“Those of us who consider ourselves Buddhists should practice
the Dharma sincerely and not be contented merely with the intellectual level.
Implement it in daily life with constant effort; time is a very important and
major factor. If we expect great things right in the beginning, great spiritual
change in the mind within a short period, it is not a healthy sign. We must
count aeons. It really gives us inner strength. Our scriptures tell us that in
three years we can achieve Buddhahood. I think this is impractical. Sometimes
there is a bit of exaggeration here and there, but even if we truly believe, I don’t
think we can achieve Buddhahood in three years even if we are like Milarepa who
was such a strong and determined person with an indestructible heart. Of all
our great yogis, saints and practitioners, I haven’t heard of anyone who has
achieved Buddhahood within three years.
So, asking for three years is not enough. We must plan well,
not only for this year, not only for this life, but for life after life,
centuries and aeons. When I think about aeons, great, countless aeons, it
really makes me genuinely calm, and I get real inner strength.
- His Holiness The
Dalai Lama – The Transformed Mind/Compassion and Non-Violence.
