This portion of the book is out of sequence. This is from what will be Chapter 4. I have not posted anything from Chapter 3 yet. The series number is simply offered so any reader will be able to follow the sequence I post things in. Writing is an organic process for me. I simply go with what emerges offering up the structure of my outline conception as a framework from which thoughts and ideas to emerge, and to find a place in. Sometimes more emerges, sometimes less. I actually have a lot written for Chapter 3, I’m just not ready to post any of it yet. I am ready to get this out for any comments it may generate.
There are things that being incarcerated you deal with that others do not. Practicing by one’s self when no one else does is not one of them. There are many people who practice in remote locations. In your situation you may not only face practicing alone, you may also face open hostility to your practice. In the next part of this chapter I’ll talk about hostile environment. For now I will offer the same advice I do to those who practice in isolation who have reached out to me.
“Throughout these kalpas he made
These various and wonderful offerings
In order to attain
The enlightenment of the Buddha.
He also observed the precepts,
Kept purity and faultlessness,
And sought the unsurpassed enlightenment
Extolled by the Buddhas.
He was patient, gentle,
And friendly with others.
Even when many evils troubled him,
His mind was not moved.
He endured all insults and disturbances
Inflicted upon him by arrogant people who thought
That they had already obtained the Dharma.
He was strenuous and resolute in mind.
He concentrated his mind,
And refrained from indolence
For many hundreds of millions of kalpas.”
Lotus Sutra, Chapter XVII
I have highlighted some lines in the above quote to indicate to you that when the Buddha taught us the Lotus Sutra he fully understood that the condition of society would be terrible. You are in a physical construct called prison, life is truly as the Buddha understood. Not every prison in the world is run the way they are in the US. There are some countries who are doing much better for those who are incarcerated. So it isn’t simply that you are in prison, I believe it is much deeper and more significant that. Consider this, why you at this time, what is your connection to this time and place? Why now that you should be practicing or exposed to the Lotus Sutra? Why are the conditions you experience so clearly spoken to by the Buddha? These are mysterious profound circumstances. You are actually being spoken to by the Buddha and a part of your story as you live it is mentioned by the Buddha. How is it possible that you and the Lotus Sutra are not one? How could it be that the Lotus Sutra was not meant to be read by you? Now? Where you are?
I. Goal
The first and most important thing to remain encouraged in your practice when alone is to have a clearly identified goal. Having a reason and knowing what that is will help you return to your central focus point in your practice. I suggest you make this goal as concrete as possible. Having a goal such as “Attaining Enlightenment” is nobel, and praise worthy. Yet how will you measure it. As you continue your practice what will you use to determine your progress. I suggest something a little more measurable. If you’ve done the work on Discernment then you already have something to work with for goal setting.
Some examples of a concrete goal could be any of these or others you make inspired by these suggestions.
• Monitor progress towards managing and moving beyond anger – if this is not your main problem identify what is
• Study so you will be able to explain some basic Buddhist concepts to fellow inmates
⁃ 10 Worlds
⁃ Main themes in the Lotus Sutra
⁃ Ceremony in the air and what it means
⁃ Understanding the connection with the Bodhisattvas from beneath the ground.
• Consistent daily service and Odaimoku – set a goal for a year and note your progress
• Sharing your belief with others – working towards developing a Sangha
• Teaching one person to chant Odaimoku – keeping track of your effort and results noting what works and what doesn’t
• Identifying your emotional weakness and working to change it – measure by noting numbers of times of success
• Enroll in classes if they are available – discover what resources you have and developing them as strengths
• Learn a new trade or a first trade – measure your progress either monthly or yearly
The range of possible goals is only limited by how far you are willing to look. Again, be as specific as possible, and set up a schedule or timetable for measuring your progress. Do not be discouraged though if you are not on target. Perhaps after some time you may realize the goal needs to be modified. If so do it by the Discernment process.
