The pyramid of practice

Week of Sept 12, 2004 – The pyramid of practice

The road to enlightenment can be compared to a pyramid. At the base of the pyramid are three aspects:

(A) Understanding – Right view, perception; Manjusri’s virtue; Mind; Internal

(B) Actual practice – Realization; Practitioner, Body; Media

(C) Vows – Motivation; Samantabhadra’s virtue; Breathing; External

At the bottom of the pyramid are three vertices. They are very distinct and distant from each other, yet they are on the same plane. When one’s practice advances upwards, (as we move from the base to the apex of the pyramid) gradually, the three aspects will come closer and closer to each other and finally become one (apex). When one’s body, breathing and mind are unified into one, when one completely attains all the virtues of Manjusri and Samantabhadra, one attains the Buddhahood of Vairocana.

The three aspects are the basic foundation of our practice. We must have a solid foundation for the pyramid to be well built. All three aspects are vital and must be present for our practice to be sound.

Without actual practice and vows, Buddhism is just a philosophy, plain knowledge.

Without understanding and vows, one may attain supernatural power but not enlightenment.

Without understanding and practice, one’s practice may easily degenerate into a cult movement.

There are so many religious groups in this New Age, and almost all of them are a hybrid form of the combinations of the three aspects. Only when all three aspects are completely present, is there True Buddhism.

What is inside this pyramid?

At the core of the pyramid is FAITH. Faith binds everything together!

Faith is the basis of the Path, the mother of virtues, Nourishing and growing all goodness.