Appreciation

Week of August 15, 2004 - Appreciation

The three preliminaries for Practice are: Repentance, Appreciation, and Vows.

Appreciation helps us to achieve three goals:

a) Appreciation is positive thinking and positive thinking attracts positive energy.
b) Appreciation helps to open up our minds and broaden our horizon.
c) Appreciation helps us to break down our selfishness, or the clinging to the idea of one’s SELF.

How do we show our appreciation?

We start externally, addressing our spiritual being and gradually move inwards:
a) Be thankful for the Triple Gem – Buddha, Dharma & Sangha
b) Be grateful for your teachers, especially our Master Venerable Hai Yun HeShang who taught us to see the Truth.
c) Be thankful for your parents, without them we would not be here.
d) Appreciate your own life. Feel the wonder and glory of your existence.

Then we move outwards addressing our physical being from the immediate to far beyond:
f) Appreciate your family; especially your spouse who has gone through so much with you. Be thankful to your children who have taught you so much.
g) Appreciate your relatives and friends.
h) Appreciate your work and colleagues.
i) Appreciate your society/country and government.
j) Appreciate the Earth…the galaxy… the universe
Think of all the goodness that anyone has ever done for you

In the beginning you may need to consciously direct your appreciation; intentionally and mindfully. As your practice deepens and your awareness increases, your Buddha’s nature will reveal itself; appreciation will flow naturally from your heart. You will appreciate absolutely everything - living and non-living, existent and non-existent. You and the universe are one.