising again and again.
I see this on reflection as some good karma.
I practice the short Vajrasattva practice and the Vajra Guru Mantra.
I do not feel one connection with teachings. I feel I have this Christ Consciousness dialogue going down humming along.
It is just about love and being a good and decent person. I then have the teachings of the Buddha in my heart.
I would say I do not have a formal practice and I am not religious.
I would love some direction and advice.
Much Love
K
ANSWER
Well, dearest K, sounds to me that you’re doing beautifully.
Keep going as you are: growing that precious Christ Consciousness of yours! I’m not sure you need to do more.
And just wonderful you carry around those little books and practices!
You certainly have the right approach: the teachings are in your heart: that’s the most important. On the other hand, you could have a disciplined practice, but your heart might not be involved — that’s not helpful.
Although I do find that having a disciplined structure does help. But you have to know that’s right for you.
What do you think?
Much love,
Robina
QUESTION
Dearest Robina.
Thank you for taking time to converse with me.
My heart craves a discipline. Something simple. A routine to nurture. I fumble around with this.
It’s like I have the mower but I only remember to use it when the grass gets way too long.
I am in my 50s now and there is a yearning for a discipline to deepen into.
My devotion really is to love and towards loving kindness. I feel my discipline and devotion to a practice will deepen this by ensuring I am putting my mask on before sharing oxygen with others.
What do you suggest? I am open.
All my love,
K
ANSWER
Okay, then, most dear K!
I’d suggest the discipline of doing something first thing after you get up and last thing before you go to bed: like two bookends of the day.
And it’s good to have a place in your home where you do some practice. Make it lovely, so then you’ll want to go there. I mean, we have a place where we sleep, where we eat, etc., so a place where you go to go inside yourself: perfect!
Morning: before your breakfast – or after, whichever you prefer – sit on your cushion or your chair and say a few Vajra Guru mantras, remembering the qualities of the holy beings and that they are your potential too.
Then motivate to do the best for that day: watch your body and speech, and be aware of your mind.
Evening, before you get too tired: sit down and do the Vajrasattva practice, nice and simply. Do it in conjunction with the four powers, as they’re called:
- Regret all the things that drag you down, your old habits, words you’ve said that harm others, and regret them because you’re sick of the suffering they bring you. This is like compassion for yourself.
- Reliance: then visualize the Buddha/Guru Rinpoche/Vajrasattva above your head, who’s like a doctor, who has the remedies you can use to heal yourself. And have compassion for others, want to purify for their sake too; want to grow yourself so you can be of benefit to others.
- Remedy: say some Vajrasattva mantras and visualize nectar pouring down from the buddha above your head, entering into you and totally purifying you.
- Resolve: make some decisions to break the old negative habits, to grow your good qualities.
And then add rejoicing to your practice. I can’t stress this enough! Remember your good qualities, rejoice in your practice, in your progress.
And then, as Lama Yeshe says: go to bed with a happy mind!
Much love,
Robina