Attachment VS perseverance 执着与精进

Robot Monk Xian'er

Attachment VS perseverance

Perseverance is a strong aspiration. When we enjoy or understand the significance of what we are doing, we can overcome many difficulties. For example, football fans can wake up early during the World Cup even if they usually can’t. So, the essence of perseverance is to let oneself fall in love with practicing dharma. To Buddhists, the aspiration to elevate life is the pulling force, and the deep understanding of impermanence and suffering is the pushing force. When we don’t have enough will power, it is best to study with good dharma friends and let your team protect and support you.

It is common that people take attachment as perseverance. For example, we may get attached to how much work we have done. Hostility toward others pops up easily when we are in the control of arrogance. When caught in unfavorable conditions, we quickly doubt ourselves: I’ve already done so much, why am I still not getting what I want? All of these come from attachment—the attachment to one’s image and the desire to show off. Such is not being truly diligent in practicing good dharma. Perseverance in good dharmas are manifested in the ceaseless cultivation of the right view, in subduing afflictions, increasing compassion and wisdom, and in the eradication of self-attachment.

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执着与精进

精进，即强盛的希求心。我们对于自己喜欢做或知道其意义的事情，可以克服很多困难做到，比如喜欢足球的人在世界杯期间就能够做到早起，平时断然不能。精进的根本之道就是要让自己爱上修行。对于修行人而言，提升生命的愿望是向上的拉动力，对无常、苦的深刻体会是推动力，心力尚不足够时，与善友共学，靠团队的力量来保护和拉拔自己是最好的方法。

人往往会把执著当成精进。譬如执著于自己做了多少事。内心起骄慢，别人稍有打扰就发嗔心，一遇到逆境就怀疑：我都做了这么多了，怎么还不如意？这些都是执著，执著于外在的形象，执著于自我的标榜，并不是真正精进于善法。精进于善法，是勇猛无间地培养正念、降伏烦恼、增长悲智、破除我执。