I encourage people to near to self rather than far off. Set a goal for a near future or a result that is close to you. The closer the goal is the easier it will be to keep it present and hold in your heart.
Pick no more than 3-5 goals at any one time. Yes you may have several or one, but don’t get all spread out so you are not focussing on anything.
II. Record Your Goal
Once you have your goal or goals you’ll need to write them down. If you think you will remember it without writing it down I will say you would be the rare individual. The fact of human nature is we forget or become distracted, and loose focus. Writing the goal down helps you not only remain focussed it also helps you be sure of what you originally decided. As time goes by you may forget your original words and then you might veer away from the power of your original idea.
After writing down your goal you will need to review it constantly. By constantly I really mean all the time as many times a day as you are able. You can not review it too much, that isn’t possible. One of the facts of humans tends to be that what is not at the front of our thinking soon slips to last and gets ignored when distractions arise. Every motivational technique taught includes advice to review goals daily or more often. So write down your goal, review it constantly, put the written goal in places where you can see it frequently.
Along with writing it down comes the advice to write down your progress. Even daily you might consider noting things you did toward accomplishing your goal. Write down successes and those times when you missed the mark. Don’t think of missing the mark as a failure. Something is only a failure if you do not learn something from the experience. Note things such as frame of mind, circumstances, environment, physical health, mental health, and so forth.
“By doing so, he became able to practice
Many dhyāna-concentrations.
His mind was peaceful, not distracted
For eighty billion kalpas.
With these merits of concentration of his mind,
He sought unsurpassed enlightenment, saying:
“I will complete all these dhyāna-concentrations,
And obtain the knowledge of all things.”
Lotus Sutra, Chapter XVII
III. Importance to You of Your Goal
Why is your goal important to you? List as many positive outcomes of achieving this goal you have set. This reinforces your goal and reminds you why you chose to accomplish it and the outcomes you expect to benefit from. These may be small picture items. In other words we are not looking at larger far off objectives. Yes this goal may indeed lead to a big change, though frequently it is merely one step along the way to the larger objective. If you focus on the far off objective then you may ignore the importance of these little steps. Finally as always right things down and review what you have written frequently. It helps to constantly remind yourself of your reasons and objectives. Remember you may only have yourself to encourage you, reviewing what you’ve written is you encouraging yourself.
“The Bodhisattvas who have practiced the Way
For the past innumerable kalpas,
Will believe my longevity
When they hear of it.”
Lotus Sutra, Chapter XVII
IV. What Motivates You
Here is where you put the big picture goals you may have. This is the place to be grand. Identify the larger goals that motivate you. For example let us pretend you want to get a Law Degree, yet you’ve never had any college. The small step goals would be items such as begin the enrollment process, then start taking the first courses, continue with courses year after year until you get to that end goal of the Law Degree. All along the big picture is the Law Degree, however to get there required the accomplishment of many smaller incremental steps. Once again, as before, write everything down.
Keep handy and visible your motivation, written down, something you see every day. If you don’t see it regularly you will forget. Maybe you won’t forget for a few days, then a few days you forget then something reminds you and you get back on track. Now you have an irregular focus and perhaps even an irregular practice. It is a regular practice, a regular chipping away at your goals that leads to ultimate success.
Our path to enlightenment is the same. Manifesting the wisdom of the Buddha in our life takes steady consistent effort. Short bursts of activity and practice does not provide the kind of foundation required to fully manifest an enlightened life.
As with everything in this book you may need to make adjustments to my suggestions. Try to stay as close to the material here as you are able in your unique circumstance. If something isn’t working use that as an opportunity to engage in reflection to identify what is and what is not working for you, then make the necessary changes.
“Those who have firm faith,
And who are pure and upright,
And who hear much and memorize all teachings,
And who understand my words
According to their meaning,
Will have no doubts [about my longevity].”
Lotus Sutra, Chapter XVII
to be continued…
