EN - How to motivate oneself: Introduction

Of course we know how many problems there are in this world today. Nuclear, environmental, psychological.

The real problem originates in the mind actually, which is the source of the rest.

If one cannot face the problems that our mind is causing -even without noticing- one can never face any of the problems of the world one is facing. And one cannot expect miracles to happen, but every small act of tidying our mind might has some effect to this world.

Let me stress that there is no goal in life apart from the dharma which can be translated as the truth. And in New Shambhala I am not being a Buddhist but a human being. I hope that everyone of every religion or other background is listening.

So called ordinary life is growing up, going to school, finding a job and eventually death. But there is nothing to it: We experience more pain than we want and we experience pleasure. But the quality of ordinary life can be compared to a cat chasing its own tail, it is never ending. Working for your own money is important, but only if your life can be directed towards the truth.

The truth is that suffering is a basic quality of existence. Suffering since we hold on the illusion of possessing a self. As long as we cling to that habit there will be suffering. Suffering can only be removed by removing the illusion of self. And doing so can be done in the practice of the three vehicles.