Gem of Wisdom for Daily Reflection: 

Right Motivation in the Beginning, the Middle and the End

Monks study together outside the Zangdok Pelri Temple at Namdroling Monastery

In the Audio Teaching, "Right Motivation in the beginning, the middle and the end", Venerable Lama Dondrup Dorje explains the importance of having foresight and thoughtfulness at the beginning of any activities by having the right motivation for the benefit of others, maintaining stamina and perseverance in the middle and bringing on a conclusion that is good and harmonious in the end. Reminding students that “every single suffering that we experience in this world, whether it is disease or obstacles, it all begins with our mind not starting with the right motivation”.

This advice corresponds to the Three Wisdom Tools of: Repeated listening to the teaching, Repeated contemplation, and Repeated meditation.

Venerable Lama Dondrup Dorje then gives a recipe for attaining success in business, in study and indeed in all areas of life: Firstly, examining one thing at a time, and in the case when moving onto anything new, “study it, practise it, digest it and integrate it so that you and that become one and the same”. Then secondly: “Follow through the process with very clear thoughtfulness, clear action and clear determination; then be willing to make amends for the mistakes you have made - do not get hindered by the attachment of image ethic.”

The success we may experience from following this advice is not however at the expense of others - Venerable Lama Dondrup Dorje describes it as being a winner in a ‘win-win’ situation that brings benefit to both yourself and others.

Play Audio (19 mins)

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