Reflecting on the meditation on death, it is helpful to understand that death is certain and that only spiritual wealth has value at the time of death. These points increase the importance of understanding that we have a limited timeframe to practice the Dharma. But we find that the uncertainty of the time of death is unhelpful. The idea is to increase the urgency to practice the Dharma because we do not know when we will die.
Instead, we suggest that it is more useful to make a plan and plan our Dharma practice. It would be like planning our financial future by saving and preparing a pension. Hopefully we will live to 80, in which case we have finances available to us throughout our retirement time.
It is reasonable to make a plan our Dharma practice for 1, 3, 5, or 10 years. We decided to make plans from now until December 2019.
Our plan includes these points:
- Focus on core teachings of refuge, bodhicitta, universal compassion, and genuine kindness.
- Develop the 6 Perfections to develop good qualities.
- Practice mind training.
- Read these texts:
- Training the Mind in the Great Way by HH Dalai Lama I
- Nectar Of Manjushri’s Speech by Kunzang Pelden
- Seven-Point Mind Training by Alan Wallace
- Healing Anger by Dalai Lama XIV
- Enlightened Courage by Dilgo Khyentse
- Seven Steps to Train Your Mind by Gomo Tulku
- Read these biographies:
- Who Ordered This Truckload of Dung? Ajahn Brahm
- Don’t Worry, Be Grumpy by Ajahn Brahm
- Hardcore Zen by Brad Warner
- Make effort in our daily practice.
- Practices: Prayers, ‘Heart Sutra’, Green Tara, and Vajrasattva,
- How to Meditate by Kathleen McDonald
- Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life by Shantideva
- Attend weekly Dharma discussions.
Our plan excludes these points:
- Develop tantric practices.
- Texts: Aryadeva, long books on emptiness,
- Practices: Chenrezig, Medicine Buddha,
Love, @happyops
