Making Resolutions
Having goals in life is very important. If we have goals, our daily actions, speech, and thoughts would go towards achieving those goals.
People in general regard the making of resolutions as a process of lamenting our suffering to something sacred and asking for things we want or for life to proceed smoothly and effortlessly towards our goals without hindrances. Many tend to view individuals who make resolutions as foolish and illogical. Therefore, we should first clarify that making resolutions is not about ‘asking’ for something.
Making resolution is a way to stay locked in to our goals until they’re achieved. It is a compass for our life and mind and it strengthen our mental fortitude. It’s a way to prepare ourselves and to live life in order to achieve our goals, while using merit that we have accumulated in the past as the driving force.
For example, when we plan to travel to a place far away, we must prepare the car, fuel, map, etc. To obtain these things, money is required. Money in this case can be compared to merit that can be accrued by doing good deeds, for example, giving, helping others, upholding the precepts, or meditating. We then make a resolution using our accumulated merit to help us be healthy, intelligent, and sufficiently wealthy in order to live a carefree life; a virtuous life that allows us to perform more wholesome deeds and accumulate more merit until we achieve life’s ultimate goals–eradicate defilements and attain true happiness.
Merit will give its effects when it’s time, whether we make a resolution or not. However, if we did not make a resolution and carefully design a blueprint, when the merit fruits it may not support our effort to do wholesome deeds. We may be endowed with a strong healthy body, wealth, and intelligence, but if these things are used to commit evil deeds it would go completely against our life’s goals.
Accumulate merit (Dana, Sila, Samadhi) → Make resolutions using the merit (health, wealth, intelligence) with an emphasis on life’s goals → Lead a comfortable life and be able to perform even more merit → Achieve life’s goals
Steps in making resolutions
1. Sit in a half-lotus position or comfortably in a chair. Softly close your eyes as if you are about to fall asleep. Relax every part of your body so that it is free from tension. Adjust your sitting position so that you feel relaxed.
2. Allow your mind to come to a standstill by gently letting it rest at the center of your body.
3. Reflect on the merit or images of the wholesome deeds that you performed so that your mind is radiant and relaxed.
4. Link the merit that we have accumulated in the past with what we aspire. Make sure your mind is still. Do not recite your resolutions or do it forcefully because that brings about success slowly. Instead, gently imagine what we wish to achieve like a sense deep within, similar to the way a song pops in your head naturally without effort.
5. Make resolutions using the merit as a tool to easily achieve your goals by having these three fundamental qualities: a healthy body, sufficient wealth, and great intelligence. All this so we can lead a smooth and happy life that will allow us to help others to be happy and to easily reach their goals.
After performing wholesome deeds, we should reaffirm our resolutions consistently in order to reinforce our commitment which ultimately affects our actions. This will allow us to proceed happily with our life and towards achieving our goals.