Goal: To be appreciative
From the Gosho Lecture: Letter to Niike (July Indigo, 2008)
Our human tendency is to become complacent when things are going well or become despondent when we encounter obstacles to our success
Since I was turned permanent at work, I seem to have become lazier again. With the goal of getting a permanent job achieved, my mind has drifted off course and I don’t seem to have willingness to learn and work hard anymore. I would feed myself on short-lived pursuits - sitting on the couch all night and surf the net, sleeping in and play games all weekend instead of working towards my next goal.
So for the past few weeks, I have been chanting very hard everyday for a new goal, a goal that I can work on for a longer period of time. After chanting and thinking hard about it, I started to realise how lucky I am. I realise that it I am very fortunate to be born as a human being, to have migrated to Melbourne in my early childhood and how lucky I am to have grown up in a stable environment. I have also been taking my parents for granted and leaving them to do the housework and to pay the bills. I haven’t been asked to pay for board, which is considered out of the norm in today’s society. And I would still whinge about not earning enough money, not to have a house, not to have the latest gadgets. It’s probably time that I need start learning how to appreciate. Learning to appreciate myself for who I am, learning to appreciate what my parents have given me and their efforts in bringing me up. I also have to learn to appreciate each interaction I have with other human beings, other animals and the environment. Each interaction, whether positive or negative contributes to my own personal development. With this appreciation in mind, I would be able to treat every challenging situation as if it is an opportunity.
As this gratitude towards others grows, compassion will also follow. Although it won’t be easy, I am ready to take on the challenge and hopefully direct myself towards happiness through appreciation and compassion.