At times in my life I wish it were otherwise, but spiritual practice is verb-ish. It takes consistent effort. But however irksome it is to work at it, the outcome of steadily moving toward what we value, becoming more whole, being the person we recognize as our truest self is worth it, is worth it, is worth it.
Here are a few helpful reminders:
From Galatians 5
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-discipline. There is no law against such things.
From The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
Goodness and compassion naturally radiate out from us and bring joy to others....The whole of life is a teaching of how to uncover that strong goodness, and a training toward realizing it. --Sogyal Rimpoche
The heart gradually deepens in knowing, compassion, and trust through the hundred thousand repeated practices and heartfelt sincerity of a regular spiritual discipline. --Jack Kornfield
The first five transcendent actions (paramitas) are generosity, discipline, patience, exertion, and meditation. These are inseparable from the sixth--the prajna that makes it impossible to use our actions as ways of becoming secure. Prajna is the wisdom that cuts through the immense suffering that comes from seeking to protect our own territory.
The very words generosity, disciple, patience, and exertion may have rigid connotations for many of us. They may sound like a heavy list of 'shoulds' and 'shouldn'ts.' They might remind us of school rules or the preaching of moralists. However, these paramitas are not about measuring up. If we think they are about achieving some standard of perfection, then we'll feel defeated before we ever begin. It is more accurate to express the paramitas as a journey of exploration, not as commandments carved in rock. --Pema Chodron
