The Beauty of Creating the Causes

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Imagine trying to generate even the slightest bodhicitta -- the intention to become fully enlightened in order to benefit all sentient beings most effectively -- in a prison environment. It's similar to generating compassion in hell! Although we are all prisoners of our negative karma, negative emotions, and disturbing attitudes, we still have this precious human life. Nothing can ever take away our Buddha potential. Ven. Chodron and the prisoners with whom she corresponds offer practitioners insights into how they can benefit themselves and others in even the most difficult situations.

Excerpts:

Karma allows us to say everything that is happening to us is our own responsibility—good or bad, we did it to ourselves. That’s hard for some people I’ve found out. The benefit of it is enormous, though, because it gives us the ability to say, “I don’t like what I’m going through; therefore I’ll change my actions so I get the result that I want.” That’s a lot of control over the one thing we can actually control, and it changes our whole life, environment, and world.

You asked for my ideas on how to use the Dharma to retrain the mind in correct views and beneficial emotions and what meditations help that. First—and this is the biggest one—for me the most beneficial practice is showing up—to sit there and know there are a million other things that I’d rather be doing, but instead I’m showing up.

The Beauty of Creating the Causes

by Ken Seyfert ©

I know this isn’t a monumental revelation, but I’m glad I’m Buddhist (ignore the label please). I think it’s the awareness of karma and its effects that had made the difference. As a Buddhist I feel personally responsible for everything that happens to me, good or bad. If something bad happens, I shrug and know that I created the causes for it and remind myself to be more mindful in the future and not to create those causes again. If something good happens, I really appreciate it because that’s my hard work paying off. It’s almost like a cosmic thank-you note from myself.

In contrast, I meet many people who have a perpetually negative attitude. The worst kind is the helpless victim type. No matter what bad thing happens, there can be no personal responsibility for it. It can in no way be that individual’s fault. Even when something good happens, it was luck, just plain dumb luck – even when it was something that the individual obviously worked hard to achieve. For example, many times I’ve seen a muscular guy who spends all day everyday in the gym working out, and people will say, “Wow, he’s got really good genes.” What?? That isn’t due to genes; it’s the fruit of dedication and hard work!

That’s why I love Buddhism. Nothing is left to chance. I know that if I work hard to create the causes, I will get the fruit of my labor. There is something so liberating and inspiring about that. Whether it’s writing, working out, or liberating all sentient beings, I know that if I create the causes I can achieve anything.

April, 2009

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