修行没有进步的原因

        很多人都会问：“上师，我修行这么多年了，怎么感觉进步不大呢？是不是根基不够高？”

       其实进步不大不是某一个人，也不是根基不够，大多数人都是因为散乱的时间太多，正念护持的时间太少。大家想一下自己每天修行的时间有多少，座上修行的质量如何。其实大家修行时基本上都是在胡思乱想，真正有多长时间能安住于当下所修之见解中。而座下更是忘乎所以，把法扔到一边，要么则是口念心散。

       我们的心就像铁一样，放在火里刚刚烧红就拿出来，下次再放进去又要重新开始，每一次修行就好像是重新开始一样，所以这么多年进步不大就是因为散乱的时间太长。

       因此，要想修行有明显的进步必须要保质保量的安住于座上的修持，哪怕只是念心咒也要如理如法的念诵、观想，而座下更是要始终观想、祈祷上师，如此座上的见解才不会退失，座下如果护持的好，见解决定会迅速增上。

     把修行当作呼吸，把正念当成生命，无论行住座卧心不离开上师时时忆念祈祷，你的修行一定会有非常大的进步。

   嘉样堪布

Reasons for Lack of Progress in Practice

Actually, the lack of progress in practice is a common problem among practitioners like you. The reason is not because of a weak base but too much distraction to maintain mindfulness. We should introspect about the duration of our daily practice and the quality of our meditation. Moreover, we spend most of our time in illusions, instead of abiding in the insights of our current practice. And we easily forget ourselves and the Dharma when not in meditation. Our mind even runs wild when we are chanting.

The process of practice is just like working as a blacksmith. Your heart is a piece of iron, and you put it into the stove and then take it out as soon as it turns red. When you put it back, it needs to restart the whole process. The practice is just the same. If you are distracted for long, your practice will be a new start. That is why you have little progress in practice.

Therefore, if you want to make significant progress in your practice, you must sit in meditation with full attention and enough time. Recitation and visualization in Dharma ways are necessary even when you recite a mantra. Furthermore, you should also visualize and pray to your Guru day and night. With this proper way, the insights achieved in your meditation will stay. If you have been abiding in mindfulness and awareness all the time, your perspective will certainly be increased rapidly.

Regarding practice as breath and mindfulness as life, you should combine your heart with your Guru anytime and anywhere (no matter wherever you stay and whatever you do). You should recall and pray to your Guru constantly. And then great progress can be expected.

Khenpo Jamyang