Train wholeheartedly.

Salmon run photo by Daniel J. Cox

          In autumn, mature salmon leave the ocean and return to the spawning beds from which they hatched. Most of them stop eating once they enter freshwater and focus solely on reaching their goal. Once there, the female salmon will dig a hole in the gravel with her tail and lay a few thousand eggs. The eggs are then fertilized by the male. All Pacific salmon and most Atlantic salmon will die after spawning, and the life cycle will start all over again. Like the determination that drives the migration of the salmon, slogan fifty-four instructs us to be just as wholehearted in our spiritual practice. Training is not meant to be a passing interest maintained only as long as long as our passion lasts. Instead it requires sincerity, enthusiasm and commitment. We are clear-sighted about our intentions and our challenges, relying on courage and an open heart to keep us swimming upstream. 

Dharma doesn’t promise wealth, a great job, perfect health, or respect. The goal of Dharma is to fulfill your innate capacity for happiness. ~ B. Alan Wallace

For more information on the fifty-fourth slogan, go here.

Slogan Fifty-four

Train wholeheartedly.

From the Lojong for the Layperson booklet:

            Have you ever watched young children as they learn to walk or feed themselves? They fall frequently before they finally get their balance, and their attempts at getting food in their mouths can be incredibly messy. Yet they stay determined and don’t give up, gradually making progress as they persevere. Such resolve is the type of positive attitude this slogan encourages. Our egos may try to convince us spiritual practice is too difficult, but we should refuse to listen. Rather than quit, we can remain single-minded and courageous. Seeing the effects of continued practice in other people can inspire us to train wholeheartedly, so we too can grow spiritually.

Photo: A Canada gosling munches on the seeds of Bahia grass.

            Marty was a swimming instructor in our community who was committed to keeping kids safe in and around the water. Children who were terrified of taking a dip were her specialty; she wanted them to learn to love swimming as well as the skills she taught. She would coax the timid children in the water by showing how even her old, golden retriever could float on his back with her help. Goggles made it possible to see what treasures Marty had placed on the pool bottom (encouraging the hesitant ones to put their faces in the water). Once their confidence grew, she began teaching them how to use their legs and arms to propel themselves through the water. It was a constant balance of training the mind and body in order to navigate the world of water. No one was labeled as easy or hard to teach; each swimmer represented a unique challenge that required a lighthearted approach. Her wholehearted method is the same attitude I need to approach my spiritual study and practice - with a playful yet determined enthusiasm.